Keep On Truckin'

Wendy Angel and Fleet Owner magazine

REFUSE TRUCK BODIES

Haul-All Equipment

Haul-All Equipment, Lethbridge, Ontario, Canada, offers the RP235. Features include a low loading height bucket in left- or right-hand configurations, a cart dumper, onboard pressure washer and an optional stand-up cab. Oversized loading buckets and single-lever controls are designed to allow for visual check of the material being loaded, the company says.

Heil

Heil Environmental, Chattanooga, Tenn., offers the MultiTask SL drop-frame side loader for automated, semi-automated or manual routes. It features a full-eject unloading system, the company's Operate-at-Idle system and a packer cycle that moves 1.66 cubic yards (cu. yds.) of material into the body in 10 to 14 seconds, the company says. The product comes in body capacities of 22, 25, 29 and 32 cu. yds.

Labrie

Labrie Equipment, St. Nicolas, Quebec, Canada, has upgraded the body and packer hydraulic system on its 2004 model of the Optimizer front loader. Features include push-motion activation of the fork cylinders, curved arms with a 10,000-pound (lb.) lifting capacity, high-compaction force and a high-tensile steel body, the company says. The front loader comes with body capacities of 34, 38, 40 and 42 cu. yds.

Leach

The SuperDuty front loader from Leach, Oshkosh, Wis., features a Hardox-lined, 12-cubic-foot hopper; heavy duty top door; arms with a loading rate of 10,000 lbs.; a 20-second packing cycle time; and a rounded body made from 3/16-inch, 80,000 pounds per square inch (psi) steel. The front loader comes with body choices of 38, 40 or 44 cu. yds., and a height of 12 feet, 5 inches.

Lodal

Lodal, Kingsford, Mich., manufactures the Evo Series side loader, featuring a front-axle drive, deep hopper, short wheel base, dual hydraulic cylinders, low-cab floor design and low step-on side platforms. The top-hinged tailgate of the loader opens using hydraulics.

McNeilus

McNeilus, Dodge Center, Minn., offers a rear loader with a semi-round profile made from 230,000-psi AR 500 steel. Features include a 16-second packing cycle, the Smart-Pak hydraulic system that automatically senses how much pressure is needed, LED lights and a tailgate hinge point that allows the rear axle to be closer to the tailgate to transfer more weight forward, according to the company.

Wayne Engineering

Wayne Engineering, Cedar Falls, Iowa, offers the Curbtender, TomCat and PowerLynx refuse bodies. The Curbtender automated side loader features high compaction and a smooth arm, and the TomCat manual satellite side loader comes in 6- to 14-yard sizes. The PowerLynx rear loader features the ability to complete the entire ejection process from the cab, according to the company.

TRAILER BODIES

Clement Industries

Clement Industries Inc., Minden, La., offers its Hi Performance series of steel ejector units. The trailers' capacities range from 55 cu. yds. to 100 cu. yds. and come in lengths ranging from 30 feet to 52 feet. Ejectors are available in open and closed tops for compactor loading. The company says there is a Clement Ejector trailer to fit most waste hauling requirements. The company also manufactures stainless steel dump trailers for corrosive materials such as fly ash, some sludges and ore concentrates.

East Manufacturing

Randolph, Ohio-based East Manufacturing offers low-weight aluminum trailers in 101- to 145-cu. yd. capacities. Smooth-sided Genesis and sheet-and-post sidewall constructed Unloader models are available, and both come with a tipping platform or live floor systems, the company says.

J&J Truck Bodies

J&J Truck Bodies and Trailers, Somerset, Pa., manufactures the 48-foot ClassicLite aluminum tipper trailer with a 115-cu. yd. capacity. Features include an offset lightweight fifth-wheel assembly with steel alloys, a reinforced front bulkhead design, aluminum subframe suspension and mechanically stretched aluminum side walls, according to the company.

