Trucking news and briefs for Monday, Aug. 3, 2026:
- Border inspection turns into massive drug bust.
- Kenworth, Peterbilt recall could affect drive power, brakes, lights, wipers, more.
- Lighting issue prompts big Freightliner recall.
Half a ton of suspected cocaine seized from tractor-trailer at border
Federal law enforcement officers seized more than half a ton of cocaine worth more than $20 million hidden in the floorboards of a commercial truck and attached flatbed trailer at the Calexico Port of Entry.
In total, 366 packages of cocaine weighing 1002.13 pounds (454.56 kilograms) were removed from the trailer.U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of California
It was the second-largest cocaine seizure in 2026 in the Southern District of California, officials noted. The largest seizure was in May when more than a ton of cocaine estimated to be worth $45 million was discovered in connection with a subterranean cross-border tunnel.
In the most recent case, the driver and only occupant of the truck, Jose Manuel Lopez Lopez, 44, of Mexicali, Mexico, was arrested and charged with illegally importing cocaine into the United States. The charge carries a mandatory minimum of 10 years in prison with a max sentence of life in prison.
The amount of cocaine seized is considered “a tremendous amount of drugs, even by the standards of this district,” according to the government’s motion to detain Lopez, who entered a not-guilty plea at his arraignment in federal court last week.
In addition to the hidden cocaine, the trailer was loaded with 269 bundles of rebar. Customs and Border Protection officers, working with agents from Homeland Security Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration, X-rayed the trailer and observed anomalies in the floorboards. A drug-sniffing dog alerted to the trailer.
After unloading the rebar, officers unscrewed the planks from the wooden floor of the trailer and discovered they were stuffed with drugs.
[Related: Driver busted in Indiana with $9M illegal haul]
Paccar recalls nearly 6K trucks for power distribution center box issue
Nearly 6,000 Peterbilt and Kenworth trucks built this year are being recalled due to the possibility of oil contaminating the power distribution center (PDC) box.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recall documents state that the PDC being contaminated with oil could result in a loss of drive power, Antilock Brake System (ABS) functionality, exterior lighting, windshield wipers, or the defogging system. As such, the affected trucks fail to comply with several Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard requirements.
Affected models include approximately 5,919:
- 2027 Kenworth T280
- 2027 Kenworth T380
- 2027 Kenworth T480
- 2027 Kenworth T680
- 2027 Kenworth T880
- 2027 Kenworth W990
- 2027 Peterbilt 536
- 2027 Peterbilt 537
- 2027 Peterbilt 548
- 2027 Peterbilt 567
- 2027 Peterbilt 589
- 2027 Peterbilt 579
Dealers will inspect the PDC serial numbers, and replace the PDC boxes as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk are expected to be mailed Sept. 25. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available.
Owners can contact Peterbilt's customer service at 940-591-4220 and Kenworth's customer service at 425-828-5888 with recall number 26PACD. NHTSA’s recall number is 26V-485.
[Related: 3K-plus Volvos recalled over steering]
23K Freightliner trucks, chassis recalled for headlight issue
Daimler Trucks North America is recalling more than 23,000 Freightliner Business Class M2 and eM2 trucks and Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation S2C and S2RV bus and RV chassis for an issue related to the headlights.
According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) documents, a software error in the affected vehicles could cause the low-beam headlights to illuminate improperly. The recall affects 22,388 model year 2026-‘27 Business Class M2 units, 717 model year 2026-’27 FCCC S2RV RV chassis, 169 model year 2026-’27 FCCC S2C bus chassis, and two model year 2026-’27 Freightliner eM2 units.
The remedy for the software issue is currently under development. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Sept. 20. Owners can contact DTNA customer service at 800-547-0712 with recall number F1036. NHTSA’s recall number is 26V-475.
[Related: 'Do not drive' recalls for new Mack, Volvo trucks]
