Volvo recalling trucks for loose lug nuts | Commercial Carrier Journal

Trucking news and briefs for Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024:

Volvo Trucks North America is recalling some 2025 model year trucks in which the wheel lug nuts may be improperly tightened, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration documents.

The recall population includes approximately 156 MY 2025 Volvo VN and VHD models. Volvo said in the affected trucks, inadequate left side lug nut torque records were identified by its assembly operations that were built between Aug. 19 and Aug. 26.

Improperly tightened lug nuts can allow the wheel to detach, increasing the risk of a crash.

Dealers will tighten the left-side lug nuts, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Nov. 11. Owners may contact Volvo Trucks customer service at 1-800-528-6586 with recall number RVXX2407. NHTSA’s recall number is 24V-665.

Two trailer-related recalls were also announced this week by Great Dane and Trail King.

Great Dane’s recall includes approximately 10 model year 2025 Champion dry van trailers in which the rear impact guards may have been welded improperly.

Great Dane determined that the affected trailers built in its Brazil, Indiana, and Kewanee, Illinois, manufacturing facilities were equipped with hot dipped galvanized rear impact guards fabricated by its Huntsville, Tennessee, manufacturing facility that were missing two welds between the angled attachments and the top plate. Great Dane's investigation found that 45 trailers with this defect had been shipped prior to its discovery. After discovery of the defect, all remaining product was inspected and corrected prior to leaving our manufacturing facilities.

Dealers will inspect and repair the rear impact guard as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Nov. 12. Owners may contact Great Dane customer service at 1-877-369-3493. NHTSA’s recall number is 24V-689.

Trail King’s recall affects approximately 39 model year 2019-’20 TKHDG Paver Special lowboy trailers in which the gooseneck lift lower cylinder mount may fatigue and crack, which can cause the trailer to drop suddenly during the loading or unloading process. A trailer that suddenly drops to the ground during loading or unloading increases the risk of injury, the recall noted.

The recall population includes all vehicles of this model from start of production until the addition of reinforced supports. The updated lower cylinder mounts will have visible added reinforcements.

Trail King noted that once the gooseneck is in the transport position, the lower cylinder mount cannot fail due to a mechanical stop to support the load for transport.

Dealers will install reinforcements to the lower cylinder mount, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed Sept. 27. Owners may contact Trail King customer service at 1-800-843-3324. NHTSA’s recall number is 24V-670.

The Internal Revenue Service on Sept. 20 published Notice 2024-68, announcing the special per diem rates for fiscal year 2025 have increased over prior levels.

The per diem rate for taxpayers in the transportation industry will increase from $69 to $80 per day for travel inside the United States and $86 per day for travel outside the United States. Per diem has been at $69 for U.S. travel since 2021.

Drivers must be away from home to qualify for per diem. IRS publication 463 states that drivers are traveling from home if:

The IRS allows drivers to deduct 80% of the per diem rate -- $64 for travel in the U.S. and $68.80 for travel outside the U.S. The new rates take effect Oct. 1.

For any motor carriers using the High-Low Substantiation Method, the rates increase from $309 to $319 for travel to high-cost localities and from $214 to $225 for travel to any other locality within the continental U.S. The high-cost localities recognized by the IRS can be found in the new per diem notice.