Kenworth T800 Adds Automatic Transmission Offerings

Kenworth recently introduced new automatic transmission offerings for customers in construction and shorthaul applications with high horsepower requirements.

The Kenworth T800 can now be ordered with Allison 4000 and 4500 series transmissions when spec’d with Cummins ISX engines, not to exceed 1,650 lb-ft.

According to Kenworth...

“The new Kenworth T800 configuration offers the benefits of automatic transmissions while also meeting high horsepower requirements,” said Gary Moore, Kenworth assistant general manager for marketing and sales. “The Kenworth T800 is one of the industry’s leading models and this new offering will strengthen its position with customers to help get the job done in their specific applications.”

The Allison 4000 and 4500 series transmissions offered are especially designed for rugged duty or highway truck operators that are seeking productivity gains, durability advances and lower cost of ownership over the life of the truck. According to Allison, the transmissions feature torque converter technology that provides seamless full power shifts, which help vehicles to work within the best duty-cycle speeds faster and more efficiently. That saves times on routes, which can lead to greater productivity and fuel efficiency.

Source: Kenworth

Kenworth Adds Popular Extended Day Cab Option For C500 Vocational Model

The Kenworth Truck Company website reports that Kenworth now offers its popular Extended Day Cab option for the Kenworth C500 model, which has long been the industry standard for durability, quality and driver comfort in the off-highway trucking sector.

“We’re pleased to introduce the Kenworth Extended Day cab for the Kenworth C500, which serves such demanding applications as oilfield, mining, heavy haul, logging and construction,” said Gary Moore, Kenworth assistant general manager for marketing and sales.

The spacious Kenworth Extended Day Cab further enhances driver comfort with an additional 6 inches of length and 5 inches of cab height compared to Kenworth’s traditional day cab. The Extended Day Cab also offers 2 more inches behind the wheel, additional leg room, up to 21 degrees of recline in the driver’s seat, and 2 extra cubic feet of storage behind the driver’s seat.

The Kenworth Extended Day Cab is available for new C500’s with a 2007 or later engine and with either one-piece or two-piece curved glass windshield. Contact your Kenworth dealer for more details. The Extended Day Cab is also available on the Kenworth T660, T800, and W900 models.

Source: Kenworth

Testing By NavStar Shows ProStar Is Most Aerodynamic And Fuel-Efficient Class8 Truck On Road

NavStar is proud of the International ProStar truck and new test results showing the it is the most aerodynamic and fuel-efficient Class 8 truck on the road.

NavStar is so proud that they took out an ad in Times Square: the place in New York City usually reserved for billboards of supermodels and blockbuster Hollywood.

According to NavStar...

Record diesel prices are driving on-highway trucking customers to look for every edge to curb fuel costs, beginning with their choice of truck. Navistar today released definitive results of extensive testing confirming that the International ProStar is the most aerodynamic and fuel-efficient Class 8 truck on the road.

Recent tests demonstrate that the International ProStar is 7.3 percent more aerodynamic and 7 percent more fuel-efficient than Freightliner’s Cascadia, ProStar’s closest competitor. Overcoming aerodynamic resistance is particularly important for on-highway trucks, as is a fuel-efficient power train.

This margin of leadership translates into substantial savings. Whether operated as part of a company’s fleet of trucks or by an owner-operator, Class 8 trucks rack up a lot of highway miles each year consuming large amounts of diesel fuel. At 120,000 miles a year, each ProStar can save approximately $5,800 annually in fuel over its nearest competitor.

“Clear and decisive fuel-economy leadership is great news for our customers,” said Daniel C. Ustian, Navistar chairman, president and chief executive officer. “The ability to save thousands of dollars in fuel with one truck over the course of a year is extremely significant, especially with the financial pressures placed on truck and fleet owners.”

Navistar is leading the industry in conducting and publishing ongoing testing results so its customers can benefit from fuel-economy savings. Both over-the-road and wind tunnel tests use rigorous TMC and SAE testing procedures, regarded as the highest standards of testing in the transportation industry. Wind tunnel tests were conducted at the National Research Council Institute for Aerospace Research in Canada utilizing SAE J1252 wind tunnel testing practices.

