Does the 2026 Volvo VNR Deliver Measurable Safety Gains Over Prior Gen?
Volvo showcased the redesigned VNR at its Virginia Customer Center, claiming it's the safest regional hauler the OEM has built. We look at what's new in the…
Hank Rivers
Equipment & OEM
Hank Rivers covers truck hardware — tractors, trailers, engines, drivetrains, emissions aftertreatment, EVs and hydrogen, telematics hardware, ADAS, tires, APUs, recalls, and the maintenance economics that decide what a fleet actually spends per mile. Former fleet manager. He treats OEM press releases like used-truck listings until proven otherwise.
Freightliner Adds Left-Turn Collision Warning to Detroit Assurance
Active Side Guard Assist 2 monitors oncoming traffic during left turns and can apply brakes before the truck enters the intersection.
Knight-Swift Reports Q1 Net Loss — No Fleet Hardware Impact
Phoenix truckload carrier cites improving freight conditions as invalid capacity exits market. No equipment spec changes, recalls, or maintenance updates…
Panama Canal Auction Fees Hit $4 Million — No Direct Fleet Impact
Companies without reservations pay premium auction fees to cross the canal. No change to trucking equipment, maintenance schedules, or parts supply chains.
Volvo Raises 2026 Europe Heavy-Duty Truck Forecast to 310,000 Units
Swedish OEM lifts full-year outlook after order intake climbs in Q1 — no North American production or spec impact disclosed.
Jones Act Waiver Extended 90 Days — No Direct Fleet Hardware Impact
White House extends shipping waiver for oil, fuel, and fertilizer through mid-July. Tanker fleets unaffected; no equipment mandate changes.
NTSB Wants Alcohol Interlock Systems on All New School Buses
Federal safety board recommends ignition-disable hardware for the first time — no timeline or mandate yet, but OEMs will face pressure to offer…
Geodis Opens Chicago Cold Chain Cross-Dock — No Fleet Hardware Impact
Third-party logistics provider launches dedicated healthcare facility in Americas. No truck spec, refrigeration unit, or telematics hardware changes for…
Justice Department Marijuana Reclassification — No Direct Fleet Impact
Federal cannabis scheduling change affects state-legal markets but does not alter DOT drug-testing rules or CDL medical-card requirements for commercial…
Ford Denies Geely Partnership Report — No Chinese Tech Deal for US Market
Automaker rejects claim it held talks with Geely about bringing Chinese vehicle technology to North America.
Driver Identity Fraud Climbs as Fleets Move to Touchless Onboarding
Carriers adopting self-service hiring workflows face rising fraud risk. Persistent identity checks — including at dispatch — are becoming baseline for…
SKF Scotseal X-treme HD Targets Vocational Fleets With Hand-Install Design
New heavy-duty wheel seal uses labyrinth design and HNBRX material for waste, construction, and mining applications — no special tools required for roadside…