The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Assn. has fired another salvo at Volvo Trucks North America in its quest to get to the bottom of alleged front axle problems on Volvo trucks. But Volvo officials question the accuracy and relevancy of the latest revelation by OOIDA's LandLine magazine.
Yesterday, LandLine's online edition reported that it had learned of a suit bought against Volvo by several fleets. According to the article, the suit alleged the same type of defects that OOIDA recently reported to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in a petition to open an investigation. (Volvo has encouraged NHTSA to open such an investigation in order to put the issue to rest - an issue which they say they have been working with OOIDA on for some time.) The OOIDA petition, filed in March, detailed complaints concerning the front end of the truck, including severe vibration, trouble steering, premature wear on steer tires, parts wearing out prematurely, and tractors being overweight on the steering axle. While corporate legal policy prevented him from commenting on the details of the pending lawsuit reported by LandLine, Volvo spokesman Keith Brandis said that the complaints in the lawsuit as reported are not the same kinds of problems reported in the OOIDA petition. These complaints appear to deal with the drive shaft, rather than the front axle, he told Truckinginfo.com. The LandLine article says that Stone Transport Inc., Amazon Transportation Inc., Lady Hawk Inc., and Kathleen Eddy filed suit in U.S. District Court in Lansing, Mich., alleging mechanical defects that include torque problems and driveshaft, differential, release bearing, transmission, and cab defects. The carriers have purchased more than 200 Volvo tractors over the last six years. Brandis said OOIDA and LandLine representatives have not contacted Volvo regarding these latest allegations.
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