Source: NavStar

Frieghtliner Cascadia esignated as SmartWay-certified by the EPA

Freightliner Trucks recently announced that the Cascadia has been designated as SmartWay-certified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Cascadia marks the third Freightliner Class 8 truck – along with the Columbia and Century Class S/T – to earn this certification.

According to Freightliner...

SmartWay is a voluntary program for the transportation industry that establishes incentives for fuel efficiency improvements and greenhouse gas emissions reductions. Trucks that earn the SmartWay designation can be 10 to 20 percent more fuel efficient and up to 90 percent cleaner than comparable models.

“Freightliner’s Run Smart philosophy – the platform on which we developed the Cascadia – is to be the most productive, efficient, and driveable truck on the market,” said Melissa Kellogg, director of product marketing for FreighTrucks. “Run Smart perfectly complements the SmartWay initiative.”

Source: Freightliner

Mack Pinnacle Rawhide Edition shows off "Texas-style" chrome

Mack Trucks website features information on the Mack Pinnacle Rawhide Edition, which made its debut at the Mid-America Trucking Show

According to Mack Trucks...

"The Rawhide Edition combines classic styling with all the technology benefits of the Pinnacle model, and the next generation of luxury and comfort," said Jerry Warmkessel, Mack marketing product manager for highway products. "This is definitely a truck that will draw attention - the Rawhide Edition is a highway bulldog in all its shining glory. It will be popular with fleets for driver recruitment and retention, as well as with discerning owner operators."

"Our customers want a truck that drivers aspire to be in because of its looks, its comfort and its Mack quality and reliability," Warmkessel continued. "Drivers specifically tell us they want a proud-to-drive look, one that shows they are a successful professional. They also want a truck that pampers them with a luxurious interior. And the Rawhide Edition delivers on both counts."

The Rawhide Edition comes in three cab configurations: 60- and 70-inch midrise sleepers, plus daycab.

The description of the Rawhide Edition on the Mack site mentions the "Texas-style" chrome bumper. All that shiny steel across the front is sure to get noticed by anyone rudely ignoring traffic while changing lanes in front of this truck.

The Rawhide is tough outside, but plush inside. The decor of the cab features luxurious button tuck Ultraleather and two-tone embroidered seats.

Source: Mack Trucks

International Lonestar truck debuts at Chicago Auto Show

When a new truck is described as having a "deep-throated roar", chances are that its look are imposing as its sound. Take a good look at the new International Lonestar, recently unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show, and decide for yourself.

The front of the Lonestar might look a little familiar, because it was inspired by one of International's early models and a legend in trucking history.

According to International Trucks...

The distinctive grille and sloped hood were inspired by International’s D-Series trucks, which helped transform America’s cross-country transportation in the early 20th Century. A restored and modified example of that truck, the DMAXX, also is on display at the International booth.

The deep-throated roar of a big bore diesel engine wrapped in a sleek chrome grill announced the arrival of the world’s most innovative big-rig truck. Navistar International Corporation unveiled its International brand’s new flagship product, the visually stunning and technologically advanced International LoneStar, at the Chicago Auto Show.

With a striking, aerodynamic appearance and breakthrough functional innovations inside and out, the International LoneStar is the result of extensive customer research and automotive-inspired design – a new truck that changes the game for today’s trucking professional. It creates a new category of Class 8 trucks called “Advanced Classic,” in which technology and innovative styling converge with next-generation aerodynamic design to deliver superior fuel efficiency. LoneStar also sets a higher standard for comfort – through improved ergonomics, an industry-leading suspension, advanced electronics and a quiet cab.

“This truck is unlike anything on the road today,” said Daniel C. Ustian, Navistar chairman, president and CEO. “The International LoneStar closes the gap between work style and lifestyle for driving professionals, combining peak productivity with emotional appeal. It is the product of Navistar’s culture of relentless innovation, and embodies the spirit both of today’s driving professionals and the dynamic, transforming energy inside our company.”

Source: International Trucks

International Truck diesel engines to comply with 2010 emissions standards

International Truck and Engine Corporation, a Navistar company, recently announced that MaxxForce brand diesel engines will meet the stringent U.S. federal 2010 emissions standards for all its core applications without the use of selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems.

The company's strategy is designed to provide customer driven solutions to reduce costs and maintenance needs for buyers of International brand vehicles when the next EPA on-highway emission standards take effect.

