From brick-and-mortar locations to online ordering Richard Simons oversees a vast empire with a goal of 12-hour delivery.

Romeo Power CEO Lionel Selwood saw the component shortages coming for commercial vehicle batteries. Romeo hedged by buying on the open market.

Hyzon Motors CEO Craig Knight says China has a five-year lead in zero-emission fuel cells for commercial vehicles.

Borrowing pegged to inflated stock price may become a problem for Workhorse Group in the aftermath of missing out on the U.S. Postal Service contract.

Hyliion will initially buy Peterbilt trucks to equip its Hypertruck ERX and sees fuel cells as an eventual option in to natural gas-powered generators.

Workhorse Group shares tanked after the U.S. Postal Service awarded a 10-year contract to Oshkosh Truck Corp. to modernize the aging mail delivery fleet.

Nikola lays out plans for hydrogen-powered fuel cell trucks but offers nothing new on customer reservations.

Cummins will build a plant within a Daimler complex in Germany and become the sole supplier of medium-duty engines for the truck maker globally.

With medium- and heavy-duty trucks already using its electrified chassis, Xos Trucks will have $575 million to scale its business following a SPAC merger.

Texas weather calamity shows how underinvestment is putting the nation at risk of future disasters, says Alliance for American Manufacturing president.

Daimler Trucks North America is recalling M2 Business Class trucks. A transmission fluid leak can slicken roads and increase the risk of a crash.

FreightWaves Truck Talk is a weekly newsletter adding perspective, context and commentary to industry news and trends.

Hydrogen-powered fuel cells always seem to be five or 10 years from a meaningful presence on the transportation stage. That may finally be changing.

Driveline and thermal management supplier Dana Inc. has $700 million in new business from auto and truck makers. Half of it is in electrification contracts.

Daimler Trucks sales dropped 8% in Q4 alone as parent company Daimler AG prepares to spin off the unit into a stand-alone company.

Kenworth delivered two natural gas-powered T680 hybrid electric trucks to a fleet for drayage testing in California. They are the first and likely the last.

Torc Robotics gets millions of gigabytes of data in testing self-driving trucks for Daimler AG. Now it wants Amazon Web Services to make faster sense of it.

With the coming independence of Daimler Truck from Daimler AG, the North American subsidiary gets a new CEO when Roger Nielsen retires in April.

BorgWarner continues to build up its portfolio for commercial vehicle electrification with the $880 million acquisition of European battery maker AKASOL.

Kenworth focused on fuel-saving aerodynamic gains and a driver-directed digital dash for a refresh of its T680 on-highway flagship.

After four straight months of near-record orders, trailer bookings took a breather in January as some manufacturers slowed taking reservations.

FreightWaves Truck Talk is a weekly newsletter adding perspective, context and commentary to industry news and trends.

From truck parts to fuel cells, business leaders face challenges in getting critical components and meeting customer expectations for delivery.

Rush Enterprises sold Class 8 trucks at a level reflecting the industry’s overall COVID-impacted decline in 2020. It expects better results in 2021 and beyond.

Self-driving truck technology startup Plus is already working on an autonomous freight matching project in China. Now it has investors there.

Fuel cell manufacturer Hyzon Motors agrees to a SPAC merger that will bring a $570 million cash injection for global scaling of the Singapore spinoff’s business.

Electric chassis maker Xos Trucks may be the next electrification startup to get a financial injection by merging with a special purpose acquisition company, Reuters reported Monday.

Daimler Trucks North America is going to offer fully integrated powertrains for its electric trucks the same way it does diesel trucks — through its Detroit technology subsidiary.

As CEO Elon Musk tweets support for the meme-based Dogecoin cryptocurrency, Tesla disclosed Monday it has invested $1.5 billion in Bitcoin and will let customers use it to buy electric vehicles.

Hyzon Motors, the fuel cell startup could get hundreds of millions of dollars in backing from a special purpose acquisition company this week.

Welcome to FreightWaves Truck Talk, your Friday look at industry news with context, perspective and a bit of commentary. You can get Truck Talk delivered via email by subscribing at https://www.freightwaves.com/truck-talk.

Peterbilt took five years and the input of 59 customers to complete a thorough redesign of its Class 8 flagship Model 579 that improves fuel economy by 7%.

Engine and power systems maker Cummins Inc. destroyed analyst estimates for Q4 as the loosening of COVID-19’s grip in China pushed record sales.

Trailer maker Wabash National is pruning its product portfolio to redeploy resources for growth it sees in refrigeration and last-mile delivery.

Weathering the COVID pandemic drove Volvo Group sales lower in 2020, but market share was stable and new orders are pouring in.

Daimler AG will create a stand-alone truck business, separating Daimler Trucks from the Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicle business to focus on zero-emissions technologies.

Meritor started with an electronic axle and worked forward to pull together all the major components of an electric powertrain that can propel an 80,000-pound line haul tractor or a medium-duty box truck.

