REBUILDING A BRAND

FI R S T
CLASS
FALL 2014
Volume 34 Number 2
REBUILDING
A BRAND
New Peterbilts —
pushing 10 MPG —
help resurrect
a familiar carrier 6
A Legacy of
Innovation 14
Image Building
at WCSG 10
FIND US ON:
The Peterbilt and Cummins SuperTruck, led by
a Peterbilt Model 579, has achieved 10.7 miles
per gallon under real-world driving conditions.
The SuperTruck program is a U.S. Department of
Energy initiative designed to improve Class 8 longhaul trucking efficiency.
FI R S T
CLASS
6
Rebuilding a Brand
Model 579 leads Jim Palmer Trucking comeback
10
Image Building
New Peterbilts fit longstanding performance ethic
14
A Legacy of Innovation
Peterbilts help CR&R stay ahead of technology curve
16
SmartAir Sets New Standard
Innovative design distinguishes Peterbilt system
18
Autonomous Assist Driving
Demo highlights advanced technology
20
Pride & Class
Special edition Model 389 gives a nod to the past
22
Manufacturing Awards
Peterbilt earns Frost & Sullivan recognition
Congratulations on 75 years
of class and innovation!
Spec’d for the Job
Eaton® UltraShift®PLUS Series Transmission
and Peterbilt Vocational Model 567
Like the new Peterbilt model 567, an UltraShift PLUS Series
automated transmission gives you the versatility that best meets
your needs. For example, in highway construction and dump
operations, it is designed with deep reduction and fast, flexible
reverse gearing.
4
The patented shift logic and controls
within every UltraShift PLUS constantly
adapt based on changes in weight of
load, grade, and power, making adjustments to maximize efficiency.
4
Multiple models offer
application-specific
performance and economy:
from 10- to 18-speeds and
up to unlimited GCVW.
Customizable intelligent
software to match your
vocational and performance
needs.
4
Safety features include hill
start aid and auto neutral.
4
Delivers more time on the
road thanks to Roadranger
support, the largest national
network of drivetrain experts
and service technicians.
4
Visit UltraShiftPLUS.com
for more information.
Ask your Peterbilt
representative which
UltraShift PLUS transmission
works best in your 567.
BACKED BY
SUPPORT
More Milestones
A
s we enter the final months of Peterbilt’s 75th Anniversary, this issue of
First Class Magazine features several of our most accomplished customers who have also achieved significant milestones.
We surely and strongly believe that their partnership with Peterbilt will lead
them to achieve many more.
For example, Jim Palmer Trucking, under new ownership with Darrel Wilson
at the wheel, is celebrating its 50th anniversary with an infusion of new Model
579s into the fleet. The Model 579s are posting outstanding fuel economy
improvements for the firm, more than 9.0 mpg for some tractors, as high as
9.8 mpg in one.
John Struiksma Sr. says West Coast Sand & Gravel, in its 46th year of opDarrin Siver
General Manager
eration, is investing in new Peterbilt Models 567 and 579, and is stronger than
ever. Drivers especially like the new Peterbilt equipment, as does Struiksma,
albeit for slightly less tangible reasons.
“They’re just more stylish,” he says.
And CR&R Waste Services recently surpassed 50 years of ownership by the
Ronnenberg family — and still proudly operates, among its fleet
“Operators of the Model 579 of innovative new natural-gas-powered Model 320s, a few ceasereport growing ever-nearer lessly reliable Peterbilts that the company has run for more than
40 of those years.
to the 10 mpg threshold.”
We’ve never offered a more technologically advanced product line. Products such as the Model 567 offer operators unsurpassed levels
of driver comfort and ride in the vocational market. The Model 579 continues
to turn heads, not only because of its striking appearance, but for those who
monitor bottom lines as well, with operators nearly breaking through the 10
mpg threshold. And the advances in our natural-gas platform continue to offer
both environmental and business advantages to our customers.
To be sure, a 75th anniversary is no small matter. However, at Peterbilt, we
value customer achievements and milestones even more. Here’s to many more!
