Trucking news and briefs for Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026:
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 1-940-591-4220 and Kenworth's customer service at 1-425-828-5888 with recall number 26PACD. NHTSA’s recall number is 26V-485.
Emergency HOS relief extended in Texas
Following a two-week emergency declaration issued by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott in response to heavy rainfall and flash flooding last month, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is extending regulatory relief granted by the declaration.
FMCSA’s extension of the declaration -- valid through Aug. 11 or until the end of the emergency, whichever is sooner -- waives the maximum driving time regulations in 49 CFR 395.3 for drivers and motor carriers transporting food, fuel and water into affected counties due to ongoing flooding.
Abbott’s original declaration expired July 28, and at the request of the state, FMCSA granted the two-week extension because emergency conditions have not abated.
The regulatory relief provided by the extension applies regardless of the origin of the trip, as long as the carrier or driver is providing direct assistance to the flooding emergency in Texas.
Direct assistance does not include transportation related to long-term rehabilitation of damaged physical infrastructure after the initial threat to life and property has passed, FMCSA noted, nor does it include routine commercial deliveries, including mixed loads with a nominal quantity of qualifying emergency relief added to obtain the benefits of the waiver.
Fireworks hauler requests HOS exemption
Precision Fireworks LLC is petitioning the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for an exemption from the 14-hour on-duty clock rule.
Precision is a fireworks display company that employs CDL holders with hazmat endorsements to transport fireworks in conjunction with the setup of firework displays for Independence Day.
Under the requested exemption, the company’s drivers would be allowed to exclude off-duty and sleeper-berth time of any length from the calculation of the 14 hours.
The exemption, if granted, would apply to approximately five drivers of five CMVs employed by Precision in conjunction with staging fireworks displays celebrating Independence Day during the period June 28-July 8, for the next five years (2026-2031) inclusive.
As a condition for operating under the requested exemption, drivers would not be allowed to drive after accumulating a total of 14 hours of on-duty time, following 10 consecutive hours off duty, and would continue to be subject to the 11-hour driving time limit, and the 60- and 70-hour on-duty limits.
The company said a denial of the waiver would limit the company’s ability to provide professional fireworks displays for Texas, New Mexico and Missouri because it cannot find sufficient CDL-qualified, hazmat-endorsed seasonal drivers to meet the demand within the strict 14-hour window.
The company said it would mee the same level of safety as operating without an exemption due to its short-distance routes (generally less than 150 miles from distribution point to display site); mandatory rest periods at show sites while waiting for the show to begin; early-morning driving when traffic density is low; and a safety record with zero reportable crashes over the last decade.
FMCSA is accepting public comments on the request here through Aug. 31.
23K Freightliner trucks, chassis recalled for headlight issue
Daimler Trucks North America is recalling more than 23,000 Freightliner Business Class M2 and eM2 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 1-800-547-0712 with recall number F1036. NHTSA’s recall number is 26V-475.
