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iStock Photo<br />
The PACCAR recall affects more than 450,000 trucks including Kenworth T680s manufactured<br />
between 2011 and 2020.<br />
Drivewyze app expands offerings to keep<br />
drivers informed of rest-area openings<br />
THE TRUCKER NEWS SERVICES<br />
DALLAS — While the evolving impact of<br />
the COVID-19 crisis on state’s rest-area operations<br />
has created confusion over which sites remain<br />
open for truckers, the need for drivers to<br />
find safe parking hasn’t subsided.<br />
“Not knowing where drivers will find available<br />
parking at the end of each day continues to<br />
be a challenge and a stressor for truckers,” said<br />
Brian Heath, CEO of Drivewyze.<br />
In response to this need, Drivewyze has expanded<br />
its temporary rest-area parking notifications<br />
to include Arizona, Virginia and Ohio.<br />
“Drivers are busy driving and don’t have<br />
time to keep track of changing open/close<br />
Equipment<br />
statuses at traditional parking areas,” Heath<br />
said. “This problem is exacerbated when you<br />
add temporary parking sites to the equation.<br />
New temporary parking is welcome, but how<br />
do drivers know where those are on a timely<br />
basis?”<br />
Arizona recently opened two temporary sites,<br />
and Virginia is now allowing long-term parking<br />
at 10 weigh stations. The Ohio state DOT has<br />
asked Drivewyze to provide messaging to truckers<br />
as an extension of the state’s decision to keep<br />
all rest areas open, patrolled and safe. According<br />
to Heath, Drivewyze leveraged its GPS-based<br />
See Drivewyze on p24 m<br />
iStock Photo<br />
As fleets use caution with purchases amid the COVID-19 pandemic, trailer sales dipped 54%<br />
from February numbers.<br />
THE TRUCKER NEWS SERVICES<br />
BELLEVUE, Wash. — PACCAR Inc. has<br />
announced a recall of 455,458 Kenworth and<br />
Peterbilt trucks because of concerns that a<br />
blown fuse could prevent the illumination of<br />
dashboard warning lights in the case of a malfunction<br />
in the trucks’ antilock brakes or electronic<br />
stability control.<br />
The risk of an accident increases when a<br />
driver is unaware of a faulty indicator light, according<br />
to documentation submitted by PAC-<br />
CAR to the National Highway Safety Administration<br />
in early April.<br />
The noncompliance recall (NHSA recall<br />
20V-199) includes trucks equipped with<br />
NAMUX Software that included the 25%<br />
voltage threshold setting for the ABS/ESC<br />
THE TRUCKER NEWS SERVICES<br />
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — FTR reports<br />
preliminary trailer orders for March continue<br />
to be negatively impacted by the COVID-19<br />
pandemic, falling 54% from an already depressed<br />
February to 6,500 units for the month.<br />
Orders were down 55% from March 2019.<br />
Totals in March were particularly weak for<br />
dry vans, with some large fleets canceling orders<br />
that were spread out over the remainder<br />
of the year. Flatbed orders were also tepid,<br />
as the manufacturing sector of the economy<br />
was partially shut down in March. Refrigerated<br />
van orders fell, but not to the same degree<br />
as other segments. Trailer orders for<br />
May 1-14, 2020 • 23<br />
Over 450,000 Peterbilt, Kenworth trucks<br />
recalled for ABS warning-light defect<br />
malfunction indicator lamp and affects 23<br />
Peterbilt and Kenworth models manufactured<br />
between Jan. 10, 2007 and July 10, 2019 (model<br />
years 2008-2020).<br />
According to PACCAR’s submission,<br />
“The NAMUX software illuminates the<br />
Tractor ABS/ESC Lamps when the voltage<br />
from the ABS/ESC ECU at a specific input<br />
pin of the CECU cab controller drops below<br />
25% of the battery input voltage present at<br />
the CECU. In the instance where the ABS/<br />
ESC ECU loses power (i.e. the fuse blows)<br />
the voltage being measured may not drop<br />
below the 25% voltage threshold; thus, the<br />
ABS and/or ESC malfunction lamp will not<br />
illuminate.”<br />
See Recall on p24 m<br />
Courtesy: Drivewyze<br />
The Drivewyze app is now offering updates regarding rest areas since the COVID-19<br />
pandemic is causing confusion about which areas remain open.<br />
Trailer orders appear to mirror Class 8<br />
sales with 55% decline from March 2019<br />
the past 12 months now total 177,000 units.<br />
Don Ake, FTR vice president of commercial<br />
vehicles, commented, “The trailer market is mirroring<br />
the Class 8 side, as fleets are extremely<br />
cautious due to the anxiety about the virus. The<br />
orders placed in March are for units that are perceived<br />
to be absolutely necessary for relatively<br />
short-term needs. Fleets will also delay replacing<br />
older trailers until the economic situation<br />
stabilizes. Orders did exceed last June’s 5,600<br />
total when some large fleets canceled dry van<br />
orders as the freight market cooled.<br />
“It is expected there will be some overcapacity<br />
in the short-term due to the enormous<br />
See Trailers on p24 m