Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/472327
Severe Service 38 | Overdrive | March 2015 T880 named aTd's Truck of The Year The Kenworth T880 was named the American Truck Dealers' Commercial Truck of the Year at the ATD Con- vention and Expo in San Francisco, besting the Peterbilt 567 and the International WorkStar 7600 in this year's heavy-haul/severe service-focused competition. The trucks were judged by a panel of commercial transportation journalists, including Overdrive's own Jack Roberts, and YRC driver Greg Nauertz. The T880, which featured the Paccar MX-13 engine, ranked high in exterior design and style, and also received praise for its interior looks. The truck's handling at high and low speeds also scored high marks. "The attention to detail that went into the design of this vehicle is impressive," Roberts said of the T880. "It is a sturdy design. Everything in this cab could practically be used as a grab handle because they understand how tricky a vocational worksite is." The WorkStar received good marks for aesthetics and its roomy cab and interior layout. The Peterbilt 567 in the competition featured a natural gas engine and received high marks for safety. Kenworth Truck Co., Kenworth.com upTime: Terrapro, GraniTe pumpers GeT mack's GuarddoG supporT opTion To simplify service needs for concrete pumper customers, Mack Trucks now offers specialized support. The company's GuardDog Connect integrated telematics solution will be standard on Mack TerraPro concrete pumper models ordered as of April. Also included is spe- cialized body builder support, the company says. Designed to maximize uptime by streamlining service needs, the support program combines Mack OneCall – Mack's 24/7 customer support service agents – and techni- cal and dealership experts with specialized body builder knowledge. The result: a simplified network of focused customer support to help minimize downtime. "As soon as a critical fault code is detected, the body builder support team is on the case, making the communication proactive, seamless and comprehensive," says Stephen Roy, president of Mack North American sales and marketing. The program has been standard on Pinnacle, Granite and Titan models since 2013. Mack Trucks, MackTrucks.com The winning truck featured a Paccar MX-13 engine. eQuipmenT neWs in Brief International Truck's WorkStar voca- tional model now is available with the Cummins ISB6.7 engine, following availability of the engine in the DuraStar since late 2013. The WorkStar features multiple frame rail options and a double- sided galvanized steel cab protected by a five-step cor- rosion protection process, and comes standard with the Diamond Logic electrical system. Other powertrain options include Navistar's proprietary 9.3- and 13-liter offerings, with manual and automated manual transmis- sion options from Eaton and fully automatic options from Allison. The ISB is rated up to 325 hp and 750 lb.-ft. of torque. International- Trucks.com. Eaton expanded the com- pany's lineup of UltraShift Plus automated transmis- sions for vocational applica- tions through enhanced split-shaft power take-off capabilities designed to allow for transmission gear selection and clutch control outside of a vehicle's cab. Based on vehicle application and body builder design, the transmission also allows for the use of all gear ratios for PTO minimum and maximum drive gears, the company says. Eaton.com. Mack Trucks intro- duced a heavy-duty version of its mDrive automated manual transmission. The mDrive HD is suited for construction applications and is designed to work with Mack MP7 and MP8 engines. The 12-speed AMT will be available as standard equip- ment on the Mack Granite model, facilitating improved performance in demanding on- and off-road applica- tions. MackTrucks.com.