Western Star

Deal averts strike at Daimler North America as UAW celebrates pact

A four-year contract has been reached between the United Auto Workers and Daimler Truck North America, averting a strike at several U.S. facilities that could have started Saturday and shut down production of Freightliner and Western Star trucks.

The pact covers approximately 7,400 workers at Daimler North America (NASDAQ: DTGHF) facilities who build Freightliner and Western Star trucks: the Mount Holly, North Carolina, truck manufacturing plant; the Cleveland, North Carolina, truck...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/deal-averts-strike-at-daimler-north-america-as-uaw-celebrates-pact

New Class 8 truck deliveries fall for 4 consecutive months  

The strength in new Class 8 orders belies a four-month slide in deliveries while used truck prices continue to fall, albeit more slowly as 2023 comes to a close.

Through the first 11 months of the year, the industry has delivered 242,881 new Class 8 trucks, 7.8% more than the same period in 2022, according to Ward’s Intelligence. But the year-over-year lead has shrunk each month since February when sales were 35% ahead compared with 2022.

This contrasts with ACT Research, which reported net...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/new-class-8-truck-deliveries-fall-for-4-consecutive-months

Electrolyzers only scratch the surface of midcentury hydrogen demand

googletag.cmd.push(function() { var gptSlot = googletag.defineSlot(‘/21776187881/FW-Responsive-Main_Content-Slot1’, [[728, 90], [468, 60], [300, 100], [320, 50]], ‘div-gpt-ad-b1-i-fw-ad-1’).defineSizeMapping(gptSizeMaps.banner1).setCollapseEmptyDiv(true).addService(googletag.pubads());
gptAdSlots.push(gptSlot);
});

googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-b1-i-fw-ad-1’); });

Even as manufacturing of electrolyzers grows, the hydrogen-making devices barely address the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/electrolyzers-only-scratch-the-surface-of-midcentury-hydrogen-demand

Daimler Truck recalls 54,375 trucks for possible windshield wiper defect

A year ago, Daimler Truck North America (DTNA) recalled 689 Western Star trucks for faulty windshield wipers. That issue now has swelled to a recall of 54,375 units affecting six products covering two and three model years depending on the product.

Unlike the first recall, where 100% of the units were projected to have the problem, just 1% of 54,375 trucks in the new recall are projected to experience the defect.

The windshield wiper linkages may break, causing the windshield wipers to fail. On...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/daimler-truck-recalls-54375-trucks-for-possible-windshield-wiper-defect

Brake module corrosion continues to vex Daimler Truck

Daimler Truck North America is conducting a third safety recall – about 77,000 vehicles across seven model years in the U.S. and Canada – for brake module corrosion that could cause pulling to one side of the road, which could raise the possibility of a crash.

None of the three recalls involving more than 475,000 units has a crash associated. A miniscule number of vehicles have exhibited the condition among the number built between June 2016 and March 2022

Miniscule number of trucks in recall...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/brake-module-corrosion-continues-to-vex-daimler-truck

Cushier rides becoming standard fare in work trucks

Freightliner medium-duty truck interior

Want to recruit and retain truck drivers? Give them a comfy ride that reminds them of what they drive in their off-hours.

Daimler Truck North America is the latest to apply this thinking with the new Freightliner medium-duty M2 106 Plus, M2 112 Plus, 108SD Plus and 114SD Plus debuting in the third quarter of 2023. 

They are not all-new vehicles but refinements are substantial. The segment-leading M2’s new grill and air intake give it a family resemblance to the market-leading Class 8 Freightliner...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/cushier-rides-becoming-standard-fare-in-work-trucks

Western Star trucks recalled 2nd time for falling hood trim pieces

Western Star hood logo

Daimler Truck North America is recalling about 4,000 Western Star trucks because shiny parts keep detaching and falling off the hood. The resulting roadway debris could cause a crash.

The latest recall resembles one in April that inadvertently revealed the 57X on-highway truck months before the official debut in August. DTNA reported no crashes or injuries from either recall.

The recall results from an abundance of caution, DTNA said. About 1% of the 4,006 recalled trucks in the United States are...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/western-star-trucks-recalled-2nd-time-for-falling-hood-trim-pieces

Los camiones Western Star son retirados por segunda vez por la caída de las piezas del capó 

Western Star hood logo

Daimler Truck North America está llamando a revisión a unos 4.000 camiones Western Star porque se siguen desprendiendo piezas brillantes y se caen del capó. Los restos resultantes en la carretera podrían provocar un accidente. 

La última llamada a revisión se parece a una realizada en abril que reveló inadvertidamente el camión 57X en carretera meses antes del debut oficial en agosto. DTNA no ha informado de que haya habido accidentes o lesiones en ninguna de las dos retiradas. 

La retirada es el...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/los-camiones-western-star-son-retirados-por-segunda-vez-por-la-caida-de-las-piezas-del-capo

Carlike luxuries complement new Western Star 57X ruggedness

Western Star 57X heavy haul takes a load

YPSILANTI, Mich. — If brushed metal interior accents, digital displays, and the latest safety and connected technology sounds like an ad for a luxury SUV, think bigger. A lot bigger. Like Class 8.

On Tuesday, Western Star, the off-highway-focused brand of Daimler Truck North America, revealed the third vehicle in its X-Series lineup — the on-highway 57X that oozes luxury appointments.

It replaces the 5700XE model, introduced in late 2014 and little changed over the years.

The order window opens in...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/carlike-luxuries-complement-new-western-star-57x-ruggedness

Someone is stealing Daimler Truck powertrain control modules

A black and yellow powertrain module in the foreground with a Freightline truck behind it.

A rash of thefts of semiconductor-loaded powertrain control modules from parked Freightliner and Western Star trucks is turning the tractors into oversize paperweights. Daimler Truck North America is going after the bad guys but has few leads.

The rip-offs of common powertrain control module 4 units relate to the ongoing shortage of microchips. Harvesting and reprogramming the modules allow them to work in other trucks, Daimler said.

“The theft of CPC modules is a crime that threatens the...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/thefts-of-powertrain-modules-plague-daimler-truck

+ More