Trucking news and briefs for Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026:
Lighting company requests exemption for flashing brake lights
Vehicle lighting manufacturer Grote Industries has petitioned the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration for an exemption that would allow motor carriers to operate CMVs equipped with auxiliary rear or side lamps that flash or strobe when controlled by Grote’s Rear-End Collision Warning (RCW) system.
Grote’s request would allow motor carriers the use of one or more non-steady-burning auxiliary lamps installed symmetrically about the vertical centerline on the rear or sides of trucks when used in conjunction with Grote’s RCW system.
The company’s RCW system uses rear-facing, long-range radar to calculate time-to-collision (TTC) for vehicles approaching from behind and activates auxiliary warning lamps when a collision risk threshold is reached. The system activates a signal circuit when the TTC is less than or equal to a specific safety threshold – typically between 2.1 and 4.0 seconds – which represents the average time required for a driver and vehicle to react to a hazard.
Under the request, when the RCW system detects an imminent risk, the auxiliary lamps would either be:
- Red in color and flash 4–16 times within four seconds, or
- Amber in color and function as an SAE J595 Class 3 or Class 2 strobe lamp for up to four seconds.
Following either initial sequence, the lamps burn steady red for the remaining duration of the warning event as long as the collision risk persists. Once the potential risk has subsided and the TTC exceeds the safety threshold, the signal circuit is deactivated, ending the warning event and turning off the auxiliary lamps.
Grote emphasized that it is not seeking relief from existing safety requirements, but rather permission to install additional safety equipment beyond that required by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, and believes granting the exemption would achieve a level of safety equivalent to or greater than the level of safety achieved without the exemption.
Comments on the request can be filed here through March 11.
Bulk tanker fleet seeks waiver for pulsating brake lights
Similarly, 83-truck Liberty Bulk Transport has requested an exemption to be allowed to install the Intellistop lighting module that pulses the rear clearance, identification, and brake lamps from low-level lighting intensity to high-level lighting intensity four times in two seconds when the brakes are applied. FMCSA has granted similar exemptions to other fleets in the past.
In its request, Liberty said pulsing the rear brake lamps of a CMV may significantly increase visibility and reduce the frequency of rear-end crashes, and thus would maintain a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level that the CMV would achieve without the requested exemption.
Comments on Liberty’s request can be filed here through March 12.
[Related: FMCSA grants fleet's pulsating brake light exemption request]
Mack continues partnership with NASCAR
Mack Trucks and NASCAR have announced a multi-year extension of their partnership, continuing the designation of Mack as the “Official Hauler of NASCAR.”
As part of the expanded agreement, NASCAR has added 11 all-new Mack Pioneer 76-inch High-Roof Sleeper models to its fleet, with the trucks making their debut during Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway, Feb. 11-15, leading up to the 68th annual Daytona 500.Mack Trucks
The addition of the Pioneer models marks the latest evolution of NASCAR’s Mack fleet, which began with Pinnacle models in 2016 before transitioning to Anthem models in 2018. Six Mack Anthem models will remain in service as part of the fleet, continuing to support NASCAR’s operations throughout the racing season.
“For nearly a decade, Mack has proudly served as the Official Hauler of NASCAR, and this partnership extension reinforces our shared commitment to performance, reliability and excellence,” said Jonathan Randall, president of Mack Trucks North America. “The Mack Pioneer represents the most advanced highway truck we’ve ever built, and there's no better stage to showcase its capabilities than NASCAR’s demanding schedule.”
The Mack Pioneer, which began production in 2025, is Mack’s most aerodynamic and fuel-efficient highway truck to date, delivering up to 11% improved fuel efficiency compared with previous models, the company said. NASCAR’s custom-spec’d Pioneer models are powered by the Mack MP13 engine producing 515 horsepower and 1,900 lb.-ft. of torque, paired with the Mack mDRIVE 12-speed overdrive automated manual transmission. The 76-inch High-Roof Sleeper configuration features the innovative FlexSuite system with premium mattresses, providing drivers with maximum comfort during NASCAR’s grueling travel schedule.
Each truck is equipped with Mack Protect Premier, Mack’s comprehensive Advanced Driver Assistance System suite, which includes forward collision warning, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking, lane departure warning, and lane change support on both passenger and driver sides. The fleet also features a digital mirror system, which replaces traditional side mirrors with cameras housed in pods, for improved aerodynamics and visibility, along with the Mack Integrated Parking Cooler for emissions-free cabin cooling during rest periods.
“Mack Trucks has been an essential partner behind the scenes of NASCAR for nearly a decade, delivering the reliability and performance required to keep our sport moving week after week,” said Michelle Byron, executive vice president and chief partnership and licensing officer, NASCAR. “As we extend this partnership and welcome the new Mack Pioneer models into our fleet, we’re continuing to invest in best-in-class equipment that supports our industry and the demanding logistics of our season.”
[Related: Mack begins production on new Pioneer]
