Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/239108
trailers, including dumps, rolloffs, pneumatic plastic tankers and municipal solid waste tipper trailers, usually ensured equipment availability for the diverse bulk hauler's customers. But for the Carrocces, who had almost exclusively operated a single brand of truck throughout their history, the equipment wasn't available often enough. "Here's the way it was last year," says Mark, who joined the firm in 1986. "We had been going through so many engine issues that we finally decided to go out there and just see what was the best truck and engine pairing available. "We had heard there was new ownership at the local Peterbilt dealership, and we decided to open the door to them." Peterbilt history The Carrocces were familiar with Peterbilt equipment. In fact, the John Brown acquisition left them with a few inherited Peterbilts, and as they expected, drivers loved the Peterbilt equipment. Management had reservations, however. "It wasn't that we didn't like the Peterbilts," says Gary. "We were transforming these smaller outfits into a large fleet, and we just viewed Peterbilt as an owner-operator's truck, not a fleet truck. We never thought Peterbilt would be competitive for a fleet like us." Company management may not have seen Peterbilt as a fleet truck, but they did take notice when some of their fleet colleagues and competitors started running Peterbilts. "We started seeing more and more Peterbilts in fleets," says Mark. "And we saw some of those drivers working places for less money. We could never figure out why. But we noticed what they were driving and could see that it made a difference to them. "And Dennis Coe, our terminal manager in Marietta (Ga.), was really pushing Peterbilts hard. He knew how the drivers would respond to them." Eventually, the Carrocces took their spec to the dealership. And when negotiations From left, Mark Carrocce, vice-president; Gary Carrocce, vice-president operations; Tim Black, maintenance director; Bob Stabile, operations manager; Ron Carrocce, president; Kevin Carrocce, dispatcher; Troy Carrocce, operations manager; Rob Reed, vice-president finance. with the dealership resulted in a competitive package, they soon found themselves taking delivery of a combination of new Model 579s for over-the-road operations and new Model 365s for dump operations. The company also took delivery of a pair of validation-unit Model 567s, Peterbilt's new vocational truck that recently entered into full production. MPG improvement All of the trucks — almost 150 of them — would be powered by the PACCAR MX-13 Engine, a combination that has provided immediate returns. Happy drivers were among them, but the fuel economy improvement was more of a surprise. "We had been in the 4.6 to 5.0 mpg range," says Mark. "These new trucks, with the new-generation MX-13 Engines, are up to 5.5 and 5.6 mpg. And that's same trailers, same routes, same everything. We just unplugged the old tractor and plugged in the Peterbilt, and got over 10 percent improvement in fuel economy." Mark also reports that the quiet cab environment and visibility out of the cab, especially in the new vocational Model "We just unplugged the old tractor and plugged in the Peterbilt and got over 10 percent improvement in fuel economy." 567, have been a hit with drivers. "They can really see out over the hood with these new trucks," he says. Additionally, Gary reports that Peterbilt's ever-expanding dealer network parallels that of R and J's own growing terminal network. "They are where we are," he says. "Time will tell if these trucks will be the answer," says Gary. "But I'm cautiously optimistic. They're looking like they could prove out. And if there have been issues, the dealership has addressed them immediately. That's the key." And Ron says customers have noticed that there's been a change in R and J's equipment. "We've heard some comments," he says. "Who wouldn't be proud to see that truck come into your yard?" FC FIRST CLASS l 9