Titan Trailers

Titan Trailers, Delhi, Ontario, Canada, offers Thinwall trailers with a smooth-side design. Features include front access doors, a liftable Hagen shredder and an improved front catwalk for operator safety, the company says. Titan custom-builds Keith Walking Floors or steel V-floors for several applications, the company says. Trailers are available with capacities up to 145 cu. yds. and are 45 to 53 feet in length, according to the company.

Trail King

Trail King Industries, Brookville, Pa., has added an extruded side aluminum tipper trailer to its product line. The company says the extruded hollow horizontal panel design eliminates wind drag associated with the conventional vertical post design and increases volume by approximately 7 cu. yds. The trailer's tare weight is 12,500 lbs.

Vantage

Vantage Trailers Inc., Katy, Texas, has introduced a smooth-side tipper trailer featuring no center bar. The trailer is double-tapered from front to rear, includes sizes from 45 to 53 feet and features capacities from 117 cu. yds. to 145 cu. yds., the company says.

CLASS 8 TRUCKS

Autocar

Autocar, Hagerstown, Ind., is making a range of changes to its Xpeditor line of low cab forward heavy-duty trucks for 2005. The cab of the Xpeditor has been reworked to provide a more ergonomic, quiet and comfortable cab environment for drivers, the company says. The controls and instrument panel have been reconfigured, more insulation installed to reduce noise and vibration, and more seat options made available to improve operator comfort, the company says.

Autocar has expanded engine options for the Xpeditor, adding the Cummins ISL 350-horsepower (hp) rating, which cranks out 1,250 pound-foot (lb.-ft.) of torque and can be equipped with a power take-off (PTO). The ISL 310 hp and 330 hp will continue to be available. The new Cummins Westport L-Gas Plus alternative fuel engine can be spec'd as a factory-installed feature.

Autocar also is offering Hendrickson's Haulmaax heavy-duty rear air suspension as a standard feature on its Xpeditor line, along with a range of optional lift axles from Hendrickson — both tag and pusher configurations — as factory-installed features.

Starting Oct. 1, 2004, Autocar will provide Telma retarders as a factory-installed option. According to the original equipment manufacturer (OEM), the retarders provide extra stopping power, thus extending brake life and lowering the cost of brake maintenance.

Crane Carrier

Crane Carrier Co., Tulsa, Okla., offers LET2 low-entry and LCF low-cab-forward chassis models. Cabs have tilt/telescopic steering columns for both single and dual steering, and increased heating and cooling capacity for passengers, according to the company. The LET2 model has a crew cab configuration option with seating for up to five forward-facing passengers in bucket and bench seats. The LET2 and LCF models are available in 2005 with Cummins ISC, ISM, and Caterpillar C7, C9 and C11 ACERT engines. The chassis also are available with alternative fuel Cummins C-Gas and L-Gas, and John Deere compressed natural gas- or liquid natural gas-powered engines.

Freightliner

Freightliner LLC, Portland, Ore., says its new Business Class M2 112V is a Class 8 vehicle engineered for vocational use, such as for refuse, mixer, snow plow and utility applications. The 112V supports a range of bodies and chassis-mounted equipment. Standard features include a front engine PTO, a stationary grille and L-section front frame rail extensions.

The frame extensions are offered in 12-, 18- and 24-inch increments. This system offers 2.5 million inch-pounds (in.-lbs.) of RBM per rail while maintaining a hood line that improves visibility, the company says.

The 112V features a clean back-of-cab design to allow for easy body installation, the company says. Maintenance-oriented features include a multiplexed wiring system with color-coded wires, see-through fluid reservoirs and simplified electronics. Options include a factory-installed Crew Cab and Extended Cab.

The 112V offers front axles rated from 12,000 to 23,000 lbs., with rear axles ranging from 23,000 to 58,000 lbs. Suspension choices include Freightliner's heavy-duty TufTrac rear suspensions with ratings of 40,000, 46,000 and 52,000 lbs., and AirLiner suspensions with ratings of 40,000 and 46,000 lbs. A variety of Hendrickson air and walking beam suspensions also are available.

