Western Star Debuts Transforming Truck
This story appears in the May 23 print edition of Transport Topics.
MOUNTVILLE, S.C. — Western Star has launched an off-road truck capable of swapping truck bodies within minutes, enabling operators to use the same chassis for multiple applications.
The truck maker’s versatile MBT-40 Multi-Body Transformer is designed to replace multiple single- function trucks that can sit unused at a job site for long periods while not needed.
Western Star, a unit of Daimler Trucks North America, demonstrated the body-changing capability of its 6900XD Offroad MBT-40 during a ride-and-drive event here May 12 at the Michelin Laurens Proving Grounds.
The truck’s body transformer, supplied by Carco Industries, used its Palfinger hooklift to disconnect a Klein water tank from the chassis and then picked up and installed a J&J dump body, all in a span of about 10 minutes.
Another 6900XD model showed a third interchangeable configuration — a demountable fifth wheel that transforms the truck into a tractor capable of pulling a heavy-haul side dump trailer from Smith Co.
“The MBT-40 package is a game- changer in construction applications for its ability to be multiple pieces of equipment in one chassis,” said John Tomlinson, XD and vocational sales manager at Western Star.
The MBT-40 is an open platform, so additional truck body suppliers could develop versions of their products that would be compatible with the truck.
“This is just the beginning,” Tomlinson said. “We are actively working with new body builders as we speak to put new solutions on this thing.”
“It’s completely interchangeable,” added Charley Schimmels, sales manager at Carco. “If our customers can dream up the application, we’ll figure out a way to get it integrated into this platform.”
The 6900XD Offroad MBT-40 is the first product in Western Star’s new XD Offroad series for highly rigorous work environments.
The company offers the XD package on its 4900 and 6900 models and plans to extend it to other models.
Western Star’s president, Kelley Platt, said the expanded off-road product line is the latest example of the company’s commitment to offering “rugged, durable and reliable” trucks for a variety of demanding applications, from the tar sands of Alberta to the logging roads of South Carolina.
The truck maker also recently bolstered its on-highway offerings with its aerodynamic 5700XE model, which entered full production in mid-2015.
Western Star received nearly 1,400 orders for the 5700XE last year, Platt said, adding that numerous fleets are purchasing it as a “reward truck” for their top drivers as a way to reduce turnover.
Western Star “has traditionally been a small niche player,” but that started to change in 2000 when Daimler acquired the company, Platt said.
Since then, Western Star has introduced Daimler’s Detroit engines in its trucks while expanding its manufacturing capabilities and dealership network.
“Even if we are the small guy in the industry, we have the benefit of being a part of the largest commercial vehicle manufacturer worldwide,” Platt said. “It allows us to tap into global technology, research and other resources from around the world.”
She said the Western Star brand has seen steady market share growth in recent years, driven by a stronger presence in the U.S. market.
The company traditionally has focused on Canada (it originally built trucks in British Columbia) and continues to grow its business there, but the United States has emerged as the brand’s largest market as the truck maker has expanded its sales and infrastructure in the country.
This year, Western Star expects about 65% of the trucks it builds to be sold in the United States, with 30% going to Canada and 5% to Australia, Platt said.
Separately, Western Star announced new transmission options for several models.
The truck maker said it will begin offering the Eaton UltraShift Plus automated manual transmission in the 5700XE this fall.
Western Star’s 4900 and 6900 truck models now can be spec’d with Allison’s fully automatic Off Road Series transmissions, which the truck maker said are ideal for vocational applications that demand high horsepower and torque.
The Fabco FAT-30 auxiliary transmission also is now available for the 6900XD. This stationary shift three-speed is well suited for extra heavy-duty jobs, such as specialized heavy haul, oil field and mining, Western Star said.
