Sprinter Vans Recalled for Fire Risk

Photo courtesy of Mercedes-Benz.

Daimler Vans USA is recalling 109 2016-model year Mercedes-Benz Sprinter 2500 and 3500 vans so dealers can address a fire risk issue, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Daimler Vans manufactured the vehicles without a driveshaft catch strap, allowing a loose driveshaft to strike the fuel tank. If the tank is punctured, a fuel leak might result and increase the risk of fire, NHTSA said.

DVUSA dealers will install the missing catch strap for the driveshaft. There will be no charge for this service. Van owners can reach DVUSA customer service at (877) 762-8267.

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Emerging Leaders Nomination Deadline Extended to October 13

The nominations deadline for Heavy Duty Trucking magazine's Emerging Leaders honor has been extended an additional week to Oct. 13, 2017.

HDT's Emerging Leaders is a group of young trucking industry leaders who are already making a difference in his or her fields. We're looking for young professionals who are influential, innovative and successful, who can point to outstanding accomplishments and leadership qualities, and who have a passion for the trucking industry.

Emerging leaders will be under 40 years of age and work for a for-hire, private, government or vocational fleet. The award nomination is open to those employed in any aspect of a fleet's business and all levels, whether management, maintenance, sales, marketing, safety, IT, training, or elsewhere.

Whether a person is in the top management position of a company, a shop foreman or the IT person who led a key data transition, as long as they are making a difference in the trucking industry they are eligible for nomination.

Leaders honored as an HDT Emerging Leader will be featured in an article in our December print magazine issue. The nominee must be under 40 years old as of Jan. 31, 2017, self-nominations are also being accepted.

To nominate an Emerging Leader, fill out our online nomination form here.

Check out our feature from last year on the 2016 Emerging Leaders

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CarriersEdge hosts driver-training, e-learning webinar

CarriersEdge is hosting a webinar for safety/risk/HR managers who are interested in or considering implementing an e-learning training program. The webinar will be held at 1 p.m. ET on Oct. 10. The hour-long program, which includes the opportunity for audience questions, looks at the “Five ways to build company-wide support for online training.”

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Tesla Delays Electric Truck Launch Again

Telsa has opted to move the launch of its electric truck back two weeks in order to focus on fixing Model 3 production issues and assist with power grid repair efforts in Puerto Rico. Image via Tesla

Tesla chief executive officer Elon Musk announced on Twitter late last week that the company was pushing back the launch of its new electric truck from Oct. 26 to Nov. 16. as it focuses on meeting production demands for its Model 3 sedan and assisting with recovery efforts in Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, according to a report by

The delay was caused by Tesla focusing on meeting production demands for its Model 3 sedan and assisting with recovery efforts in Puerto Rico in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, according to a report by Electrek, a magazine covering the North American electric vehicle market.

Tesla is apparently working on correcting production “bottlenecks” that held Model 3 production to only 260 units in September bottlenecks”. Additionally, Musk said on Twitter that Tesla will “increase battery production for Puerto Rico & other affected areas.”

Tesla Semi unveil now Nov 16. Diverting resources to fix Model 3 bottlenecks & increase battery production for Puerto Rico & other affected areas.

Electrek also reported that Musk and the governor of Puerto Rico, Ricardo Rossello have talked about ways for Tesla Energy to help rebuild the power grid destroyed by the two hurricanes that recently hit the Caribbean. Per reports, Musk was talking about a scalable energy storage and solar power solution with the governor on Twitter.

In an official statement released by Tesla, the company offered to refund any airfares already purchased for the Oct. 26 event and said, “The first Tesla Truck prototype is completed, but we're ...Read the rest of this story

Isuzu Announces Spanish Version of Commercial Website

Screenshot via Isuzucv.com

Isuzu Commercial Truck of America has announced that www.isuzucv.com is now available in Spanish as well as English.

“Spanish is the second most-spoken language in the United States,” said Shaun Skinner, president of Isuzu Commercial Truck of America. “Over fifty million Americans speak Spanish as a first or second language. In fact, there are more Spanish speakers in our country than there are in Spain. So it is only natural for us to want to offer information about our trucks to consumers in the language of their choice.”

Users can easily see each page in Spanish by clicking the link next to the Isuzu logo at the top of the page.

For nearly a year, Isuzu has posted Spanish-language driver orientation and emissions system informational videos on its site. Now, the entire site is available in Spanish. On the home page, users may simply click on the video link at the bottom of the home page for English, Spanish, and French.

The www.isuzucv.com website offers visitors product information and specifications about Isuzu N-Series Class 3 through 5 trucks and the all-new Class 6 Isuzu FTR. Functionality includes a dealer locator; comparison tool; “get-a-quote” feature; information about Isuzu parts, accessories and class-leading warranties; videos; an owners' section; details about available financing and leasing programs; and much more.

“Isuzu durability, economy, performance and low cost of ownership are universal,” Skinner said. “We're pleased that now we are able to deliver that message to our Spanish-speaking customers nationwide.”

Related: A Closer Look at Diesel Cabover Warranties

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Four ways to reinforce fleet safety

All it takes is one crash. One crash to increase your insurance premiums, lead to possible civil action against your company, or adversely affect your ISS score. And if you have multiple crashes, you could find yourself labeled as an unsafe carrier, placing your business at risk.

While it is difficult to avoid all crashes — since some are not the truck driver's fault — there are many things you can avoid through a multi-pronged effort to maximize safety. Such an approach can go a long way toward ensuring your fleet operates in a safe manner.

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Keep an eye on these disruptive technologies

The trucking industry is being bombarded with a host of technologies that could prove to be disruptive. At the recent NationaLease Annual Meeting, Matt Clark, COO of Corcentric, shared his thoughts on the Top 10 disruptive technologies. In order to be successful, you need to be aware of these technologies and stay informed of new developments.

Here's a look at Matt's Top 10.

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