A 12.8-liter Mercedes-Benz MBE4000 350-hp engine provides standard power. Engine and transmission options include Caterpillar C11 and C13 engines. Allison automatic transmissions and Eaton-Fuller manual transmissions are available.

Freightliner has given a new look to its Class 8 Century Class S/T (Safety/Technology) truck. Design changes include a styled hood, grille and bumper. The 120-in.-BBC conventional also boasts benefits such as increased cooling capacity and better headlamp light distribution, the company says.

The OEM points out that the Century Class S/T's new grille allows for more cooling capacity to accommodate hotter-running 2004 EPA-compliant diesel engines. The grille and lower panel increase the frontal opening to 55 percent of the total surface area. Headlamp design has been improved by replacing the 7-in. round, sealed beams with a new composite headlamp. This also should increase nighttime visibility, the OEM says.

Component options are available on the century class S/T, including factory installed Crew Cab and Extended Cab.

International

International Truck and Engine Corp., Chicago, is developing an all-new Class 8 linehaul tractor that will be unveiled next year. According to Truck Group President Dee Kapur, a limited edition American Eagle 9900ix will be marketed to owner-operators and to fleets seeking a premium vehicle to reward top drivers.

Setting the truck off is an American eagle graphic along the cab and a hood ornament that depicts a soaring eagle over the International badge. Features include an aerodynamic hood design, fully curved wraparound windshield, wide-track front axles and International Ride Optimization Suspension.

International also is offering 200 limited-edition International 9900i or 9900ix models that display the official NASCAR colors. Each features a package of chrome and stainless accessories, vinyl graphics and NASCAR badging.

Kenworth

Kenworth Truck Co., Kirkland, Wash., says it has enhanced its swoopy T2000 model to increase aerodynamics and driver comfort, and to reduce repair costs. “By reconfiguring the front bumper to three pieces instead of one, and isolating the bumper from the body of the T2000, we've focused on where front-end damage can occur,” says Chief Engineer Jim Bechtold. “This new design lowers repair costs … and has a new steel sub frame to better protect the radiator from front collision impact.”

Other T2000 improvements include a change in the sun visor mounting to direct more air up and over the truck. “It reduces drag by nearly 1 percent and can cut fuel bills by more than $200 per year for the average longhaul operator,” Bechtold says. To provide more interior room, Kenworth gave the driver's seat an extra 6 degrees of seat recline and added 2½ in. of belly room.

Also new from Kenworth is an Extended Day Cab for its T600, T800 and W900 models. It runs 6 inches longer than standard models with the cab roof raised 5 in. The result is 2 in. more belly and leg room and 21 degrees of recline in the driver's seat. It also provides 2 cubic feet worth of extra storage behind the driver's seat.

Mack

Mack Trucks Inc., Allentown, Pa., says its biggest news is underneath its highway tractors — a new chassis dubbed the Advantage. It will be used in all Mack Vision and CH models. A range of frame rail options allows for precisely matching rail size to the specific applications. Customers can choose from four rail options — 6 millimeter (mm), 7 mm, 8 mm and 9.5 mm — all with increased resistance bending moment (RBM). The increased RBM is designed to provide greater strength and lighter weight. The new chassis also allows up to 50-degree outside wheel cuts to improve the turning diameter, the company says. According to the OEM, an Advantage vehicle with a 185-in. wheelbase could gain an improvement of up to 15 ft. in turning diameter. Advantage features that enhance ride and handling include a standard front taper leaf suspension with new taper leaf springs spaced slightly apart to reduce friction and a spring rate reduced for a softer ride, the company says. An optional Hendrickson Airtek air-ride front axle/suspension combination is designed to yield a smooth ride and additional weight savings.

Noise and vibration, the OEM says, have been reduced by combining a new engine support crossmember and new cab mounting system as well as new sound dampening material in Mack cabs. Other Advantage elements include rear engine mounts that simplify transmission removal and reduce how long it takes. The combination of the engine mounts and new taper leaf front suspension position the engine sit lower in the frame, which is designed to reduce the overall center of gravity and improve handling. According to Mack, there will be no “upcharge” brought on by the introduction of the Advantage chassis. The OEM's vehicles are powered by highway or vocational versions of the Mack ASET engine.

