Mack Demonstrates AMT for Vocational Vehicles
By Seth Clevenger, Staff Reporter
This story appears in the May 11 print edition of Transport Topics.
ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Mack Trucks has taken the next step in its integrated powertrain strategy by offering a proprietary automated manual transmission tailored to construction and heavy-haul applications.
Mack’s new mDrive HD transmission is based on its AMT for on-highway tractors but features design changes that make it better suited to the demands of vocational work, including hardened gears and reinforced synchronizers.
John Walsh, Mack’s vice president of marketing, said the transmission reflects Mack’s focus on providing equipment specifically designed to meet a customer’s needs.
“The mDrive HD really takes that to another level on the construction side,” he said during a ride-and-drive event here April 30 at the Mack Customer Center.
In addition to the stronger internal components, the HD version of the transmission includes computer-controlled shifting strategies designed specifically for on- and off-road operation.
The product also uses higher-viscosity oil to withstand the increased heat and shifting demands of construction use.
The mDrive HD, introduced in February, integrates with Mack’s MP engines and comes standard on the Granite and Titan models.
That powertrain integration enables the engine and transmission to communicate precisely, resulting in more efficient operation and improved fuel economy, said Curtis Dorwart, marketing manager for Mack’s vocational products.
“Using the automated transmission and the software controls allows us to deliver the highest possible level of fuel efficiency,” he said.
Mack said its AMTs also are designed to make drivers’ jobs easier, which can give fleets an advantage in recruiting and retention.
“It’s a two-pedal system, which is really great for ease of use for all types of drivers,” Dorwart said.
By eliminating the need to manually shift gears, fleets can expand their driver pool and reduce driver fatigue, he said.
Although the driver shortage is most severe in over-the-road trucking, it’s a concern for vocational operations as well, he said.
The proprietary transmission also simplifies maintenance because it can be serviced at any Mack dealer, removing the need for third-party service stops, Dorwart added.
He said the mDrive HD is lighter and costs “significantly less” than a fully automatic transmission.
The 12-speed transmission, available in direct and overdrive, is built at Mack’s Hagerstown, Maryland, powertrain facility.
Mack’s move to offer an in-house AMT in its vocational models comes several years after it introduced the product in highway applications.
Mack launched its standard-duty mDrive in 2010, and today about 50% of new Pinnacle on-highway models feature that transmission.
As the original mDrive gained traction, the company’s vocational customers also began asking for the AMT in construction and heavy-haul trucks, executives said. But rather than simply offering the existing transmission in the Granite and Titan models, Mack decided to develop a separate version that has the right capabilities for the vocational market.
Although the new version looks the same on the exterior, the interior has been upgraded to withstand tougher use and rough terrain, said Stu Russoli, marketing manager for Mack’s highway and powertrain products.
The mDrive HD also offers features such as “grade gripper,” which works with the truck’s anti-lock braking system to temporarily prevent the truck from rolling backward while stopped on an incline.
It also enables a “power launch” feature, which uses the engine’s full torque to free the truck from mud, ice or gravel.
As for recent changes at the helm of parent company Volvo Group, Walsh said it’s still “business as usual” at Mack.
Gothenburg, Sweden-based Volvo recently announced that Martin Lundstedt will become CEO of Volvo in October, replacing Olof Persson.
“We’ve got a clear strategy that we’re executing, and we’ll continue to work hard to deliver on that,” Walsh said.
