In 2016, the trucking industry saw several major news stories play out on a near daily basis. Major updates to emissions regulations, the end of Cat Truck, and, of course, the presidential election all caught the attention of our readers in a big way this year.

Here are the most-read news stories of 2016:

1. Caterpillar to End Cat Truck Program

Caterpillar Inc. will discontinue production of its Cat Truck on-highway vocational trucks, blaming "the current business climate in the truck industry" for its withdrawal from the market.

2. Phase 2 GHG Rules to Curtail Use of Glider Kits

Starting in January of 2021, under the new greenhouse gas regulations, glider kits will be allowed mostly for their original purpose, which was reclaiming late-model powertrains from wrecked trucks. 

3. Caterpillar Reaches Settlement in EPA Emissions Lawsuit

Caterpillar has reached a settlement in a class action lawsuit over allegedly defective ACERT EPA 2007-compliant engines, with owners of these engines eligible to receive $500 to $10,000 per engine.

4. EPA Not Backing off GHG Rules for Trailers, Glider Kits

EPA and NHTSA have again indicated they intend to regulate truck trailers and glider kits under their Phase 2 proposal for limiting the GHG emissions and fuel consumption of on-highway trucks.

5. Volvo’s SuperTruck Exceeds EPA Freight Efficiency Goals

Volvo Trucks North America’s SuperTruck demonstration rig combined advanced aerodynamics, vehicle and powertrain technologies to achieve a freight efficiency improvement of 88%, averaging 12 mpg in road tests.

6. Trump Picks Chao to Head DOT

No stranger to the Executive Branch, Chao served as secretary of labor throughout President George W. Bush’s two terms and as deputy secretary of transportation under President George H.W. Bush. 

7. Nikola One Fuel Cell Electric Truck Promises High Fuel Economy, Low Maintenance

If enthusiasm ensures success, Nikola One, the fuel cell-electric long-haul tractor unveiled Thursday night in Salt Lake City, is a sure thing. It promises low maintenance and high fuel economy, but production is still a ways away. 

8. USPS Adds Another 3,000 Ram ProMaster Vans

FCA has started delivering another 3,339 Ram ProMaster cargo vans to the U.S. Postal Service in a second order that follows a 9,113-vehicle order last year.

9. DOT Finally Proposes Truck Speed-Limiter Rule

Federal safety regulators are proposing that heavy-duty vehicles be equipped with speed-limiting devices set to a specific maximum speed.

10. Congress Completes Hours-of-Service Fix

Special legislation that contains language to fix the legislative glitch that threatened use of a 34-hour restart as part of the hours-of-service rule for truck drivers passed the Senate late Friday night, Dec. 9.