Representatives of several major truck chassis makers talked about their new products lines during presentations at the 2018 annual manufacturers conference of the Canadian Transportation Equipment Association in Toronto in October.
The following are highlights of those presentations.
Hino Motors is introducing its XL Series truck to the Class 8 market.Photo: Hino Motors Ltd.
HINO — 237
Hino Motors Canada technical manager Stuart Bottrell discussed the planned introduction of the Hino XL Series truck to the Class 8 market.
Currently in production, initial units will be destined as demonstrators for select customers. “Those select customers are going to beat them up for a certain time and then give them back to us, so it’s more of a product testing,” Bottrell said, forecasting broader availability by summer 2019.
The Hino XL Series will be available in both single and tandem configurations, with a Hino A09 turbo diesel engine — with 300 or 360 horsepower. This is new to North America but has been available globally for a decade.
An Allison 3000-series transmission includes FuelSense, a program designed to help save fuel by shifting into neutral when the vehicle stops in order to ease the engine load to the transmission.
“Older HINO MDTs had a power/economy button beside the transmission shifter,” Bottrell said. “That’s now changed with FuelSense. You will have power mode for approximately three minutes, so if you’re going up a hill and you press to the floor it will shift the transmission to power mode and then drop back to economy.”
Other features — some optional — include a Dana drive shaft and axles, a Wabco OnGuard for Collision Mitigation collision avoidance system, Wabco OnLane2 for lane departure warning, a Jake Brake compression-brake system, and a passenger side mirror to observe blind spots.
With the launch of the International CV Series medium-duty Class 4 and 5 work trucks, Navistar International has completed a refresh across its entire lineup. Shown, left to right, are the HV, MV, CV and HX lines.Photo: Navistar International Corp.
NAVISTAR — 263
Joel Shaw, vocational sales manager with Navistar Canada, said a joint venture with General Motors will see medium-duty 4500 and 5500 units available in early 2019.
These class 4 and 5 trucks, branded International CV at International dealerships in the U.S. and Canada, and Silverado at Chevrolet dealerships in the U.S., feature a Navistar chassis reminiscent of TerraStar, and a 6.6-litre GM-designed turbo-diesel Duramax engine branded as International.
With 350 horsepower, 700 foot-pounds of torque and Alison 1000 or 2000 series transmissions, vehicles will be available in regular and crew cab models. Other options include an engine-mounted belt-driven air compressor, two and four-wheel drive capability, and choice of a 25- or 40-gallon fuel tank, or both. The battery box is integrated into the cab underneath the step; and the hood tilts.
Shaw described the gross vehicle weight rating of up to 23,500 pounds as an industry first for this size truck.
Shaw also outlined improvements across the MV-HV line. “We’ve totally redone the interior to freshen it up,” Shaw said. “The interior was new in 2003, so it was time for an update.”
Many switches have been relocated. The transmission touchpad moves from knee level to the steering column and the fuse panel moves from passenger side knee level to the top of the dash.
“The idea is to keep the driver’s eyes on the road instead of looking for a button to push,” Shaw said.
Safety enhancements include, IMMI RollTek seats, Wingman collision mitigation, Wabco OnGuard, a Bendix Blindspotter system, and Air Disc braking.
Peterbilt bills its model 567 truck as a steadfast workhorse.Photo: Peterbilt Motors Co.
PETERBILT — 234
The year 2018 marked a milestone for Peterbilt. In January at its manufacturing facility in Denton, Texas, the company’s one millionth truck rolled off the assembly line.
“Peterbilt gave that truck away in its SuperFan contest at the Mid America Truck Show in Louisville,” said Greg Grabinsky, vocational sales manager with Peterbilt Canada.
Grabinsky recapped a flurry of changes — a new front steer axle, drive axles and a 12-speed Paccar automated transmission designed to accompany Paccar’s MX engine. “The transmission right now is for over-the-road,” Grabinsky said. “We’re reviewing whether we can take this up to a vocational transmission.”
Safety improvements topped the list. An alarm sounds if a door’s left open or a parking brake isn’t set when it should be. High visibility egress grab handles are also newly introduced. And cruise control deactivates when the wipers turn on, which ensures drivers are in control.
Referencing the company’s Vehicle Electronic Control Unit (VECU), leveraged through Peterbilt’s parent Paccar, Grabinsky noted extensive communication improvements within the chassis to connect to the Body Builder module.
“The U.S. Air Force F35 has 21 million lines of software and the average truck today has 60 million lines of software, so there’s a lot of communication going on between all the systems,” Grabinsky said. “It going to get even more complicated as we continue to add additional driver-assist programs such as collision avoidance and lane departure.”
