Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/391783
October 2014 | Overdrive | 53 For videos of this test drive and others by Equipment Editor Jack Roberts, see the Drive Tests playlist at youtube.com/ OverdriveMag. VDO and RoadLog – Trademarks of the Continental Corporation www.vdoroadlog.com Call: (855)-ROADLOG Visit: www.vdoroadlog.com E-mail: roadlog-sales@vdo.com Still using paper logs? Life just got a whole lot easier... No fees affordability VDO RoadLog ™ ELD & Fleet Software: • Fast, accurate, easy recording and reporting for HOS, IFTA, IRP and DVIR. • No monthly fees required. • Built-in printer for rapid roadside checks. • Free software upgrades for FMCSA compliance. • Plug and play installation. • Easy automation of compliance record keeping. • Optional data transfer through your cell phone. • Lowest cost solution for full regulatory compliance. Online convenience VDO RoadLog ™ ELD & Fleet Online ™ : Internet-based fleet software adds a range of management features available online, anytime. • Driver availability countdown. • Controlled data access for Drivers, Managers, and Administrators. • Automatically identifies compliance problems. • Exceptions dashboard – for easy monitoring of compliance issues. CO2138_Overdrive_RoadLog_VintageDriver_HalfPage_10-14_v1.0.indd 1 9/18/14 1:31 PM Untitled-2 1 9/29/14 9:40 AM Text INFO to 205-289-3555 or visit www.ovdinfo.com an AMT while you're working your way through Las Vegas' crowded inter- states. On the open road, I found Western Star's newest truck to be a bit of a speed demon. Even on steep grades in the mountains outside Sin City, the truck accelerated quickly with plenty of reserve power remaining. Steering was extremely tight, and the truck was highly nimble when changing lanes. Optional safety features included a host of Meritor Wabco systems, including OnGuard Lane Departure Warning, OnGuard Collision Mitigation and OnGuard Adaptive Cruise Control, as well as electronic stability and roll sta- bility control systems. The views over the nose of modern trucks are always excellent, thanks to the slope-nosed designs that enhance aerodynamics. With the 5700XE, the hood simply isn't visible at all from the driver's seat. But Western Star didn't stop there: Matte black accents on the hood elim- inate all glare to such an extent that I didn't need sunglasses, even though it was a cloudless day in the desert. The Air Force has employed this anti- glare trick on its aircraft for years. A nice benefit is the black accents evoke the Rally Stripes that adorned sports cars in the 1960s and further feed the truck's overall muscle-car look. Western Stars are all about small fleets and owner-operators. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the cab and sleeper of the new 5700XE. Plush two-tone leather seats with the logo prominently displayed set the tone. Large, well-defined, old-style gauges and instrumentation feature colorful, modern lighting accents that make at-a-glance checks a breeze in bright sunlight or in the dark of night. Real wood cabinets, drawers and a retract- able work desk give an added layer of luxury to the large sleeper berth that includes a refrigerator, ample storage and space for a flat-screen television. Twin tinted side windows, as well as an overhead skylight, enhance the sleeper's ample lighting. The mission statement to Western Star's designers was clear, and it's hard to argue with their final product. The 5700XE is an elegant blend of luxury, individualism and character. Drive TesT