Trucking news and briefs for Monday, Sept. 21, 2020:
FMCSA launching new MCSAC panel for drivers
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is launching a new panel to its Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee that will be comprised of truck drivers. The new panel will provide direct feedback to FMCSA on issues facing the driving community, such as safety, hours of service regulations, training, parking and driver experience.
“Truck drivers and other commercial vehicle operators are American heroes who have stepped up during the current public health emergency to keep our economy moving, so their input is essential to strengthening safety on the roads,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine L. Chao.
The panel will be made up of 20 to 25 drivers from all segments of the commercial motor vehicle industry – tractor-trailer drivers, straight truck drivers, motor coach drivers, hazmat drivers, agriculture haulers and more.
FMCSA says its goal with the new panel “is to capture the wide array of viewpoints and experiences within the CMV community.”
New Kenworth electric trucks eligible for CARB voucher
The new Kenworth K270E Class 6 and K370E Class 7 battery-electric trucks qualify for a $95,000 voucher incentive to qualifying California purchases from the California Air Resources Board, Kenworth announced.
The incentive is offered through the CARB Hybrid and Zero-Emission Truck and Bus Voucher Project. The opening for new voucher incentive requests is anticipated to begin in early 2021.
“Zero-emission electric trucks are no longer a thing of the future,” said Laura Bloch, Kenworth assistant general manager for sales and marketing.” We thank the state of California and CARB for providing these important dollars to help support and encourage Kenworth medium-duty truck customers in the state to purchase the new Kenworth K270E and K370E models.”
Kenworth announced last week that the K270E and K370E battery-electric vehicles are now available for order from Kenworth dealers in the United States and Canada.
