Truck Makers Introduce New Models at Work Truck Show
INDIANAPOLIS — Several truck manufacturers introduced new and updated commercial trucks during the 2018 edition of the Work Truck Show, produced annually by the National Truck Equipment Association.
International Trucks, General Motors Co. and Mack Trucks all made announcements at the show, held here March 6 — 9.
International introduced the latest version of its core medium-duty model, the MV series. The redesigned truck, which has replaced the DuraStar model, features new cab doors with a lower bottom glass edge, and which no longer has a vent window. The new cab offers a 4% improvement in forward and side visibility, the company said. Inside, the truck has a new HVAC system and a redesigned dashboard that features a new gauge cluster with digital driver displays and up to 15 customizable digital gauges. The shifter is mounted on the steering column.
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“The new International MV Series reflects our vision for the future of commercial vehicles with a host of advancements that support improved driver safety and productivity,” Jeff Sass, senior vice president, sales and marketing, said in a release.
The new MV series includes International’s Diamond Logic electrical system, which provides communications between the truck and body equipment, and OnCommand, International’s proprietary telematics platform. OnCommand features advanced remote diagnostics and over-the-air programming for authorized engine programming.
The truck can be powered by a choice of Cummins B6.7 or L9 engines mated to the Allison 1000 HS automatic transmission.
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General Motors returned to the light medium-duty commercial truck sector with the debut of three new versions of the Chevrolet Silverado HD [heavy duty] for weight Classes 4-6, the three most popular light-medium weight classes. GM has not offered a truck above Class 5 since 2009 when it shut down its heavier medium-duty Chevrolet Kodiak/GMC TopKick lines as the company went through bankruptcy proceedings at the beginning of the last recession.
The only power option for on the new Silverado 4500-, 5500- and 6500HDs will be the Duramax 6.6-Liter diesel engine offering up to 350 horsepower and 700 pound-feet of torque, depending on specs. The company will not offer a gasoline engine.
“Diesel is the dominant engine in this segment. It [has] more than 80% of the segment,” Ed Peper, vice president and general manager of GM fleet, told Transport Topics.
The engines will be mated with Allison automatic transmissions.
Other features targeted toward the work truck sector include gross vehicle weight ratings from 15,000 to 22,900 pounds and various frame, cab-to-axle and axle-to-back-of-frame lengths.
Mack Trucks upgraded its heavy-duty Granite vocational model and introduced a refreshed Granite MHD [medium heavy-duty] model.
Mack will offer an axle forward heavy-duty Granite model with an additional six inches of ground clearance for underbody equipment, such as scrapers. The additional room enables more than 45 degrees of articulation, enhancing the ability to remove snow in the winter and grade roads in the offseason, Tim Wrinkle, construction product manager, said at a press conference here March 7.
The refreshed Granite MHD model will feature several upgrades. Company executives said that governments and municipalities might benefit from a second, lower power rating of 330 hp. for the standard Cummins L9 engine. Additionally, a shorter wheelbase option in the 4x2 configuration will enable 10-foot dump bodies, another common spec by governments and municipalities.
The MHD can be spec’d as a Class 7 or Class 8 in either an axle back or axle forward configuration, and is available as a 4x2 or 6x4.
An axle-back tractor option meets the needs of light tractor applications requiring maneuverability, flexibility and durability without extra weight. Additionally, a new under-frame exhaust provides more options for tankers, flatbeds, box trucks, cranes and certain municipal applications, the company noted.
