Overdrive

April 2014

Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info

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34 | Overdrive | April 2014 O ne of the crowd favorites at the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Ky., was Western Star's Optimus Prime, the heroic lead in the upcoming "Transformers: Age of Extinction" movie. Western Star officials hinted that if you imagine Optimus Prime without some of the movie makeup, you'll catch a sneak peek of their new highway tractor – one meant to carry the marquee's cachet and still hold its own against the industry's most fuel-efficient tractors. To be unveiled in the fall, the new aero-styled Western Star will be badged as a 5700. At Western Star's sister company under Daimler, Freightliner Trucks, new Cascadia options aimed at driver perfor- mance and safety were introduced: • ParkSmart HVAC system combined with Optimized Idle: An integration of two systems, this new feature automati- cally starts the engine if both the main and auxiliary battery packs are depleted. • Yellow B-pillar grab handle: This brightly colored handle option is more visible for cab entry in darkness. • Leaf spring suspension rating: The new 12.5K-rated suspension comple- ments the Detroit front axle offering and provides a smoother ride and weighs less than a 13.3K-rated suspension. • Genuine Bendix AD-9SI Air Dryer: More than 40 percent lighter with an additional 25 percent increase in capac- ity over the current AD-IP dryer, the AD-9SI has a spin-on cartridge for faster replacement. • Bright finish aero mirror (for the Cascadia Evolution): This new offering gives customers more options to custom- ize their trucks. • LED flush-mounted lights: Providing bright and clean light, the new back-of- cab flush-mounted LED lights also draw less amperage and have a longer life than incandescent lamps. roundup Manufacturers present upgrades, updates and more at Mid-America Trucking Show Daimler's Western Star 5700 will look similar to this model, customized for the next "Transformers" movie. Western star's movie lead gives hint of neW tractor Spring truck MATS_0414.indd 34 4/1/14 1:57 PM

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