Trucking news and briefs for Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026:
- Make sure you’re staying off restricted routes in this state.
- New warranty options from OEM aim to add flexibility for customers.
- Thieves targeting CPCs in major Texas metro.
Roadside blitz targeted trucks on restricted roads
The New York State Police recently conducted a two-day Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Detail on the Taconic State Parkway in Westchester, Putnam, Dutchess and Columbia counties.
During the effort, held Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, NYSP issued a total of 376 Uniform Traffic Tickets, including:
- 198 tickets for violations of the Parkway Rules and Regulations prohibition of commercial vehicle from operating within the parkway system.
- 78 tickets for violations of the parkway prohibition of vehicles displaying painted or affixed signs, names, or insignia from operating on the parkway system.
- 100 tickets for other violations of the New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law.
Troopers also completed 19 commercial vehicle inspections, resulting in 63 violations. Four drivers and five trucks were placed out-of-service as a result of violations.
NYSP also issued a reminder that commercial vehicles, including tractor-trailers, vehicles displaying commercial signage, and vehicles towing trailers, are prohibited from operating on the following parkways in New York State:
The news from New York follows results published yesterday from the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance’s “Operation Safe Driver Week” annual traffic-enforcement effort. New York’s truck enforcement division isn’t known for a focus on traffic enforcement, ranking near the bottom (No. 41) among the continental U.S. states in Overdrive and sister company RigDig‘s annual analysis. In 2025, moving violations accounted for just 4.2% of all violations written in New York, well below the nearly 7% national average.
[Related: Truckers take the brunt of Operation Safe Driver Week enforcement]
Mack intros new tailored warranty options
Mack Trucks this week launched four new warranty plans designed to give customers more flexible coverage options to protect their vehicle, manage unexpected repair expenses and tailor coverage to their specific needs.
The new Chassis System Plans were developed in response to customer demand for more flexible protection options, the company said. They provide targeted coverage for key vehicle systems rather than requiring customers to purchase vehicle coverage more broad than they may need.
The new lineup includes four system-based coverage options:
- Driveline: Protects components responsible for transferring power and keeping the truck moving.
- Cab and Exterior: Protects systems associated with vehicle structure, ride quality, braking, steering and the driver environment.
- HVAC: Protects components that maintain cab comfort.
- Safety and Vehicle Electronics: Protects electrical, electronic, connected vehicle and advanced safety systems.
The Safety and Vehicle Electronics Plan is particularly valuable for customers seeking protection for advanced electrical and connected vehicle systems, Mack noted. As trucks continue to incorporate more electronic controls, telematics and safety technologies, fleets can choose focused coverage for these components without purchasing broader chassis coverage.
The new offerings also address the growing complexity of today’s trucks, Mack added.
“The needs of today’s fleets continue to evolve as vehicles become more technologically advanced and operating costs remain a key business consideration,” said Ashish Sadhu, Mack services director. “We created these new Chassis System Plans to give customers more choices, enabling them to protect the systems that matter most to their operation while also helping to reduce the risk of unexpected repair costs and downtime.”
Customers can select an individual system plan, combine multiple system plans to create coverage tailored to their needs, or choose the comprehensive Chassis Plan for broad vehicle protection. Every component covered under the comprehensive Chassis Plan is also available through one of the new system-based offerings.
The new Chassis System Plans offer several customer benefits, including greater flexibility in selecting coverage, protection from large, unplanned repair expenses, and additional cost predictability as vehicles age. The plans also help customers manage exposure to rising parts and labor costs while providing protection for increasingly sophisticated truck technologies.
[Related: New Volvo, Mack recalls hit 4K trucks]
Beware engine-computer theft in Texas
A Houston, Texas-area truck dealer warned truck owners of a recent uptick in Common Powertrain Controller (CPC) theft.
The CPC is a computer module found in certain trucks behind the dash that manages a number of vehicle functions.
In an interview with local news outlet Fox 26, Lawrence Truck and Trailer Sales LLC owner Chet Lawrence said thieves have been breaking into trucks on his lot and stealing the computers, not only resulting in the loss of the CPC but damaging equipment with broken windows, dashes and wiring.
Lawrence told the news outlet his business has been hit four times of late, with 16 trucks targeted in total. He said the cost to replace a stolen CPC is between $1,000 and $2,000, not to mention downtime and repairs to other damages.
Lawrence said the CPCs thieves are targeting are found in Freightliner trucks older than model year 2020. His business has begun removing the CPCs from trucks while parked on the lot and leaving the wires exposed, hopefully to show thieves that the devices are not in the trucks to prevent further damage. He recommended that owners of trucks with CPCs do the same when parked.
Read more about the thefts in the Fox 26 report here.
[Related: CPC repair company develops theft prevention harness]
