Trucking news and briefs for Tuesday, May 27, 2025:
North Dakota bumps highway speed limits, fines
North Dakota lawmakers have voted to raise the speed limit to 80 mph on select multi-lane highways, effective Aug. 1, becoming the ninth state in the country to do so.
Speed limits have been left up to states since 1995. A similar bill passed in the state in 2023 but was vetoed by then-Gov. Doug Burgum. This time around, Gov. Kelly Armstrong signed the bill into law on May 17.
Higher posted limits means speeding violations will come with higher fines, according to the new law: $20 or $5 for every mile per hour over the limit, whichever is greater, for highways with a posted speed limit of 65 mph, and a $20 fine for speeding, or $3 for every mile per hour over the limit, whichever is greater, for slower speed zones.
Motorists traveling more than 16 mph over the limit will see $20 more tacked onto the fine, and speeding in a construction zone with workers gets a $150 add-on.
[Related: South Dakota pushes speed limit to 80]
Kenworth adds vocational Paccar TX-12 Pro automated transmission option to MX-13
Kenworth on Tuesday announced that the Paccar TX-12 Pro automated transmission is now available with the Paccar MX-13 engine for Kenworth’s T680, T880 and W990 models.
The TX-12 Pro is designed to optimize performance for both on- and off-highway applications such as dump, plow, tankers, and more. The transmission builds upon the standard TX-12, one of the most efficient on-highway automated transmissions, Kenworth said.
“The TX-12 Pro transmission’s integration with the MX-13 engine is a welcomed addition for our Class 8 customers that operate in vocational applications,” said Kevin Haygood, Kenworth’s assistant general manager for sales and marketing.
It's engineered to operate with all MX-11 and PX-9 engine ratings up to 445 hp, 1,700 lb.-ft. torque; MX-13 engine ratings up to 455 hp and 1,650 lb.-ft.; and 70,000 pounds of gross combination vehicle weight (GCVW). It features many of the TX-18 Pro enhanced capabilities for vocational and select off-highway applications, including Paccar’s Extreme Duty clutch for improved low-speed maneuvering, Rock Free mode to help trucks get unstuck in mud or sand, an off-highway calibration tuned for changing soil conditions, and more. The 12-speed gear set provides wide ratio coverage, allowing for excellent maneuverability around job sites.
The TX-12 PRO offers dual PTO openings – a bottom mount 8-bolt and 4-bolt rear mount for a combined 95-hp capacity.
The transmission is equipped with an internal oil temperature sensor, which shows transmission temperatures on the in-cab 15-inch digital display and provides driver notifications in situations causing excessive temperatures.
As with all Paccar TX-12 and TX-18 transmission models, the TX-12 Pro is standard with Kenworth’s driver-friendly column-mounted, right-hand stalk shifter.
Oil maintenance intervals for the TX-12 PRO are 250,000 miles, and the clutch is maintenance-free, Kenworth said.
Arkansas police seize fentanyl, cocaine from truck
Arkansas State Police recently seized 15 kilos of fentanyl and 35 kilos of cocaine from the cab of a truck.Arkansas State Police
An Arkansas State Trooper on May 19 discovered fentanyl and cocaine during a traffic stop of a tractor-trailer at the 75 milemarker along I-40 Eastbound.
Four boxes discovered in the cab of the truck contained 15 kilos of fentanyl and 35 kilos of cocaine.
“Removing over 36 pounds of fentanyl from our communities will save an untold number of lives,” said Arkansas State Police Colonel Mike Hagar. “This seizure amounts to around 150,000 lethal doses taken off the streets. Our top priority is protecting the lives of Arkansans. Seizures like this should serve as a warning to anyone transporting illicit narcotics along our interstates and highways. State Police will remain vigilant and committed to keeping the roads safe for law-abiding citizens.”
The driver, Claude Bell, 56 of California, was charged with 21 counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute for both the cocaine and fentanyl charges. He is in U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration custody and will face charges in U.S. Eastern District federal court in Little Rock.
Bell said he was traveling from Los Angeles to Memphis.
