Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/573961
36 COMMERCIAL CARRIER JOURNAL | SEPTEMBER 2015 EQUIPMENT Navistar and Caterpillar each announced in July that they're ending their partnership, an arrangement under which Navistar has produced and engineered Cat-branded CT series trucks since 2011. Navistar also announced it will launch a new line of pre- mium PayStar vocational trucks beginning in early 2016, us- ing some of the shared technologies and intellectual property from its venture with Caterpillar. "Navistar and Caterpillar have had a strong collabora- tive working relationship through a number of projects and partnerships for many, many years," said Bill Kozek, Navistar Truck and Parts president. "This next phase provides Navistar with an exciting opportunity to introduce new technologies and product features into our new line of premium voca- tional trucks." Navistar will continue to manufacture trucks for Caterpil- lar through 2016, and both companies will have the opportu- nity to leverage certain joint intellectual property, collaborate with suppliers and utilize licensing agreements moving forward. "We appreciate the collaboration we have had with Navistar," said Chris Chadwick, Caterpillar's director of the Global On-Highway Truck Group. "As we look to future launches of new truck models, this updated strategy will better position us to help provide our customers with the best products and services for this market." Caterpillar said the transition process will begin immediately, with production expected to begin at the company's plant in Victoria, Texas, in the fi rst half of next year. Also, Cater- pillar dealers will continue to sell and support Cat vocational trucks. Caterpillar, Caterpillar.com Navistar Inc., Navistar.com The 60-truck Carolina Waste & Recycling fl eet, based around Charleston, S.C., is comprised mostly of Mack models, which cofounder Scott Fennell turns to for reliability on rough-and- tumble urban routes and in and out of landfi lls. To help enhance both safety and customer service, each truck is outfi tted with a brake retarder system to help maintain a steady speed when traveling downhill. All also are outfitted with a tablet-driven route management system, allowing the driver to not only record service calls and report items on pre- and post-trip inspec- tions but also photograph any issues such as overloaded containers or vehicles blocking pickup. Drivers can send the data back to the office before they complete their route, and the photos provide support for issues that previously might have been open to dispute. Mack Trucks, MackTrucks.com Executive Editor Jack Roberts A 15L engine for Caterpillar CT series trucks? | Caterpillar's Chris Chadwick told CCJ Executive Editor Jack Roberts in July that Caterpillar has "no plans" to re-enter the on- highway engine business. For now, Caterpillar will con- tinue to spec the Navistar- built CT13 13-liter diesel engine for its CT trucks. "The big hole for us right now is obviously the lack of a 15-liter engine," Chadwick said. "But we have a strategy in place to add a 15-liter option before yearend and will o er more details on that in the fall." Caterpillar, Navistar part ways on CT series trucks Macks handle dirty work for Carolina fleet Carolina Waste & Recycling's maintenance workers have adjusted to the higher-level technology o ered by the newer Macks and will continue performing most of their own maintenance in-house.