Western Star’s new IronFeather backpack system comes in 12, 24 and 36-inch cab extensions. The 12-inch version, shown above, extends the back of the cab to offer the driver more room and better seating.Photo: Western Star Truck Sales Inc
WESTERN STAR — 243
John Tomlinson, vocational sales manager with Daimler Trucks North America, the parent company of Western Star Trucks, outlined improvements to its XD off-road offerings.
These come with Detroit Diesel engines, with Tomlinson describing the DD16, in particular, as high-powered. “It’s pulling 150-ton loads around the clock,” he said.
Another new development is the IronFeather backpack system, which comes in 12-, 24-, and 36-inch cab extensions. “It extends the back of the cab to offer the driver more room and better seating,” Tomlinson said.
Additional recent enhancements on most models include LED headlamps, a 3rd Eye camera and radar system to alert drivers to blind spots, sealed double-channel frame-rails to address salt and corrosion, Grip Safe safety steps, and a new 18,000-pound all-wheel drive.
A new Tough Wrap harness system is meant to minimize abrasion and chafing damage that can lead to electrical failures. “It makes the truck more bulletproof,” Tomlinson said. A RollTek seat system is designed to pull the driver towards the floor, tighten the seatbelt and inflate side airbags when a rollover is detected.
To save outfitters’ time, Western Star can pre-drill and mount transition plates and REPTO mixer pump brackets at the factory.
Also available is a Twin Steer conversion kit, and the Twin Steer diesel exhaust fluid tank can be relocated onto the exhaust bracket. “That saves you guys moving the fuel tank forward to get all that frame space,” Tomlinson said.
Kenworth’s new long-hood conventional W990 was inspired by the heritage of its classic W900.Photo: Kenworth
KENWORTH — 240
Garry Kellner, regional service manager with Canadian Kenworth Company, addressed the October introduction of new vehicle electronics for its flagship T680 over-the-road and T880 vocational models, as well as its new W990, which will be produced starting in January. The current W900 will continue to be available.
Kenworth says its new Vehicle Electrical Control Unit (VECU) will be a seamless transition for customers.
The VECU provides expanded vehicle functionality, it integrates new multiplex switches, increased PTO functions for the MX engine, dedicated body builder interfaces, integrated driver displays, and improved data security to reduce the likelihood of dash lamps due to aftermarket devices.
For vocational trucks, dealers are being urged to get details regarding the bodies that will be installed so they can order factory-available components to facilitate easier body installation and connections to the chassis. Adding factory available components and systems after the truck is built can be costly and time consuming, Kellner explained.
A new body builder manual has been released which includes a section on the VECU system.
Kenworth’s proprietary service tool, DAVIE4, is used to program and diagnose issues with the VECU system, Kellner said.
New options available on the T880 include a fixed grille for steady leg, front reel and plow mount applications, Twin Steer axle spacing for the ready mix market, and a 6X6 configuration.
Kenworth also has ZECT (Zero Emissions Cargo Transport) and HECT (Hybrid Electric Cargo Transport) trucks operating.
The road ahead for Isuzu’s N-Series trucks includes enhanced remote mirrors, forward collision and lane departure warning systems, and an aluminum diesel tank.Photo: Isuzu Commercial Truck
ISUZU — 245
Andrew Craig, director of Isuzu Commercial Truck of Canada, highlighted a letter of intent Isuzu and Cummins signed in October to jointly evaluate business opportunities.
“Our expertise is a little more heavily weighted to smaller engines … whereas if you look at Cummins they’re more focused on the heavier side with bigger engines,” Craig said. “We’re in about 120 countries around the world, and I understand Cummins is around 190, so there’s a great chance for synergy.”
Isuzu and Cummins will assign a team to explore the potential for a longer-term partnership for diesel and natural gas internal combustion powertrains as well as new technologies such as electric.
“Diesel engines aren’t going to disappear tomorrow … but on the other side variations of electric and hybrid are coming,” Craig said. “By working together we can create better opportunities and expand our ability to meet (emissions) regulations and customer needs.”
For existing product lines, Craig mentioned transmission modifications that boost fuel economy by two percent and offer a lower-gear command for acceleration. He also discussed plans to increase the stroke on compressors, add a purge valve silencer to reduce noise, and offer low-profile tires on the Class 6 FTR. Also coming next year are aluminum diesel tanks for the N-Series, enhanced remote mirrors, a new optional audio system with Apple Car Play, Android Auto, and a back-up camera. Forward collision and lane departure warning systems from Mobileye are also on their way.
— Saul Chernos
Saul Chernos is a Toronto writer.