Kenworth AG210L, AG400L Rear Suspensions Now Available for Order on Medium Duty Trucks

The new Kenworth AG210L single-axle and Kenworth AG400L tandem-axle rear suspensions are now available for order on Kenworth medium duty models.

The Kenworth AG210L is a 21,000-lb. rated highway rear suspension for Kenworth T270 Class 6 and T370 Class 7 models. The two-bag, rear air suspension features a proven trailing arm design and provides a smooth ride. The AG210L is available for straight trucks in dry van, flatbed, service body, utility crane, and van applications; and for tractors in dry van and flatbed applications.

The disc brake-compatible Kenworth AG400L is a 40,000-lb. rated highway rear air suspension system. The cost-effective, four-bag suspension provides a smooth ride through a proven trailing arm design. The AG400L is especially well-suited for over the road and pickup and delivery applications. It also is available in an extensive variety of straight truck and tractor applications.

Kenworth’s family of proprietary suspensions also includes the Kenworth AG130 front air ride suspension, and the AG380, AG400, AG460 and AG690 rear suspensions.

Source and Photo Credit: Kenworth

International LoneStar Named ATD Commercial Truck of the Year

NADA.org reports the American Truck Dealers (ATD) have named the International LoneStar the first “ATD Commercial Truck of the Year.”

Photo Credit: International Trucks

The announcement was made during ATD’s 2009 Convention & Exposition in Washington. LoneStar was one of five nominees for the new award. The other nominees were: Freightliner Cascadia, Kenworth T660, Mack Titan, and Peterbilt Model 386.

Photo Credit: International Trucks

The LoneStar was chosen by a judging panel of journalists from leading truck publications in North America. It was chosen because of its design, innovation, quiet cab, and space utilization, said past ATD Chairman George Grask, who announced the first annual winner during a luncheon at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center.

Photo Credit: International Trucks

The LoneStar provides driver comfort, serviceability and aerodynamics that deliver improved fuel economy. Inside, the LoneStar offers a work environment that converts to a living space. A fold-down Murphy bed-style bunk allows conversion from a sofa to a full 42-wide bunk with a one-piece spring mattress.

Photo Credit: International Trucks

The living area is defined by optional hardwood flooring or carpeting and driver’s seat with an optional massage feature. Automotive-style features include: Standard ABS, roll stability, traction control and Bluetooth integration for hands-free phone use. The truck can be equipped with 42 different accessories, ranging from lights to shift knobs to chrome.

Source: NADA.org

Caterpillar, Navistar Move Relationship Forward with Global Joint Venture for Commercial Trucks and North America Strategic Alliance for Vocational Trucks

Both the Caterpillar Inc. and Navistar International Corporation homepage feature details on the agreement to produce Caterpillar heavy-duty vocational trucks for sale in North America and form a 50/50 joint venture that will pursue global commercial truck opportunities outside of North America.

According to Navistar and Caterpillar, the 50/50 joint venture will develop, manufacture and distribute commercial trucks in regions outside of North America and India.

Under the strategic alliance Caterpillar and Navistar will develop and manufacture a new line of heavy-duty Caterpillar vocational trucks for North America only. The new Caterpillar trucks will be co-developed by Caterpillar and Navistar and manufactured in Navistar's Garland, Texas facility. The trucks will be sold and serviced through the Caterpillar North American Dealer network.

"The heavy-duty vocational trucks will be purpose-built to complement Caterpillar's existing product line and will give Caterpillar dealers an unmatched ability to support customer needs from extraction through delivery," said George Taylor, Director and General Manager of the Caterpillar Global On-Highway Department.

The Caterpillar trucks will feature key Caterpillar proprietary components and technology and will target customers who operate in a wide variety of vocational applications, such as earth moving, quarry, waste, mining, general and heavy construction, logging and road construction.

The new Caterpillar on-highway vocational trucks will be unveiled in late 2010 and will go into full production in early 2011. The trucks will be sold and serviced exclusively by Caterpillar Dealers in North America. The transaction is subject to various closing conditions, including the execution of the related strategic alliance agreement and certain other ancillary agreements.

Source: Navistar and Caterpillar

Kenworth T800 Powered By Liquefied Natural Gas Makes Truck Driver's Life Easier and Cleaner

The Los Angeles Times features a story on Heriberto S. Perez Jr. and the 2009 Kenworth T800 liquefied natural gas truck he drives at the Port of Los Angeles

The story reports that Perez’s old truck was banned from the port in October. Now he leases the T800 with a drive train that derives 95% of its power from natural gas. The reduction of diesel fumes was so dramatic that Perez’s wife became suspicious because his clothes didn’t smell like diesel soot anymore.

Along with a cleaner burning engine, the new Kenworth trucks also run quieter and smoother, a relief to a driver’s back.

The Kenworth homepage features details about the natural gas powered T800 from a press release in January 2008

Source: The Los Angeles Times and Kenworth