CCJ | Commercial Carrier Journal - November 2008
58 Commercial Carrier Journal November 2008 International: International Truck and Engine touts its new LoneStar tractor as merging the classic styling preferred by chrome lovers with aerodynamic design and technologies sought by fuel-conscious owner-oper-ators. The company says the LoneStar offers improved ergonomics, an industry-leading suspension, advanced electronics and a quiet cab. Automotive-style features include standard ABS, roll stability, traction control, automotive-style dash and gauges with rosewood or titanium trim, and a 50-degree wheel cut. The PayStar 5900i Set-Back Axle is a vocational on/off-highway vehicle that features an axle configuration target-ing severe-service applications. The wide-track set-back axle design addresses customers' needs for front axle load distribution and improved maneuverability. Powered by Caterpillar or Cummins diesel engines up to 15 liters and up to 625 horsepower, the PayStar 5900i SBA is built on a standard 12.25-inch frame rail PayStar chassis. A sloped hood was designed for better jobsite visibility. Kenworth: The truck maker revealed new front and rear suspensions. The AG130 is a front-axle air spring suspension, while the AG400L is a tandem rear suspen-sion using a trailing arm design. The AG130 features a four-bag air spring configuration, compared to the typi-cal two; lighter by 20 pounds than traditional 12,000-lb. taperleaf front-end suspensions, the disc brake-compat-ible AG130 will be available in 12,000- and 13,200-lb. ratings for T660, T800 and T2000 models. The disc brake-compatible AG400L is a 40,000-lb. highway rear suspension system for T660, T800, T2000 and W900 models; the four-bag suspension supports fifth-wheel heights as low as 42 inches, has fewer parts and elimi-nates axle seat welding, the company said. Kenworth also has added a driver information center designed to provide instant trip information for miles per gallon, engine and idle hours, idle percentage and optimum rpm range; a sweet spot indicator offers visual cues when the optimum rpm is reached, while a bar graph displays current mpg against trip average mpg. Meanwhile, a revised state-of-the-art dash for the T2000 is more ergonomic and also easier to service, according to the company; the system is supported by the Kenworth Electronic Service Analyst, a computerized diagnostics tool designed to enable techni-cians to quickly troubleshoot dashboard electronics. The Kenworth Clean Power no-idle system is now a factory-installed option for W900s and T800s equipped with the 72-inch AeroCab sleeper. Kenworth Clean Power uses dedi-cated, advanced deep-cycle batteries that power a thermal storage cooler with 21,000 BTUs of cooling capac-ity, according to the company; the system has the capability to provide engine-off cooling and heating, plus 120-volt power for hotel loads. Mack: The Titan heavy-transport heavy-construction tractor is pow-ered by the MP10, a 16-liter diesel engine with a top rating of 605 hp. The truck is tall, with a long hood and high ground clearance, while the cab is set high in a classic heavy haul position for added driver visibility. The MP10 is matched to Mack's T300ES series 10-, 13- and 18-speed transmissions with triple countershaft performance; Eaton transmissions are available as options. Titan rides on Mack's Cornerstone chassis, offered in three frame rail thicknesses 8, 9.5 and 11 millimeters. The truck maker also introduced its Pinnacle Rawhide Edition, building on its Pinnacle Axle Forward model with an updated exterior and a new level of interior comfort. Target markets are fleets concerned about driver recruitment and retention, as well as discerning owner-operators. The truck is available in three cab configu-rations: 60- and 70-inch midrise sleepers, plus daycab. Peterbilt: A low-profile configuration for the Model 388, designed for the car carrier industry, has been optimized with a lower cab height to allow for an aftermarket instal-lation of an over-the-cab car carrier body to maximize the number of vehicles that may be hauled. The tractor can be specified with a variety of drivetrain and suspension options, and can accommodate engines up to 600 hp. The truck maker will offer three liquefied natural gas configurations on its Models 387, 386 and 367. The Westport Innovations ISX G engine, based on the Cummins ISX diesel engine with cooled exhaust gas About Makes & Models Makes & Models is intended to give truck buyers a general overview of what's avail-able for 2009. Basic specs are provided, includ-ing wheelbases, GVWRs and engine choices, along with a capsule summary of what's new from each manufacturer. This is the third install-ment of Makes & Models, cover-ing heavy-duty vehicles in Class 7-8. We covered light-duty (Class 1-3) in September, and we took a look at medium-duty (Class 4-6) in October. Keep in mind that these are preliminary listings, as new models, specs and features may be released later this year.