Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/328695
A s important as any of the best-in- class criteria that drove Peterbilt engineers in designing the new Peterbilt Model 579 was that of the driver environment. In fact, it's one of the major reasons the Model 579 exists, giving single drivers a wide, spacious truck that maximizes both comfort and productivity. "We sought the input of at least 1,000 customers and drivers in creating the driver environment," says Jim Gossard, Peterbilt director of product planning. "We wanted to make sure we had a broad range of input from people who were familiar with competitors' trucks as well as ours. "What we heard most was this: Make it roomy, and make it comfortable." Among the tools engineers used to optimize seat position, gauge displays and access to controls and pedals was an adjustable test cab that they took to vari- ous truck stops and events where drivers congregated. Drivers took a seat in the test cab and could adjust virtually everything required to operate the truck to their liking and gave feedback on everything from seat positioning to pedal resistance. Pedal resistance, in fact, was just one of the criteria in making the Model 579 a best-in-class driver environment, accord- ing to director of sales and marketing Robert Woodall, who said clutch resis- tance was improved by 30 percent over comparable products. "We started from scratch in terms of developing the driver environment," Woodall says. "We spent significant time with customers, took their input and built it right into the Model 579." Another important consideration was seat positioning. "We spent a lot of time defining the best seat position, and tried to make it as objec- tive as we possibly could," says Woodall. "For example, we really tried to identify what drivers told us was the best sightline from eyepoint to gauges, or the position from the seat to the pedal package. We think we hit the mark with our response." Detachable sleeper The Model 579 sleeper is detach- able, thus providing versatility in both operations and at resale time, as well as making the truck an attractive option in a variety of applications that benefit from an optimal driver environment. Access to the sleeper is easy, with ample room between the seats and the large sleeper access. And the sleep- er itself features amenities that are unmistakably Peterbilt, according to W o o d a l l . T h e s e include: a functional and ergonomic busi- ness area, a high-per- formance climate con- trol system, a flat-panel TV mount and maximized storage space. "We are always working with trad- eoffs in weight, but we have engi- neered ways to make a wide, comfort- able cab without a weight penalty. We couldn't go to the market and say, 'We've given you a spacious cab, but at a weight penalty.' "If you're going to be best-in-class, you have to be best-in-class in all of the criteria that matter." 12 l FIRST CLASS Flexible cab helped create best-in-class driver environment BEST-IN-CLASS DRIVER ENVIRONMENT Built Around a Driver "What we heard most was this: Make it roomy, and make it comfortable." The ergonomic design and the line of sight to gauges of the Peterbilt Model 579 relied heavily on the input of customers.