Trucking news and briefs for Monday, Dec. 11, 2023:
I-15 closure next week in Vegas
The Nevada Department of Transportation announced an upcoming closure of I-15 Southbound between Russell Road and Blue Diamond Road in Las Vegas for the night of Monday, Dec. 18.
NDOT said the closure is necessary for the installation of an Active Traffic Management (ATM) gantry. It's part of the larger I-15 Tropicana Project, which includes the reconstruction of the Tropicana Avenue bridge over I-15 to accommodate four lanes in each direction with lanes also added to on- and off-ramps. The bridge height will be raised, and it will also be lengthened to accommodate future I-15 widening.
The detour information for the closure is currently under review, and comprehensive details will be disclosed this week, NDOT said.
The closure will be in place from 9 p.m. Monday until 5 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 19. During this time, the southbound I-15 CD Road between Russell and I-215 will be reduced to one lane.
Eaton Cummins’ new AMTs now available on vocational Daimler models
The Eaton Cummins Endurant XD series automated manual transmission is now available in select vocational Western Star and Freightliner models, Eaton Cummins Automated Transmission Technologies announced Monday.
The Eaton Cummins Endurant XD AMT is now available in the Western Star 47X and 49X and the Freightliner 114SD Plus.Eaton Cummins Automated Transmission Technologies
“We offer our vocational customers reliable products that can be outfitted to suit their needs,” said Aaron Scates, vice president of Vocational and Medium Duty Market Development at Daimler Trucks North America. “By offering the Eaton Cummins Endurant XD series transmissions in our Western Star and Freightliner vehicles, our customers will have more options when spec’ing for their specific application.”
The Endurant XD series are all-new, purpose-built, 18-speed automated manual transmissions designed for applications with high gross combined weight ratings, such as heavy-haul and double- and triple-trailer tractors, and heavy-duty vocational trucks operating in harsh environments.
The Endurant XD has undergone millions of miles of testing from Australia to Mexico, in a variety of applications including dump and logging trucks. Its design features encapsulate electronics that are protected from the environment and provide operators with oil pressure and temperature information to ensure performance in extreme conditions.
[Related: Western Star debuts new, lighter X-Series model]
Volvo recalls certain trucks for incorrectly listed axle ratings
Volvo Trucks North America is recalling approximately 53 model year 2024 VN and VHD vehicles equipped with size 295/75 or 385/65 Continental tires on the front axle due to an incorrect vehicle certification label.
According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration documents, the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) listed on the vehicle certification label is incorrect, which Volvo said could result in misuse of the vehicles. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."
Volvo said affected units were built between Jan. 9 and Nov. 3, 2023, and the front axle rating of the certification label is lower than true specification.
Dealers will remove and replace the label, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Jan. 29, 2024. Owners can contact Volvo Trucks customer service at 1-800-528-6586 with recall number RVXX2314. NHTSA’s recall number is 23V-816.
[Related: Nearly 1,900 Mack, Volvo trucks recalled for accelerator pedal sensor issue]
