Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/135388
disastrous consequence when it comes to speed management in those mountains. The Vedder guys definitely get a tip of my hat for doing it with such consummate skill. One of a driver's most fundamental tasks is harnessing power and torque in the most effective way to make a rig respond effectively in conditions such as these. This test showed me that no driver needs to be concerned about starting out with a power deficit when using a natural gas engine – even in severe-service high-capacity hauls. Text INFO to 205-289-3555 or visit www.ovdinfo.com sweat for this natural gas engine. That impression holds true as the drive to Boston Bar progresses. Any doubts concerning the ability of a natural gas engine to perform in a severeservice application are cast aside quickly. The engine's performance is a nonevent compared to diesel. In terms of every considerable metric, this engine performed just as well. I pulled out of Abbotsford heading East on Trans-Canadian Highway 1, running straight through the pancakeflat Fraser Valley. Once at speed, Kermit and the natural gas engine weren't sweating a bit. I always find Peterbilts a delight to drive, given their great visibility and superior handling characteristics, and both features were a bonus given the traffic around us. But I was more delighted to discover that there was plenty of oomph available from the Westport 15L if I decided to ease left and pass. Putting my foot to the floor brought an instant response and impressive acceleration, considering the payload. Things got more interesting when I turned north onto Trans-Canadian Highway 1 leading into the Cascades, a narrow two-lane affair cut into the mountainside. Its stunning vistas are offset by long tough grades and treacherous switchbacks, but the HPDI Westport 15L had more than enough power and flexibility to handle these steep grades. I was unprepared for how rapidly a bi-train can bleed off your speed on a steep grade. Forget missing a shift; in this situation, simply mistiming a shift – even if you hit it perfectly – can have a Jack Roberts is equipment editor for Overdrive. To read other drive tests by Roberts and Steve Sturgess, scan this code or visit OverdriveOnline. com/drive-tests. June 2013 | Overdrive | 41 TestDrive_0613.indd 41 5/28/13 10:36 PM