Peterbilt

Peterbilt Motors Co., Denton, Texas, reports it will announce some “product introductions and enhancements” to its Class 8 line this fall and has made various changes to its existing heavy-duty lineup.

Passenger-side visibility for cab Models 379, 385, 378 and 357 has been improved with a new side-view window, increased in size by 70 sq. in., and by repositioning the side-view mirrors further forward by mounting them to the cab and cowl (instead of the door). The new position eliminates the need for the “wing” window, and provides a more unobstructed view, Peterbilt says.

All Class 8 Peterbilt tractors are available with optional Jost fifth wheels. These feature a positive-locking mechanism that causes a spring-loaded steel locking bar to automatically slide into position to secure the kingpin. The Jost design boasts high-hitch lock guards to help prevent high coupling and remote grease fittings that allow for direct lubrication of the lock jaw and kingpin even when coupled to a trailer.

Peterbilt is among the first OEMs to offer Dana Spicer air disc brakes. They are available on Models 379, 378, 357 and 387 configured for on-highway applications and with set-forward front axles. The brakes feature quick-change pads, and serviceable components are interchangeable between the right- and left-hand wheel ends.

Another enhancement, offered on Models 379, 378 and 357 (and standard on the special-edition Model 379X), is a stainless steel Donaldson air cleaner. An optional remote keyless entry system for the Model 387 can be used to lock/unlock driver and passenger doors.

Sterling

Sterling Truck Corp., Willoughby, Ohio, has enhanced its A-Line of vocational Class 8 trucks. The OEM says its new design for aerodynamic mirrors increases fuel efficiency by reducing wind drag. The new mirrors also feature smaller heads designed to improve side and forward visibility. Aluminum extrusion brackets provide a small weight savings on each truck, the company says.

The trucks' Bostrom Freedom seats now come standard with longer headrests, wider suspensions, increased lumbar support, convenient adjustment features and newly designed foam density and contours. Options include front seat cushion adjustment, low-profile suspension, heavy-duty shock absorbers, swivel function and a heater.

The Visteon scroll compressor has been upgraded for heavy-duty use. Sterling says it uses fewer moving parts and, by having virtually no wear points compared to typical piston-type compressors, it should last longer.

The new Sterling HX chassis was designed to accommodate new emissions-compliant 2004 engines. The chassis design boasts stronger, lighter-weight frames; proprietary air cab suspension; new cooling system; and new fuel tank offerings.

With the HX chassis, frame offerings now include section heights from 10 to 11 in. and a 13-in. frame — more than 2 in. taller than any current frame offering. Frame strength ratings have been enhanced with optional RBMs of up to 5 million in.-lbs. with an insert.

The chassis features the “OptiLock Chassis Grid System,” a frame hole layout process that provides predetermined rows of potential chassis hole locations spaced 50 mm (approximately 2 in.) apart, center-to-center. Sterling says all chassis component mounting holes (cross members, mounting brackets, etc.) comply with the grid pattern to allow for a more consistent process for chassis component mounting.

The HX offers new radiator options: a 1,000-in. crossflow with or without in-tank oil coolers; a 1,200-in. crossflow radiator; and a 1,400-in. crossflow radiator. Cylindrical aluminum fuel tanks now come standard on Sterling A-Line and L-Line trucks in both 23- and (optional) 25-in. diameters.

Front suspensions now include both taper leaf springs rated to 20,000 lbs. and multi-leaf designs up to 23,000 lbs. There also are maintenance-free suspension designs with ratings up to 14,600 lbs. New for the A-Line are 12,000-lb. rated optional lightweight composite fiberglass springs offering a 77-lb. weight savings per truck, the company says.

Volvo

Greensboro, N.C.-based Volvo Trucks North America's Class 8 line offers eight medium- and long-nose models. The biggest news from the OEM is the introduction of electronic stability control systems on Volvo VN and VHD models beginning in early 2005.

