The U.S. trucking industry is facing a major shake-up. On October 1, 2025, a new 25% tariff on imported heavy-duty trucks will take effect, reshaping costs for fleets, manufacturers, and suppliers alike. For companies like Freightliner, one of America’s most recognized heavy-truck brands, the tariff creates both challenges and opportunities.
What the Tariff Covers
Scope: All heavy-duty truc
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Seventeen-Character Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)
Typical VIN
2 W K
H
A B
A V
1
1
K
A 1 2 3 4 5
Character Position
1, 2, 3
4
5, 6
7, 8
9
10
11
12–17
Code Description
World Manufacturer Identification
Chassis Configuration
Model, Cab, GVWR
Engine, Brakes
Check Digit Calculation
Model Year
Build Location
Production Serial Number
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Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 115 specifies that all vehicles sold in the U.S. be assigned a 17-character Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). Using a combination of letters and numerals, the VIN defines the manufacturer, model, and major characteristics of the vehicle.
The build date of a vehicle must be determined before the VIN can be decoded: a different VIN-code structure is u
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When shopping for remanufactured or replacement engines, you’ll often come across terms like Long Block, 3/4 Engine, and PowerChoice Engine. Each of these options provides a different level of components, coverage, and cost depending on what you need.
Here’s a breakdown:
Long Block
Key Benefits:Built to generic specificationFast delivery (common models kept in stock)Lowest cost option
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All the versions have a self-adjusting mechanism, with no wear indication or reset functions, and use organic friction material in the disk. The self-adjusting mechanism is locked in place, when the pressure plate is removed for service, by a sensor pin which contacts the face of the flywheel. See Fig. 1.However, care should be taken to prevent the pressure plate from being dropped, or resting on
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Heavy-duty trucks must comply with strict weight-distribution laws to operate legally and efficiently. One of the most effective solutions is the lift axle—an auxiliary axle that can be raised or lowered depending on the load. Lift axles are common in North America and Europe and are widely used in heavy transport, logging, and construction.
What Is a Lift Axle?
A lift axle (somet
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Applicable Vehicles
M2, M2 Plus, and New Cascadia vehicles with a Cummins diesel engine (B6.7, L9, X12, X15) that is equipped with the Cummins CM2450 engine controller.
Symptoms
Issues with regeneration of the aftertreatment system, coupled with either of the following Cummins engine controller fault codes:
Code 3558 (Aftertreatment 1 DEF Dosing Unit-Voltage Above Normal or Shorted To High S
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Applicable Vehicles
New Cascadia with an Allison 3000 Series or 4000 Series automatic transmission.
Business Class M2 PLUS or SD PLUS with an Allison 3000 Series or 4000 Series automatic transmission and an ICUC instrument cluster. (PLUS series trucks use the CEEA+ electrical architecture. This solution does not apply to M2 or SD trucks that use a Bulkhead Module.)
3000 Seri
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General InformationDetroit Diesel DD15 engines are equipped with two serpentine, poly-V drive belts and two automatic belt tensioners. The rear belt (closest to the engine block surface) drives the alternator, the A/C compressor, and the water pump. The other, front belt drives the engine fan. Both drive belts are kept at the correct tension by a system of pulleys and a dual automatic belt tension
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