Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2025:
Truck drivers issued 5K citations, warnings during Operation Safe Driver Week
More than 2,500 tickets and citations and more than 3,500 warnings were issued to drivers of both commercial and passenger vehicles during the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s Operation Safe Driver Week.
Operation Safe Driver Week is CVSA’s annual, seven-day safe-driving initiative aimed at improving drivers’ behaviors. CVSA’s jurisdictions devote time, personnel and resources to this driver safety initiative because driving behaviors, such as speeding, distracted driving, aggressive driving, etc., are a top cause of roadway crashes.
From July 13 to 19, officers issued 3,230 warnings and 1,839 tickets/citations to commercial motor vehicle drivers, and 345 warnings and 665 tickets/citations to passenger vehicle drivers for various unsafe driving behaviors.
A total of 20 citations and 53 warnings were given to drivers for reckless/careless/inattentive driving -- the focus for this year’s Operation Safe Driver Week. Broken out by driver type, 12 citations and 47 warnings were given to commercial motor vehicle drivers, and eight citations and six warnings were given to passenger vehicle drivers.
Speeding was the top infraction during Operation Safe Driver Week with a total of 1,249 warnings and 917 citations/tickets issued. Commercial drivers received 1,073 warnings and 491 tickets/citations for speeding, while passenger vehicle drivers received 176 warnings and 416 citations/tickets for speed-related infractions.
Another top violation during Operation Safe Driver Week was failure to wear a seat belt. A total of 219 warnings and 264 tickets/citations were issued, with commercial drivers receiving the majority -- 204 warnings and 248 tickets/citations. Passenger vehicle drivers were given 15 warnings and 16 tickets/citations for failure to wear a seat belt.
Texting or using a handheld device was another frequently cited violation. A total of 129 warnings and 116 tickets/citations were issued to drivers who were texting or using a mobile device while driving. Passenger vehicle drivers received 22 warnings and 37 tickets/citations, while commercial drivers received 107 warnings and 79 tickets/citations.
Fourteen commercial motor vehicle drivers received warnings and 22 were issued citations for possession/use/under influence of drugs/alcohol. Four passenger vehicle drivers received warnings and five received citations for the same violation. Combined, 18 drivers received warnings and 27 were given a ticket/citation for possession/use/under influence of drugs/alcohol.
15K Mack trucks recalled for seat belt assembly issue
Mack Trucks is recalling more than 15,000 trucks equipped with a passenger bench seat in which the seat belt anchorage bracket may be improperly welded, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration documents.
As such, the affected units fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."
The 15,841 affected Mack models include:
- 2020-‘25 Mack MD
- 2019-‘25 Mack Anthem
- 2019-‘25 Mack Granite,
- 2024 Mack MD Electric
- 2025 Mack Pinnacle
Dealers will install a reinforcement plate, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Dec. 5. Owners can contact Mack's customer service at 1-800-866-1177 with recall number SC0485. NHTSA’s recall number is 25V-666.
Autocar recalling severe-duty trucks over potentially faulty steering wheels
Autocar is recalling approximately 4,687 model year 2023-‘26 ACX (Xpeditor) and DC (Legend) trucks in which the steering wheel nut may be improperly secured, allowing the steering wheel to separate from the steering column.
Autocar noted that a manufacturing error resulted in the steering wheel nut being improperly secured.
Autocar will inspect and secure the steering wheel nut as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Nov. 28. Owners can contact Autocar customer service at 1-888-218-3611 with recall numbers ACX-2504 and DC-2506. NHTSA’s recall number is 25V-660.
Washington State DOT deploys truck parking info system along I-5
The Washington State Department of Transportation has partnered with Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) company Quarterhill to deploy a new Truck Parking Information Management System (TPIMS) designed to help truck drivers quickly locate available parking at rest areas along I-5.
The $2.3 million initiative addresses one of the freight industry's most pressing challenges: secure and reliable truck parking. By improving visibility into available spaces, the technology aims to reduce fatigue-related risks and support safer, more efficient freight movement across Washington state.
The initial deployment spans the I-5 corridor from Vancouver, Washington, to the Canadian border, with WSDOT planning future expansions along other major freight routes statewide.
Information is shared through dynamic signage, mobile platforms, and WSDOT's traveler information systems, giving truck drivers greater visibility and helping optimize use of limited parking spaces along the critical I-5 freight corridor. Truck drivers can also access real-time parking data through the ParkerTruck app and accompanying online landing pages to track the growth of the system.
"This project is a prime example of how public agencies and private partners can work together to improve highway safety," said Matt Neeley, State Traffic Systems Development Engineer for WSDOT. "Reliable access to truck parking information not only supports safer freight movement but also strengthens the resilience of Washington's transportation network for all road users."
