Peterbilt

PACCAR parks unfinished trucks while waiting for microchips

PACCAR Inc. is forestalling downtime from the semiconductor shortage by parking unfinished trucks and reinserting them on assembly lines when chips become available.

So instead of slowing production and missing potential sales like other manufacturers, PACCAR (NASDAQ: PCAR) is only delaying deliveries from its Kenworth, Peterbilt and DAF Trucks brands. About 3,000 builds across the divisions were delayed — but not lost — in the first quarter.

“We’ve been able to build trucks all the way through...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/paccar-parks-unfinished-trucks-while-waiting-for-microchips

Embark develops plug-and-play autonomous trucking system

Self-driving truck startup Embark Trucks Inc. has developed a plug-and-play autonomous trucking software package. It will work on Freightliner, Volvo, Peterbilt and International trucks. 

The development could make Level 4 technology a commodity even before competitors begin regular production.

“If Embark can create a system that can be installed on a variety of different trucks without massive rework and embedded development, that obviously creates an opportunity to accelerate deployment of...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/embark-develops-plug-and-play-autonomous-trucking-system

Truck Talk: ‘Look, Ma, no hands’ edition

This week, we’re cleaning up after a flurry of news in the autonomous vehicle space and seeing the first concrete evidence that the chips are down for truck manufacturers. 

Construction alert

One went public. One went virtual. Another expanded in China. After an unusually busy week in the autonomous vehicle space, what could possibly be left to talk about? 

Let’s start with construction zones. They present a vexing yet all-too-frequent challenge for designers of perception software expected to be...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/truck-talk-look-ma-no-hands-edition

A virtual ride-along in Waymo Via’s latest Class 8 autonomous truck

Waymo Via took to the freeways outside Phoenix on Wednesday to demonstrate its fifth generation of Level 4 autonomous Class 8 trucking. 

The system is still “years away” from production. And while the drive was real, invited media experienced it virtually.

Lessons from Waymo Via’s Peterbilt-based heavy-duty trucks traveling Interstate 10 and Arizona 202 freeways are shared with Waymo’s more mature autonomous ride-hailing service.  Waymo operates Chrysler Pacifica minivans without drivers in...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/a-virtual-ride-along-in-waymo-vias-latest-class-8-autonomous-truck

Truck Talk: Tuning up the volume edition

This week, we talk with retiring Daimler Trucks North America CEO Roger Nielsen about hosting a generation of big name music acts; follow electric school buses in Maryland and LA; and check in on the semiconductor chip shortage. You can subscribe to Truck Talk and other FreightWaves newsletters here.

Listen to the music

Outgoing Daimler Truck North America CEO Roger Nielsen offered thoughts on a range of industry issues as he prepares to retire in April after 35 years. One thing that continues...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/truck-talk:-tuning-up-the-volume-edition

Upbeat PACCAR raises truck production estimate

A rebounding U.S. economy should help sustain the recent growth in new truck orders, PACCAR Inc. (NASDAQ: PCAR) CEO Preston Feight said Tuesday.

“Basically the truck industry is doing pretty well,” Feight said on a call with analysts following the release of fourth-quarter earnings. “We don’t expect that to change. Truck utilization is high. We’re even starting to see signs of green shoots in the oil and gas industry. All of that combined points to a good year for us in the U.S. and Canada.”

The...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/upbeat-paccar-raises-truck-production-estimate

FreightWaves Truck Talk: Clearing the air edition

This week, we’re looking at standardizing more convenience in over-the-air updates; 108 million breathe-safe N-95 masks from Cummins’ repurposing of engine filter material; and public self-determination for TuSimple.

Over-the-air updates (with convenience) … Mack Trucks is following sibling Volvo Trucks North America in standardizing the convenience of over-the-air (OTA) updates. Mack says the driver download activation feature will be included in factory-equipped models built since last Nov....

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/freightwaves-truck-talk-clearing-the-air-edition

PACCAR marks decade of making engines in Mississippi

When PACCAR Inc. (NASDAQ: PCAR) looked at possible locations for a new engine plant 14 years ago, it settled on Columbus, Mississippi, because it is close to key transportation logistics networks and a potential talent pool at nearby colleges and universities.

The state-of-the-art plant recently marked its 10th anniversary. More than 250,000 MX-11 and MX-13 engines used in Kenworth, Peterbilt and DAF trucks have been built there.

The $400 million facility sends no waste to landfills and lists ISO...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/paccar-marks-decade-of-making-engines-in-mississippi

PACCAR puts charge into electric trucks with infrastructure plan

Kenworth and Peterbilt expect to sell a few hundred electric trucks in coming years. They will account for less than 1% of total revenue for parent PACCAR Inc. (NASDAQ: PCAR). But bundling charging units with the trucks improves the revenue picture dramatically.

“We like to make money in everything we do,” PACCAR CEO Preston Feight said on the company’s third-quarter earnings call Oct. 20. “And that’s our model for electric vehicles (EVs) as well as for anything else we do.”

PACCAR is taking...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/paccar-puts-charge-into-electric-trucks-with-infrastructure-plan

Rare air: Kenworth and Peterbilt electric trucks take on Pikes Peak

Kenworth and Peterbilt showed off real-world capability in driving battery-electric and hydrogen-powered fuel cell electric trucks to the 14,115-foot summit of Pikes Peak in Colorado. But a more meaningful lesson came in descending the mountain.

The Kenworth T680 fuel cell electric vehicle and a battery-electric Peterbilt Model 579EV became the first Class 8 zero-emissions vehicles to negotiate grades between 7% and 10% that are part of the 12.42-mile Pikes Peak International Hill Climb course.

Th...

https://s29755.pcdn.co/news/rare-air-kenworth-and-peterbilt-electric-trucks-take-on-pikes-peak

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