Paccar Inc.

Largely spared the automotive industry impact from semiconductor shortages, truck manufacturers are starting to take downtime.

As a love affair with electric vehicle companies fades, self-driving truck startups appear to be the new courtship objects of blank check companies.

Roger Nielsen will need a new outlet for his electric and driverless truck passion as the Daimler Trucks North America CEO retires after a 35-year career.

Truck Talk is a weekly newsletter where FreightWaves adds context, commentary and color to industry news and trends.

Truck Talk, is a weekly newsletter where FreightWaves adds context, commentary and color to industry news and trends.

Hydrogen-powered fuel cells always seem to be five or 10 years from a meaningful presence on the transportation stage. That may finally be changing.

Peterbilt took five years and the input of 59 customers to complete a thorough redesign of its Class 8 flagship Model 579 that improves fuel economy by 7%.

Meritor started with an electronic axle and worked forward to pull together all the major components of an electric powertrain that can propel an 80,000-pound line haul tractor or a medium-duty box truck.

As the trucking industry rebuilds toward meeting replacement demand, PACCAR expects new products will help it continue gaining market share.

The continuing impact from COVID impacts results but the Kenworth, Peterbilt and DAF parent company still turns in positive numbers.

PACCAR’s Columbus, MIssissippi engine plant’s proximity to nearby colleges and universities creates jobs at the $400 million facility where 250,000 engines have been manufactured in 10 years.

Manufacturers take varied approaches to avoiding the chicken-and-egg conundrum of electric trucks. PACCAR is selling and financing them with leases for battery-powered trucks.

Kenworth and Peterbilt climbed Pikes Peak with Class 8 electric trucks, then descended the 12-mile course of switchbacks and twisting turns to show the range-extending value of regenerative braking.

Volvo Trucks North America will begin building Class 8 VNR Electric day cab trucks in Virginia in December, continuing an industry surge in bringing battery-operated commercial vehicles to market.

PACCAR Inc. earnings fell in the third quarter but the maker of Kenworth, Peterbilt and DAF Trucks continued a string of beating earnings estimates.

Electric trucks from PACCAR siblings can get California rebates when the fund is replenished; Daimler shows future battery and fuel cell trucks; and FMCSA grants Bosch a video mirror waiver.

PACCAR won’t rush in bringing battery-electric trucks to market, saying it will have them when customers ask. But it contends hydrogen fuel cells are five to 10 years away.

Major truck manufacturers are using digital tools for ordering parts, repairing equipment faster and transporting trucks for service because of staff shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The largest manufacturer of heavy-duty trucks puts worker protections in place as it tries to make up for production lost to the coronavirus pandemic.

PACCAR Inc. posted decent first quarter earnings despite shuttering its plants in late March because of the coronavirus pandemic. While truck orders cooled, parts sales set a record as the truck maker tries to build on 81 consecutive profitable years.