Romeo Power Inc. claims a two-year lead over competitors in the race to fast-charging, long-range batteries for electric trucks. But new entries, backed by blank-check companies like Romeo was, are flooding the market.

Parts shortages and supply chain issues could push planned Q1 production into spring as robust orders continue in January.

BrightDrop, the new General Motors business-to-business electric first-to-last-mile delivery subsidiary, will sell 12,600 of its vans to Merchants Fleet.

Despite strong Q4, Daimler Trucks likely to miss analyst consensus on sales and profits based on parent company’s forecast.

General Motors is not the first automaker to commit to science-based carbon neutrality. Industry experts agree it will accelerate trucking electrification and the greening of the supply chain.

FreightWaves Truck Talk is a weekly newsletter adding perspective, context and commentary to industry news and trends.

Love’s Travel Stops is offering $75 to each of 28,000 employees across its businesses who voluntarily get the COVID vaccine.

End-to-end ecosystem combines Navistar trucks, GM fuel cell systems and mobile hydrogen producer in test on dedicated J.B. Hunt Transport routes.

As the trucking industry rebuilds toward meeting replacement demand, PACCAR expects new products will help it continue gaining market share.

The continuing impact from COVID impacts results but the Kenworth, Peterbilt and DAF parent company still turns in positive numbers.

Volvo Trucks North America and Mack Trucks are making parts easier to find and order by integrating a truck’s vehicle ID with its fleet unit number.

FreightWaves Truck Talk is a weekly newsletter adding perspective, context and commentary to industry news and trends.

Prices for used Class 8 tractors should maintain the momentum from the last half of 2020, but the nation’s unemployment rate could affect that, according to J.D. Power Valuation Services.

General Motors will spend $800 million to make a plant in Ingersoll, Canada the home of its first electric commercial delivery vans.

The second issue of FreightWaves Truck Talk looks at the past, present and future of WorkHorse Group.

When he tried to sell GM’s iconic Hummer brand to the Chinese a decade ago, Jim Taylor never imagined he would import tiny electric delivery van bodies from China to finish in the plant that spawned the hulking SUV.

2020 was supposed to be a year when trailer orders dropped after racing ahead of Class 8 tractor reservations. Even with practically no orders in April, annual trailer bookings blew away early-year predictions.

Navistar is selling an engine-testing facility in Illinois to an industrial park developer, laying off 250 employees by the end of the year. The need for engine testing is shrinking amid the industry transition to alternative propulsion like battery-electric vehicles.

The North American Council for Freight Efficiency will focus on electric vehicles for its third Run on Less demonstration, an exploration of what works and what needs work in the battery-electric commercial vehicle space.

Commercial vehicle electrification developer Proterra Inc. will go public via a reverse merger with special purpose acquisition company ArcLight Clean Transportation Corp. Daimler Trucks is among lead investors raising $648 million Proterra is expected to receive.

General Motors has created a new battery-electric first-to-last-mile business eyeing an $850 billion delivery market. Following a second pilot program, FedEx Express is slated to get the first 500 units of the EV600.

As car plants curtail production because of a global semiconductor shortage, suppliers and truck makers try to discern what to expect amid near-record Class 8 truck orders.

A parameter setting in 20,000 Navistar work trucks can allow engine revving during power takeoff to overwhelm the parking brake and allow the truck to move. It is the truck maker’s second recall for the condition in a year.

The purchase of 12.5 million shares of Hyliion stock with warrants issued to initial stock purchasers in SPAC sponsor Tortoise Acquisition Corp. netted $142 million for the hybrid truck driveline maker.

Here is the first issue of FreightWaves Truck Talk, a weekly newsletter adding perspective, context and commentary to industry news and trends.

Consumer goods demand, recovery in manufacturing and shortage of drivers combine to create profits that fleets spend to upgrade and expand truck capacity.

Nikola is recasting its board of directors to make crisis management and business expertise available to management as the electric truck startup seeks to regain credibility lost after a stratospheric beginning as a public company.

Workhorse Group booked its biggest order for its electric delivery vans, but the deal requires the company to come through on time starting this July — maybe.

Dana Inc. spotted the trend toward zero-emission commercial vehicles four years ago when China offered incentives for battery-powered buses. That led the Tier 1 supplier to start buying and partnering with companies to build an all-in approach to electrification.

Federal excise tax waiver could help Volvo’s VNR Electric truck reach price parity, says electric vehicles director

Daimler Trucks North America signed a consent order with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration agreeing to pay up to $30 million for tardiness in reporting safety recalls in 2017 and 2018.

Daimler AG is planning an initial public offering (IPO) of Daimler Trucks in late 2021, the German newspaper Handelsblatt reported Tuesday.

Hino Motors has suspended production until late 2021 because its engines don’t meet greenhouse gas emission standards.

