You remember part one, right? That filthy expose on PACCAR’s European arm, DAF Trucks, knee-deep in a decade-long price-fixing cartel with the likes of Daimler and Volvo. They rigged prices, stalled green tech, and carved up markets like a back-alley deal gone wrong. Fined three-quarters of a billion euros, and what did they do? Paid up and shut up, no apologies, no heads rolling. And Cummins? Silent as a grave, powering those same trucks while the scandal festered. Well, turns out that was just the tip of the shit iceberg. PACCAR’s got so much more dirt under its hood we couldn’t cram it into one piece without it bursting at the seams. This is part two, and it’s uglier.

Let’s not forget – PACCAR is one of Cummins’ biggest global customers, a relationship that’s all steel and supply chains, joint developments and engines humming in Kenworths, Peterbilts, and DAFs across the planet. Cummins engines are the beating heart of PACCAR’s fleet, from North America to Europe. But here’s the kicker: this isn’t some isolated rot. It’s yet another stain in the long, twisted line of the Cummins ecosystem, where ethics seem like optional extras. How many more partners with “alternative ideas” on right and wrong does Cummins cosy up to before we start asking if the whole damn network is poisoned?

Emissions Cheats and CARB Settlements: Polluting the Air, Dodging the Blame

Christ, where do you even start with PACCAR’s emissions bullshit? In 2023, they got slapped by the California Air Resources Board for flogging over 16,000 heavy-duty engines that pissed all over California’s emission standards. We’re talking model years 2013 to 2021, engines that belched out excess crap because their control systems were faulty as hell. PACCAR didn’t just slip up – they imported and sold these non-compliant beasts, pumping more pollution into the skies while truckers and the public choked on it. And what did they do? Settled, paid penalties, promised fixes like recalls. But admit liability? Fuck no, they denied it all while signing the cheque.

This isn’t some minor glitch; it’s a pattern of cutting corners on the environment to save a buck. Hauliers buy these trucks thinking they’re clean-ish, governments shell out public cash for fleets, and meanwhile, the air gets dirtier, lungs blacker. PACCAR’s engines – often powered by Cummins, mind you – were out there accelerating climate fuckery. No public outcry, no leadership purge, just business grinding on. How the hell does a company this big keep skating on environmental crimes without a shred of accountability? It’s outrageous, a middle finger to anyone breathing the same air.

Suing CARB Over Clean Trucks: Fighting Progress Tooth and Nail

Fast forward to 2025, and PACCAR’s at it again, teaming up with Daimler, Volvo, and International to sue the California Air Resources Board and Governor Newsom. Why? Because California’s pushing stricter emissions rules for heavy-duty trucks, and these bastards want to block it, claiming it clashes with federal standards after the EPA yanked some waivers. They’re whining about “costly uncertainty” and antitrust bollocks in this so-called Clean Truck Partnership. Environmental groups are screaming it’s a ploy to gut pollution controls, and they’re spot on – this is corporate greed dressed up as legal nitpicking.

What a load of hypocritical shite. PACCAR bangs on about sustainability in their brochures, but when push comes to shove, they’re in court fighting to keep dirty trucks on the road longer. Truckers get stuck with outdated tech, cities drown in smog, and the planet heats up while these execs count their bonuses. It’s not just bad business; it’s a betrayal of every driver, every community choking on diesel fumes. And Cummins? Still supplying the engines, still silent. This lawsuit isn’t about clarity – it’s about delaying the inevitable, screwing over the future for quarterly profits. Bloody infuriating.

Defective MX-13 Engines: Breakdowns, Bills, and Bullshit

Then there’s the MX-13 diesel engines in Kenworth and Peterbilt trucks – a nightmare of clogs and failures that PACCAR knew about but buried. In 2023, a class action lawsuit hit, alleging these engines’ fuel injectors crap out prematurely, leaving trucks stranded and owners with eye-watering repair bills. Plaintiffs say PACCAR hid the defect, failed to warn or fix it properly, turning reliable rigs into money pits. And it’s not just one case; earlier suits from 2016-2023 claimed EPA tweaks made the engines unreliable, jacking up maintenance costs and downtime.

