Terminal Tractor Safety Notice

Earlier this month, Kalmar issued a recall notice with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The recall applies to the Ottawa T2 4×2 DOT/EPA, Ottawa T2 Off Road, and Ottawa T2 6×4 DOT/EPA terminal tractor configurations.

The power distribution board in the cabin can experience a breakdown of electrical insulation resistance and may also be subject to a short circuit and has, in very rare circumstances, led to thermal events. Units involved with these events account for a very small portion of the Ottawa T2 fleet—less than 0.1%* of total units.

While these instances are rare, Kalmar is taking proactive steps to address the issue and support the continued safety and reliability of the Ottawa T2 units.

The recall will provide the addition of a remote ground stud (RGS/fuse) to completely isolate certain electrical circuits and prevent thermal events from occurring.

Kalmar will notify customers directly in the upcoming weeks with further details on implementation of the RGS in the affected vehicles.

The Kalmar service team will work directly with customers to coordinate scheduling, helping return their vehicles to service as promptly as possible.

Kalmar focuses on investing in sustainable innovations in the area of decarbonized and electric equipment, and equipment with driver assistance and autonomous functions, enabled by data, digital and AI capabilities to maximize uptime and increase productivity, which has a potential for lower total cost of ownership.

“Customer safety and the reliability of their operations are of utmost importance to us,” said Thor Brenden, President, Terminal Tractors, Kalmar.

“We are taking direct action to reach affected owners, provide clear guidance and complete the necessary work. We will work closely with customers and our service network throughout this process to help keep their Ottawa T2 terminal tractor fleets productive.”