Mark Duchesne’s resume includes working at process-driven Toyota Motor Corp. and freewheeling Tesla Inc. Now he is trying to keep Nikola’s $600 million plant on schedule to build battery-electric trucks and the first fuel cell electric trucks by the end of 2021.

The parking brake can apply without warning, increasing the possibility of a crash in four 2021 Volvo model lines. The company stopped delivery Dec. 8 to inspect trucks not already on their way to customers.

TravelCenters of America counted more than $88,000 in small change for the St. Christopher Trucker Relief Fund, bringing the charity close to its $1 million fundraising goal.

In the latest blow to already beleaguered Nikola Corp., Republic Services canceled an order for 2,500 battery-electric refuse trucks. It further calls into question how Nikola will generate revenue.

Brett Pope, director of electric vehicles for Volvo Trucks North America, suggests waiving the 103-year-old federal excise tax to help make the Volvo VNR Electric Class 8 regional hauler it will begin selling in 2021 more affordable.

German newspaper Handelsblatt says Daimler AG may spin off Daimler Trucks in 2021 to spare it the drag of Mercedes-Benz’s financial struggles.

Daimler Trucks North America CEO Roger Nielsen flatly stated in 2019 that “The Future is Electric.” In 2020, the company backed the pledge with multiple actions.

Deals with Daimler Trucks, Samsung and McLeod help fleets manage myriad solutions to make life easier for drivers.

Orders for new trailers dipped in November but the total bookings in the last three months are still the second highest in industry history.

The Girl Scouts move 200 million boxes of cookies nationwide every year. Ryder System felt It made sense they should be able to earn a merit badge for such tasty supply chain skills.

Trailer maker Wabash National plans to sell Beall tankers unit to MAC Trailers for an undisclosed price. It plans to use the proceeds for its parts and services, cold chain, and home delivery markets.

Navistar reported lower sales and earnings in its fiscal Q4 and for all of 2020 as it prepares to become part of Volkswagen’s TRATON Group.

Arizona’s largest public utility is seeking permission to sell cheap electricity to Nikola Corp. that would help the startup electric truck maker afford to build hydrogen fueling stations for its fuel cell electric trucks.

Heavy-duty trucks with collision avoidance, emergency braking and other safety technologies are beginning to enter the used truck market, potentially making the roads safer as older trucks are retired.

Heather Kettelhohn told the North American Supply Chain Summit she arrived at Cummins Inc. just four days before the pandemic began to shut down the company’s global operations. She had to learn on the fly while applying her decades of planning expertise.

TravelCenters of America caps its first year under new CEO Jonathan Pertchik by posting practically all its assets to secure a $200 million loan to carry out the turnaround expert’s business makeover.

Daimler Trucks North America says its Portland, Oregon, manufacturing plant has no carbon dioxide emissions and is the first facility to achieve carbon neutrality in Daimler’s global network.

With federal defense clearances and experience in transporting vaccines,, Boyle Transportation assumes niche role in moving COVID vaccine from Pfizer plant in Michigan to airports and UPS hub.

Soaring heights and crashing lows describe Nikola Corp.s first six months as a public company. Allegations of fraud and a stock price decline from the high $70s to the upper teens led Yahoo Finance users to vote the electric truck startup the worst company of the year.

Toyota is using the next-generation fuel cell that powers its 2021 Mirai passenger car in production-intent Kenworth trucks for internal testing as it begins handing off the earlier-generation fuel cells for customer demonstrations.

U.K.-based Arrival picks Charlotte, North Carolina, as its North American headquarters. It’s a 30-minute drive from its planned microfactory in South Carolina and close to UPS, a major customer for its electric vans.

Motiv Power is adding to its order book for medium-duty electrified chassis and generating revenue. Special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) interest is growing.

In a federal filing, Nikola founder Trevor Milton reports selling about 3.2 million of his 91.6 million shares in the electric truck startup.

The inside-out design of Canoo electric delivery vehicle means it could have many appearances as public trading for the $600 million SPAC-sponsored startup nears.

Arizona officials rooting for Nikola Corp. to make good on its plans for a $600 million electric truck assembly plant and hundreds of new jobs say construction is progressing.

Volvo Trucks North America will begin building production versions of its 50-state regional haul VNR Electric truck in early 2021 that include remote battery monitoring.

On its way to its debut as a public company, XL Fleet expands its electric drive-making business to include charging and energy storage infrastructure.

Preliminary Class 8 truck orders posted their third-highest number in history in November, continuing a stunning comeback from pandemic-depressed bookings earlier in the year.

PACCAR’s Columbus, MIssissippi engine plant’s proximity to nearby colleges and universities creates jobs at the $400 million facility where 250,000 engines have been manufactured in 10 years.

Preliminary Class 8 truck orders in November were the third highest in history as fleets anticipating steady freight demand locked up build slots in 2021.