The ABS-6 antilock brake systems from Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems now is standard and early next year, Volvo says it will roll-out the Bendix ABS-6 Advanced system with ESP (electronic stability program) as a customer-specified option. According to Volvo, by monitoring vehicle speed and other inputs, ESP can selectively apply brakes at individual wheel ends to control yaw and keep tractor-trailer combinations in line. The Bendix system also provides roll stability control to help prevent incidents caused by sudden lane changes or obstacle avoidance maneuvers, Volvo says. The advanced braking system, which overlays the existing air-brake system, provides traction control, the OEM notes. Volvo will offer the Bendix ABS-6 Advanced in: four wheel-speed sensors and four brake modulators (4S 4M); six sensors and four modulators (6S 4M); and six sensors and six modulators (6S 6M).

Volvo plans to build a new heavy-duty diesel engine, which would be used by both Volvo Trucks North America and its sister company, Mack Trucks.

Western Star

Western Star Trucks, British Columbia, Canada, has rolled out a pair of new model variants — the LowMax option for its 4900 FA and a “weight-optimized” version of its 4900 SA tractor. The 123-in. BBC LowMax 4900 FA provides a shorter hood (approximately 9 in. less) but still provides the same engine power as the original 4900 EX LowMax, the company says. Features include 22.5-in. low-profile tires, reduced rear suspension height, redesigned lower cab mounting and low-profile oil pan.

The front AirLiner suspension, which boasts a lower axle drop and suspension height, is available on the LowMax.

The lighter-weight 4900 FA is aimed at bulk and regional haulers. It uses production components that, taken together, are designed to achieve a maximum weights savings, according to the OEM.

Weight-saving items include Eaton Lightning 10-speed manual transmission; 1,300-sq.-in. crossflow aluminum radiator; aluminum cross members; lightweight carrier housings for drive axles; and Michelin X-One single tires on tandem axle wheel ends, according to the company.

TIRES

Bandag

Bandag Inc., Muscatine, Iowa, has introduced two tire treads molded from Longeviti Series compounds to increase tread wear by up to 20 percent, according to the company. The Bandag Drive Mixed is a drive position tire designed for vehicles that deal with mud and snow, the company says. The Bandag All-Position Mixed tire is designed for on- and off-road, and pickup and delivery applications in milder climates.

Continental

Continental Tire North America, Charlotte, N.C., offers the heavy steer urban (HSU) tire for on and off highway service. The tire features a stone ejection system, a cut-and tear-resistant tread compound, Visual Alignment Indicators, a sidewall curb rib and a rib design that is 24/32 inches deep, the company says. The HSU is designed to handle a load capacity up to 10,000 lbs., according to the company.

Michelin

Michelin, Laurens, S.C., has added two new tires to its product line. The XZU S shown is available in 315/80R22.5 load range L size and has improved tread wear, maximum speed of 65 miles per hour (mph), increased rubber thickness and a new sidewall profile, the company says. The X One XZU S features Infinicoil technology, a 11,700-lb. load capability per tire, lower rolling resistance, reduced fuel consumption and a size of 455/55R22.5 load range M, the company says.

Toyo

Toyo Tire Corp., Cypress, Calif., has introduced two low-profile, high-mileage tires for trucks and trailers. The M-143 is an all-position, all-steel radial with wide-belt construction. The M-1430 is similar in construction and technology but is designed for low-platform, high-load, high-cube trailers. The units each feature a Belt-Defender compound to increase durability and casing life by fighting heat and stress, the company says. Five deep longitudinal ribs feature a zigzag pattern to minimize damage from stones. The tires, which are designed with dynamic simulation optimized contact (DSOC II) technology, also come in several sizes, according to the company.

Waste Age Assistant Editor Wendy Angel compiled the refuse body, trailer body and tire portion of this article. Waste Age's sister publication, Fleet Owner magazine, compiled the information on Class 8 truck models.