Why hybrid maintenance models beat all-in-house or all-outsourced
Fleets are ditching the binary choice between internal shops and third-party service, using telematics to route work where it makes economic sense.
Hank Rivers
Equipment, OEM & Electric Vehicles
Hank Rivers covers truck hardware, tractors, trailers, engines, drivetrains, emissions aftertreatment, battery-electric and hydrogen trucks, charging infrastructure, 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.
ATA chairman calls for disclosure rules on lawsuit funders
Greg Hodgen says third-party litigation financing is driving up trucking costs without transparency.
Mexican Heavy-Duty Truck Production Jumps 52% in July
Mexico built 14,675 trucks and buses in July 2026, up from 9,668 a year earlier, as OEMs ramp production for cross-border and nearshoring demand.
Daimler Trucks to Open Largest U.S. Plant in 2029, Closes Portland
DTNA will shutter its 79-year-old Portland facility in October, cutting 400 jobs, while planning a new truck plant it says will be its largest U.S.…
Cummins Raises HD Truck Forecast on Replacement Demand
Engine maker cites freight market rebound as driver of replacement cycle, lifts North American heavy-duty truck guidance for 2026.
Used Class 8 Sales Rise in June as Tight Inventory Lifts Prices
ACT Research reports June sales climbed as low inventory and improving freight conditions pushed buyers into the used market.
Class 8 Orders Jump in July but 2026 Build Slots Are Full
Year-over-year orders rose sharply, yet OEMs report production backlogs through year-end and EPA rule uncertainty complicates 2027 planning.
ATA Challenges Labor Bill Expanding Arbitration for Trucking Contracts
American Trucking Associations calls proposed legislation government-mandated contracting, not collective bargaining.
Paccar Recalls 2,027 Model-Year 2027 Trucks for Oil-Contaminated PDC Boards
Oil leak during supplier's soldering process contaminated printed circuit boards in power distribution centers. Dealers will inspect serial numbers and replace…
C&H Sugar Strike Ends After 42 Days, Longshore Sympathy Action Paused
ILWU Local 6 warehouse workers return under 60-day extension as federal mediators broker talks on retiree health benefits and overtime rules at Crockett…
Great Dane Freedom Ultra Flatbed Targets Weight-Sensitive Hauls
New open-deck trailer offers configurable bulkhead, coil, and securement packages for building materials, steel, and machinery loads.
What the 2025 Peterbilt 589 changes from the driver's seat
Ingrid Brown of Blackjack Express walks through the digital dash, smart wheel controls, and daily-use differences in her custom 589.