Kane Is Able Sues Volvo, Others After CNG Truck Fire
Trucking and logistics operator Kane Is Able Inc. has sued Volvo Group North America, Cummins Westport and Agility Fuel Systems in connection with the fire and explosion of a CNG-powered tractor earlier this year, seeking to recover damages related to the incident.
Kane, based in Scranton, Pennsylvania, sued Volvo, engine maker Cummins Westport and Agility, which installed the fueling system, for breach of warranty. The case was filed in U.S. District Court in Pennsylvania, where the VNL64T300 caught fire and exploded earlier this year.
Volvo spokesman Avery Vise told Transport Topics the company believes the suit is “without merit,” noting that the engine and fuel tanks weren’t made by the OEM.
Cummins Westport made the compressed natural gas engine, and Agility manufactured and installed the CNG tanks and fuel delivery systems, the suit said.
“Based on our investigation we do not believe the fuel system caused or contributed to the incident,” said Agility spokesman Luis Salem, who said the company wouldn’t comment further because of the pending litigation.
Cummins Westport didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment.
The carrier in a statement said it hasn’t used the other six CNG tractors since the explosion for fear it could happen again. The carrier and logistics company, which ranks No. 26 among warehouse firms listed in Transport Topics Logistics 50, didn’t specify an amount of damages being sought.
At the time of the January 2015 incident, Kane’s suit said the truck had been owned for six months and run about 3,000 miles. The trucks were bought in July 2014 with a one-year or 100,000-mile warranty, the suit alleges.
“Volvo thoroughly investigated this incident in conjunction with the engine and tank manufacturers, keeping both the customer and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration fully updated throughout,” Vise said.
The suit claimed the fire was caused by “intense heat emanating from the exhaust system of the tractor, which ignited paint, fiberglass and/or other combustibles in the vicinity of the exhaust system.”
“Our testing found no support for the cause of the fire suggested by Kane,” the Volvo spokesman said, adding that the OEM “was unable to identify any defect in the design, materials or manufacturing in any of the components installed by Volvo.”
