Trucking news and briefs for Tuesday, Dec. 19, 2023:
Great Dane recalling nearly 350 trailers over axle issue
Great Dane Trailers is recalling approximately 346 model year 2024 Champion trailers in which the axle spindle nut may have been improperly tightened, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration documents.
A loose axle spindle nut can allow the wheel to detach from the trailer, increasing the risk of a crash, the recall states.
Great Dane will inspect and tighten the axle spindle nut as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Feb. 10. Owners can contact Great Dane customer service at 1-877-369-3493. NHTSA’s recall number is 23V-839.
Tanker driver named Canada’s driver of the year
A British Columbian tanker driver has been named Canada's driver of the year.
Darcy Knowles, who drives for Alchemist Specialty Carriers Inc., was recently named the 2023 National Driver of the Year by the Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) and Volvo Trucks Canada. The announcement took place during the BC Trucking Association’s Christmas Party on Dec. 7.
Knowles has over 30 years of experience in the trucking industry and 11 years of accident-free driving.
In a statement, the CTA said, "Darcy embodies the epitome of excellence on the road. His dedication to safety, coupled with a passion for adventure that driving brings, have set him apart as a standout figure in the trucking community."
Knowles was the BC Trucking Association's driver of the year in 2022.
Volvo Trucks Canada sponsors the national and provincial Driver of the Year awards. Each year, a panel of judges made up of representatives from Transport Canada, the Traffic Industry Research Foundation, Canada Safety Council, and CTA selects a national winner from among recipients of the Driver of the Year award in each province.
The national winner is selected for excellence among peers who have maintained a collision-free driving record and otherwise demonstrated exemplary professionalism on and off the road.
