Trucking news and briefs for Monday, Nov. 2, 2020:
Sleeper window issue prompts recall of 8,400 Volvo trucks
Volvo Trucks North America is recalling certain model year 2020 VNL models for an issue in which the window hinge and mounting hardware are not strong enough to hold the window in place if the truck is driven with the sleeper bunk windows open.
The recall affects approximately 8,456 trucks, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration documents.
Volvo has notified owners, and dealers will replace the window hinges for free. Owners may contact Volvo Trucks customer service at 1-800-458-1552 with recall number RVXX2005. NHTSA’s recall number is 20V-613.
Volvo, Daimler announced fuel cell partnership
Volvo Group and Daimler Truck AG announced the two companies have signed a binding agreement for a joint venture to develop, produce and commercialize hydrogen fuel cell systems for heavy-duty trucks and other applications.
As part of the agreement, Volvo will acquire 50% stake in Daimler Truck Fuel Cell GmbH for more than $698 million on a cash and debt-free basis. The closing of the transaction is expected during the first half of 2021.
“For us at Daimler Truck AG and our intended partner, the Volvo Group, the hydrogen-based fuel cell is a key technology for enabling CO2-neutral transportation in the future,” said Martin Daum, chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler Truck AG and member of the Board of Management of Daimler AG. “We are both fully committed to the Paris Climate Agreement for decarbonizing road transport and other areas, and to building a prosperous jointly held company that will deliver large volumes of fuel-cell systems.”
In addition to trucks, there are also other areas of application for this type of fuel-cell system, the companies said. The joint venture will develop a system with several power stages, including a twin system with 300 kW continuous power for heavy-duty long-haul trucks. Based on the demanding conditions in heavy-duty truck applications, the joint venture’s products are also ideally suited for other use cases such as stationary power generation.
Both companies’ goal is to start with customer tests of trucks with fuel cells in about three years and to be in series production during the second half of this decade.
Volvo and Daimler will own equal interests in the joint venture, but will continue to be competitors in all other areas such as vehicle technology and fuel cell integration in trucks.
ON/OFFRAMP CLOSURES OVERNIGHT IN NEVADA | The Nevada DOT will intermittently close north and southbound I-15 on- and off-ramps at Exit 122 (E. Pioneer Boulevard/N. Sandhill Boulevard in Mesquite) from 9 p.m. until 5 a.m. nightly, starting the evening of Nov. 4 and concluding the morning of Nov. 6. (Only one ramp will be closed at a time). The temporary ramp closures are needed for permanent lane striping as part of a $9.1 million, 5.3-mile upgrade to Interstate 15 between West Mesquite Boulevard to the Arizona border that began in early April.Love’s opens new Tennessee travel stop
Truckers traveling though Mount Juliet, Tennessee, have a new place to stop with the opening of a new Love’s Travel Stops location along I-840. The store is the company’s 16th in Tennessee.
The new Love’s offers 97 truck parking spaces; Petro’s Chili and Chips, Godfather’s Pizza and Hardee’s restaurants; nine diesel bays; nine showers; Love’s Truck Care with on-site Speedco; and more.
New TA Express opens in Texas
TravelCenters of America has opened a new TA Express in Carthage, Texas, along I-20 and U.S. 59.
The new location offers 50 truck parking spaces, five diesel fueling positions, four showers, a Denny’s restaurant, Transflo scanning and more.
The TA Express is located at the former Gateway Travel Plaza in Carthage.
