The Weekly Iron: Emissions Strategy, Machine Control Tech, and Tariff Developments

The iron never sleeps, and neither does the news cycle. This week on The Weekly Iron, Jessica Klein walks through a stacked lineup of stories that hit everything from engine tech and factory expansions to fleet data and federal trade policy. And with Conexpo right around the corner, keep your boots laced and your feeds refreshed. Next week we’ll be on the ground with wall-to-wall coverage across our website, YouTube channel, and social channels — Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and X — bringing you the machines, the tech, and the people shaping the future of construction equipment in real time. Now, watch the video above or just click on the news stories below. Choose wisely.

Detroit Diesel Reveals its '27 Emissions Plans

Detroit Diesel, the captive engine brand for Freightliner and Western Star trucks, announced it will meet 2027 exhaust emissions limits with a combination of mechanical and electronic advances that comprise its Gen 6 engines.  Oxides of nitrogen (NOx), the principal target of the ’27 limits, will be cut to the required 0.035 gram per horsepower-hour, down more than 80% from the current 0.2 gram. Building on an inline 6-cylinder heavy-duty engine platform that originated in 2007, the Gen 6 products will include a redesigned and simplified fuel system, new injectors, asymmetric intake ports, altered camshaft timing, pre-treatment of exhaust gases, higher fluid dosing, and a thermal control valve on its DD13, DD15, and DD16 diesels. Read more…

Vermeer Expands Des Moines Operations

Vermeer is expanding its presence in the Des Moines metro area. It has acquired 186 acres of land to build a 300,000-square-foot facility in Bondurant, Iowa. The company says the facility will initially create more than 300 jobs related to the manufacture and support of Vermeer industrial parts and equipment. Vermeer began operations in Des Moines in 2023 and today a team of 143 works out of 108,000 square feet delivering parts and equipment. The new investment will support the growth the company has seen due to increasing customer demand across all markets. This facility will include advanced manufacturing tools and practices, a patented air circulation system and other investments to ensure another world-class manufacturing location, Vermeer says. Read more…

AI Curiosity, Aging Equipment, and Rising Costs: What Fleetio’s 2026 Report Reveals

Fleetio is a fleet maintenance and asset management software company based in Birmingham, Alabama. It offers a wide range of products that handle fleet, tool, fuel, parts, and work order management in one system. The company started back in January 2012, so you can imagine all the interesting data it has collected and analyzed over the years. Wonder no longer. In its 2026 Fleet Benchmark Report, Fleetio analyzed data from 1.2 million vehicles, 17.5 billion miles, $7 billion in service spend, and more than 9 million work orders. It also surveyed more than 600 fleet professionals. That’s a serious dataset. Let’s pull out eight lessons construction fleet managers and shop leads can use. Read more…

Leica and Liebherr Expand Machine Control for Gen 8 Excavators

Leica Geosystems and Liebherr have expanded their collaboration with the factory integration of Leica Geosystems’ sensor chain across Liebherr’s Generation 8 mobile and crawler excavators. The company began launching its Generation 8 crawler excavators in 2019. The new solution provides contractors with a clear upgrade path to advanced 3D machine control. The integrated sensor chain from Leica Geosystems will serve as the foundation for Liebherr’s machine control guidance systems, including weighing systems and bucket fill assist, while delivering  easy-to-use 2D directly through the Liebherr in-cab display. Leica Geosystems’ 3D machine control system is optionally available, fully integrated via the Liebherr factories, or as a later aftermarket upgrade. Read more…

Supreme Court Ruling Won’t Lower Equipment Costs Any Time Soon

In a 6-3 decision last week, the Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration overstepped its authority by using emergency powers under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose broad tariffs. That ruling knocks down a major chunk of the administration’s tariff framework, but don’t start celebrating cheaper iron just yet. Trump immediately signaled a new 10 percent global duty and additional trade investigations. Over the weekend, Trump raised that broad global tariff to 15 percent. It may be higher or lower tomorrow. For equipment dealers and fleet managers, this moment is mostly about watching to see what happens next, but the equipment makers are pleased with the decision. Read more…