🚛 Fleetline • July 16, 2025
New Rigs, New Rules, and a Not-So-Silent Tariff Storm
🔦 OEM Spotlight
🏆 International Honors Top Suppliers
International Motors spotlighted the best in its vendor base, handing out its 2025 Diamond Supplier Awards to 29 companies. Criteria included delivery performance, quality, cost, and partnership strength—essential pillars as the OEM sharpens its supply chain in a post-pandemic market.
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🚚 Mack Pioneer Brings Safety to the Front Line
Mack’s all-new highway hauler, the Pioneer, features a reimagined cab and a tech-heavy safety suite. Targeted at long-haul applications, it offers lane-keep assist, rollover prevention, and a driver-centric ergonomic redesign. Mack wants a bigger bite of the interstate pie—and this might just do it.
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🔁 Daimler Refocuses on North America
Daimler Trucks North America is dialing back global distractions to zero in on U.S. dealer operations, service networks, and EV deployments. Following executive changes, Freightliner and Western Star are set for tighter alignment with regional fleet needs.
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🛞 Hankook Tires Builds a U.S. Leadership Bench
Hankook has bolstered its commercial tire team with three new execs, underscoring a push into fleet programs and dealer partnerships. The move hints at a broader strategy to grab more market share in North American truck tire supply.
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🏪 Dealer Dashboard
🚨 Tariff Troubles Ahead?
Dealers and fleet buyers are bracing for disruption as U.S.–Mexico trade tensions heat up. The looming threat of a 30% tariff on Mexican imports has spurred unease across the industry, especially among OEMs and suppliers with deep cross-border ties. Mexico is a key producer of Class 6–8 trucks, engines, and key components—meaning any policy shift could push up vehicle costs, tighten inventory, and strain delivery timelines. Some buyers are already front-loading orders to beat potential price hikes. Dealers, meanwhile, are updating forecasts and cash flow models in anticipation. While no tariff has been finalized, the uncertainty alone is freezing some Q3 decision-making and accelerating Q2 deal closings.
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⚙️ Fleet Tech Brief
⚡ Allison + Maryland = Zero-Emission School Buses
Allison Transmission and the Maryland Transit Administration are teaming up to bring Allison’s eGen Power™ 100D e-axles to school bus fleets statewide. Expect quieter rides, lower maintenance costs, and increased interest from other DOTs across the country.
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📡 Merchants Fleet Bets Big on Telematics
Merchants Fleet is going all-in on integrated tech to manage its growing EV lineup. From predictive maintenance to real-time charging insights, they’re transforming fleet ops with advanced telematics. Think Tesla, but for your last-mile Sprinter.
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🧠 TriumphPay Launches AI to Spot Freight Fraud
With $27B in freight payments flowing through its platform, TriumphPay just turned on an AI system to catch duplicate invoices and shady transactions. Think of it as the compliance assistant your accounting team never had.
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🧪 Regulatory Radar
📉 DOE Faces Backlash Over Diesel Cost Models
A new report accuses the Department of Energy of using outdated data that skews diesel truck costs against electric models—potentially delaying broader EV adoption. Critics call it a "math malfunction with national consequences."
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🧭 Backhaul Bits
🔋 Canada Says 1 in 3 Fleets Are EV-Ready
A new Canadian study finds that 33% of commercial trucks could be electrified today—with no range or infrastructure issues. Readiness is highest in urban LTL fleets.
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🛢️ Diesel Prices Climb 11 Cents
Average national diesel cost hits $3.94/gallon after Gulf Coast refinery slowdowns and summer demand spikes.
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📉 Used Class 8 Sales Slide Again
Used truck volumes dropped 8% YoY in June. Pricing held mostly steady—signaling a plateau after two years of turbulence.
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🌱 Sustainability Scorecard Gives Fleets a Boost
An industry report from OTRM praises progress on emissions reductions per ton-mile—driven by route optimization and modern diesel tech.
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☕ Final Take
From Mack’s Pioneer to Allison’s school bus play, the future of trucking is shaping up fast—and cleaner. Dealer groups are watching tariffs and telematics, while fleets debate if AI can save dollars or just add dashboards. And if you’re not planning for electrification, Canada just called you out.
