Trucking news and briefs for Monday, Aug. 18, 2025:
- The Trump administration’s Department of Justice wants to join lawsuits challenging CARB’s enforcement of emissions regulations now federally preempted.
- A fire risk with certain medium-duty International trucks has prompted a recall, while a separate recall involving trucks’ brakes systems affects heavy-duty International units.
- Volvo and Mack are recalling trucks for an issue with the dynamic steering and oversteer guidance feature.
DOJ files motions to join lawsuits against CARB
The U.S. Department of Justice has filed motions to intervene in two lawsuits against the California Air Resources Board over the state’s enforcement of federally preempted emissions standards through the Clean Truck Partnership (CTP) that CARB made in 2023 with truck and engine manufacturers.
The action by DOJ follows a lawsuit filed last week by four OEMs against CARB over the CTP, claiming that, despite Congress overturning California’s Advanced Clean Trucks and Omnibus Low-NOx emissions regulations, the state is using the agreement to continue enforcement of the regs. The DOJ has already sent Cease & Desist letters to the OEMs to stop compliance with the CTP and the emissions regulations the state is attempting to enforce through the partnership.
That lawsuit, brought by Daimler Truck North America, Paccar, International Motors and Volvo Group, is one that the DOJ is petitioning to intervene in. The other case the government is wants to intervene in was filed by the American Free Enterprise Chamber of Commerce against the Truck & Engine Manufacturers Association and Steven S. Cliff, the executive officer of CARB.
In filing its motions, DOJ said the Clean Air Act preempts state regulation of vehicle emissions unless the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grants California a preemption waiver. While the EPA under the Biden administration granted waivers for the two CARB regulations in question, those waivers were revoked earlier this year. “Yet, in an affront to the rule of law, CARB seeks to circumvent that prohibition by enforcing the preempted emissions standards through the Clean Truck Partnership,” DOJ said in a press release.
“Agreement, contract, partnership, mandate -- whatever California wants to call it, this unlawful action attempts to undermine federal law,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the DOJ’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “President Donald Trump and Congress have invalidated the Clean Air Act waivers that were the basis for California’s actions. CARB must respect the democratic process and stop enforcing unlawful standards.”
Craig Segall, former Deputy Executive Officer and Assistant Chief Counsel of the California Air Resources Board who helped author the Clean Truck Partnership, decried the government's decision to join the lawsuits.
“Trump said he'd lower prices -- and now he's raising them again," Segall said. "This lawsuit will help lock drivers into paying for diesel for years to come, even though electric trucks will soon be cheaper overall. It's pathetic that the big truck companies and Trump have teamed up against hardworking folks in the trucking industry."
[Related: Top truck makers sue CARB/California over enforcement of Clean Truck Partnership]
Medium-duty Internationals included in recall over fire risk
International Motors is recalling certain medium-duty trucks and buses because the brake pressure switch assembly may leak brake fluid into the brake pressure switch's electrical components and cause a short-circuit.
According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration documents, due to the fire risk associated with the issue, owners of affected units are advised to park the vehicles outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete.
The 4,764 vehicles affected by the recall include:
- 2018 International 4300
- 2017-‘25 International MV
- 2018-‘24 International 1300 FBC
- 2018-‘25 IC Bus TC
- 2024-‘25 IC Bus CECB
International said the affected vehicles were identified by vehicles remedied under a previous recall from 2023, and were manufactured without a silicone block harness and built within a certain time period.
Dealers will install a silicone black jumper harness, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 29, 2025. Owners may contact International customer service at 800-448-7825 with recall number 25509. NHTSA’s recall number is 25V-502. Vehicles previously repaired under 23V-397 will need to have the new remedy completed.
International LT, RH models recalled for brakes issue
In a separate recall, International is recalling approximately, 1,129 LT and RH units in which the Hill Start Assist (HSA) exhaust port may become clogged, delaying or preventing the release of the service brakes.
Affected units include model year 2025 International RH and 2024-’26 LT trucks.
Dealers will relocate the HSA valve exhaust, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Sept. 29. Owners can contact International customer service at 800-448-7825 with recall number 25508. NHTSA’s recall number is 25V-501.
Steering issue prompts recall of Volvo, Mack units
Volvo Trucks North America is recalling approximately 2,487 model year 2025-’26 Volvo VN trucks, and Mack Trucks is recalling approximately 32 model year 2025 Anthem and 2025-’26 Pioneer units, in which the dynamic steering and oversteer guidance feature may malfunction and cause a loss of steering control.
The companies said in the affected trucks, the oversteer guidance may correct for an oversteer input and then continue to correct in the opposite direction. The resulting oscillations may result in a control issue which requires driver intervention.
The oversteer guidance feature will be disabled through an over-the-air (OTA) update or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Oct. 5. Owners can contact Volvo Trucks' customer service at 800-528-6586 with recall number RVXX2506. NHTSA’s recall number is 25V-520.
Mack’s customer service can be reached at 800-866-1177 with recall number SC0483. NHTSA’s recall number is 25V-521.
