Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/709236
August 2016 | Overdrive | 17 Tesla plans electric heavy-duty truck Tesla, maker of electric and semi-automated sedans, announced it has begun work on an elec- tric-powered heavy-duty truck. "In addition to consumer vehicles, there are two other types of electric vehicle needed: heavy-duty trucks and high passenger-density urban transport," Tesla CEO Elon Musk wrote in his blog at tesla.com. "Both are in the early stages of development at Tesla and should be ready for unveiling next year. We believe the Tesla Semi will deliver a substantial reduction in the cost of cargo transport, while increasing safety and making it really fun to operate." Tesla is not the first company this year to say it has an electric semi in the works. Start-up tech company Nikola also plans to release an electric Class 8 truck targeted at owner-operators. – Tom Quimby ArkansasEquip_OVD0316_PG.indd 1 2/23/16 2:28 PM FINAL IMPLEMENTATION of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's Unified Registra- tion System has been delayed until Jan. 14. Since the first phase of the URS was implemented in December, new applicants for carrier registration have been required to use the new streamlined online form. Existing carriers were supposed to be- gin using the system to do their biannual updates, name changes and transfers of authority on Sept. 30, but now won't be able to use the system until the Jan. 14 implementation. EUROPEAN TRUCK MAKERS were fined $3.24 billion following charges the group broke Europe- an Commission antitrust rules by colluding for 14 years on truck pricing and passing along the costs of compliance with stricter emissions rules. Volvo/ Renault, Daimler, Iveco and DAF acknowledged their involvement and agreed to settle. MAN was not fined, as it revealed the cartel's existence to the commission. TEXAS OFFICIALS inspected 7,795 commercial vehicles during the annual nationwide Roadcheck held June 7-9 and placed 1,751 (22.5 percent) out of service. While tires were the specific focus of Roadcheck 2016, the Texas Department of Public Safety said brakes and vehicle lighting were the most common vehicle infractions.