All MaxxForce on-highway diesel engines used in International's core applications will be fully certified to the EPA 2010 emission standards. "This approach will best serve our core customers who value reduced product and service complexity as well as business planning continuity through another period of industry uncertainty," said Jack Allen, president, International Engine Group. "Coming so soon after 2007 EPA standards, which mandated new engines and after-treatment systems that drove up the price of commercial vehicles, 2010 promises to be a less taxing time for International customers."

Source: International Trucks

Kenworth 2008 truck calendar - Even the engines are beautiful

While New Years is still two months away, new calendars are on sale for 2008 offering images ranging from puppies to classic art.

A new truck does not have a cute wet nose with pink bows on its ears or grace the walls of a museum, but Kenworth's new line up looks impressive when photographed for the 2008 calendar.

According to Kenworth...

The six-page, 2008 Kenworth Wall Calendar is highlighted by two Kenworth family photographs. The Kenworth heavy duty family photograph includes the T660 86-inch Studio AeroCab, W900L Studio AeroCab, T2000 75-inch AERODYNE, and T800 dump truck, while the Kenworth medium duty family photograph shows the new T370 Class 7, T270 Class 6 and T170 Class 5 models. Separate photographs feature the T660 72-inch AeroCab AERODYNE, T2000 75-inch AERODYNE, T800 Extended Day Cab, and W900L Studio AeroCab. The wall calendar is 26-1/4 inches tall by 28 inches wide.

The engines that power those shiny new Kenworth trucks are just as pretty and get their own pictures.

The calendar also includes images of the PACCAR medium duty engines which are designed with performance in mind. The PACCAR PX-6 engine offers the highest horsepower to weight ratio in the Class 6 and Class 7 markets, and the PACCAR PX-8 engine has 1,000 lb-ft of torque for heavier loads and severe grades.

Source: Kenworth

Kenworthy T660 - More room for hard working truckers

Truck manufacturers often focus on emissions compliance and fuel efficiency when describing the features of new truck models. That is great for fleet owners and trucking companies, but what about the humans who actually have to get behind the wheel of one of these trucks for long hours of driving?

Truck drivers are tough, but don't they need something out of a truck other than a more efficient particle filtration system?

A recent press release from Kenworth gives the truck driver something to look forward to in a new T660: living space in the day cab.

According to Kenworth...

“Many of our drivers are big guys and having additional space in the cab is extremely important to them on the job,” said James McConnell, president and owner of the Kitchener, Ontario-based truckload and less-than-truckload carrier. “In the T660 Extended Day Cab, they now have extra room to store their personal possessions and equipment. Unlike other day cabs that are tight on space, this is one day cab that doesn’t skimp on roominess and features. Our drivers couldn’t wait to get out of their other trucks and into the T660s.”

Introduced earlier this year for the fuel-efficient and aerodynamic Kenworth T660, the Extended Day Cab option provides an extra 6 inches of length to the standard T660 day cab’s 122 inches from front bumper to back of cab. The Extended Day Cab also offers 5 more inches of cab height, 2 additional inches behind the wheel, up to 21 degrees of recline in the driver’s seat and 2 extra cubic feet of storage behind the driver’s seat.

“The extra space is great, and the Kenworth T660 is the best riding truck we’ve ever had,” said John McTaggart, a BLM driver for about 15 years. “It rides smoother than a Cadillac. I also have plenty of storage room for my hard hat, safety boots and vest.”

Source: Kenworth

Kenworth T170 model

Kenworth Truck Company is expanding into the Class 5 market with the introduction of the Kenworth T170 model.

The Kenworth T170 is a straight truck in a 4x2 configuration with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) up to 19,500 lbs. Standard features include the PACCAR PX-6 engine rated at 200 hp and 520 ft-lb of torque, 8,000 lb. front axle and 11,500 lb. rear axle, hydraulic brakes, low-frame height chassis with 19.5 inch wheels and tires, power door locks, passenger-side electric windows (optional on driver's side), and Kenworth DayLite doors with right-hand peeper window.

Customers can choose a manual or automatic transmission. The 6.7-liter PACCAR PX-6 engine offers the highest horsepower to weight ratio in the industry and has a 2-year warranty with unlimited miles. The Kenworth T170 is available with the Kenworth Medium Duty Van Body Program.

Source: Kenworth