Imagine you’re a small haulier, betting your livelihood on a PACCAR truck, only for the engine to seize up mid-run because some design flaw they ignored bites you in the arse. Safety risks skyrocket – breakdowns on highways, potential crashes – all while PACCAR pockets the sales. It’s predatory, pure and simple. No apologies, no proactive recalls until the lawyers come knocking. This shit erodes trust in an industry where lives depend on gear that works. Outrageous that a giant like PACCAR peddles defective kit and expects drivers to eat the cost.

Whistleblower Retaliation Amid COVID Chaos: Silencing Safety Voices

Back in 2021, as COVID ripped through factories, PACCAR showed its true colours by allegedly firing a Peterbilt worker in Denton, Texas, for daring to raise alarms about piss-poor virus protections. The US Department of Labor sued, claiming they violated whistleblower laws under the Occupational Safety and Health Act. This bloke spoke up about inadequate measures putting lives at risk, and what did PACCAR do? Booted him out the door, no mercy.

It’s gut-wrenching – workers on the line, building those Cummins-powered trucks, facing a deadly pandemic, and the company prioritises production over people. No masks, no distancing, just grind through or get gone. The lawsuit demands back pay, damages, reinstatement, but PACCAR fought it tooth and nail, even losing a motion to dismiss in 2022. This isn’t just illegal; it’s morally bankrupt, a raw display of corporate arrogance. How many more voices got crushed? It’s a fucking disgrace, treating employees like disposable parts in their profit machine.

Overtime Wage Thefts: Screwing Workers on the Clock

PACCAR’s labour sins don’t stop there. In 2022, a class action – Wise v. PACCAR – accused them of stiffing production workers at Kenworth and Peterbilt plants on overtime. These folks were forced into unpaid pre-shift drudgery: donning gear, attending meetings, all off the books or rounded down to zero. Violating the Fair Labor Standards Act, shortchanging wages for the grunts who build their empire.

Picture it: exhausted workers clocking in early, sweating through unpaid hours, while execs rake in millions. It’s theft, plain and simple, robbing families of fair pay in an already brutal industry. No excuses – PACCAR’s a Fortune 500 beast; they can afford to play by the rules. But nah, they squeeze every penny, leaving employees bitter and broke. This shit boils the blood; it’s exploitation wrapped in corporate policy, another nail in the coffin of worker rights.

SEC Slap for Accounting Shenanigans: Fudging the Books

Flash back to 2013, when the SEC nailed PACCAR for internal accounting cock-ups that misled investors. They understated impaired receivables by 65 percent, botched reserves, and spouted inaccurate statements. Settled for a measly $225,000 penalty, no fraud admitted, just “deficiencies” swept under the rug.

But let’s call it what it is: sloppy, shady bookkeeping that paints a rosier picture than reality. Investors get screwed, markets get distorted, all because PACCAR couldn’t keep their numbers straight. In the wake of the financial crisis, this was salt in the wound – a company this size playing fast and loose with transparency. No real consequences, no reforms trumpeted. It’s infuriating how these giants dodge accountability, leaving the little guy holding the bag.

Product Liability Nightmares: Deadly Design Flaws

In 2018, Brewer v. PACCAR exposed their negligence in truck safety. A PACCAR glider kit lacked a backup alarm, contributing to a fatal accident that killed construction foreman Rickey Brewer. Courts batted it around, but the core issue? PACCAR’s design skimped on basic safety, turning vehicles into death traps.

Widows left grieving, families shattered, because PACCAR didn’t bother with features that could’ve saved lives. Other suits, like warranty breaches over defective trucks, pile on. It’s not accidents; it’s avoidable horror from penny-pinching on safety. Bloody hell, in an industry where one mistake kills, this is unforgivable. PACCAR’s rigs haul the world, but at what human cost?

UK Litigation Funding Fiasco: Gaming the Courts

Finally, in 2023, PACCAR was at the heart of a UK Supreme Court bombshell, ruling certain litigation funding deals unenforceable as “damages-based agreements.” They appealed in a competition case, upending the UK’s funding industry, sparking chaos over access to justice.

While not directly villainous, it’s PACCAR throwing their weight to dodge claims, potentially barring victims from court. Funders reeling, claimants screwed – all from a ruling they pushed. It’s gritty corporate warfare, prioritising defence over fairness. In a world of unequal power, this shit stacks the deck further against the underdog.

Lee Thompson – Founder, The Cummins Accountability Project

Customer Corner : PACCAR Part Two – The Company You Still Keep