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FIRST CLASS l 5
PALMER
Rebuilding a Brand
With Model 579s
pushing 10 MPG,
new ownership
helps resurrect Jim
Palmer Trucking
6 l FIRST CLASS
Those who have seen a Jim Palmer
Trucking rig over the years tend to
remember it.
That’s in part because a sighting so
often led to an immediate question: Is
that company named for Jim Palmer, the
famous baseball player? It is not, but the
Jim Palmer who founded the Missoula,
Mont.-based carrier that celebrates its
50th anniversary this year has long dealt
with misdirected inquiries about the state
of his fastball.
The striking rigs themselves have given
Jim Palmer Trucking a high level of recognition even without the coincidental
nomenclature. Typically paired with a
Peterbilt conventional over the years,
the familiar Palmer refrigerated trailers
helped give the company, in its heyday up
to 450 power units, its identity.
But as anyone in the industry knows,
trucking became a challenging business
in which to succeed a few years ago, and
Palmer put his company up for sale. The
new owners were unable to buck the trends
of the recession, and Peterbilts no longer
pulled the familiar Palmer trailer. The fleet
shrunk by more than half.
But after another ownership change,
there’s new blood in charge these days
at the carrier’s Missoula headquarters,
and with it comes a fleet upgrade that
includes 50 new Peterbilt Model 579s.
Experienced ownership
For anyone familiar with the Wil-Trans
fleet in Springfield, Mo., the Palmer fleet
upgrade should come as no surprise.
That’s because Wil-Trans Founder and
President Darrel Wilson, whose fleet prominently features new Peterbilt Model 579s
and 587s, is the new owner of Jim Palmer
Trucking. His new Palmer management
team includes several Wilson family members who are adapting well to their new
Montana environs as they try to resurrect
the Palmer brand to its former glory.
“What made Jim Palmer Trucking
attractive to us is that it’s a totally separate
footprint for us,” says Wilson. “Wil-Trans
is a Midwest, Northeast and Southeast
fleet. Jim Palmer is West and Northwest.
“And we just strongly felt that the
Jim Palmer brand was so well respected.
They’d had a rough, four or five years, but
for years before that this was a well-run
fleet that was known for its performance
and its Peterbilts.
“They used to call it ‘The Original
Drivers’ Company,’ in part because of the
Peterbilt equipment. We intend to bring
that slogan back to life.”
Peterbilt partnership
For Wilson, however, getting to the
place where he could resurrect the Palmer
brand required his own careful manage-
Even then, Wilson was reaping the
benefits of Peterbilt’s aerodynamic
advances, then with the Model 377 A/E.
“We always liked their fuel economy,”
says Wilson. “Peterbilt just kept improving their aerodynamics every year.”
By 2006, the Wil-Trans fleet was up
to 150 power units, but the recession was
just around the corner.
“We had some tight years there,” he
says. “And late in 2008, we had to make
some hard decisions and see what it would
“We’ve never been after the lowest price.
We’re after the lowest cost of ownership and
operation, and we get it from Peterbilt.”
ment of Wil-Trans, as well as partnership
with Peterbilt and its dealer network.
Wilson, who started Wil-Trans with
a single used Model 359 in 1980, grew
his company slowly in its early years. But
after “a decade of learning,” Wil-Trans
made a major step toward future growth
when it leased its services to Springfieldbased Prime, Inc. After acquiring another
carrier in 1996, Wil-Trans had its
fleet up to 100 power units
by the late 1990s.
take to remain viable,” Wilson says.
Equipment quality was not an area of
compromise, however, because it made
no business sense.
“We’ve never been after the lowest
price,” Wilson says. “We buy new, premium equipment and keep it over the term
of the longest warranty we can get, and
that’s 4 years and 600,000 miles. We’re
after the lowest cost of ownership and
operation, and we get it from Peterbilt.”
Where the company did make a
major change, however, was in its own
maintenance operations, which they all
but shut down and handed over to the
Peterbilt dealer network.
Wilson family members are leading the resurrection of the Jim Palmer Trucking brand in
Missoula, Mont. From left to right are Kameron, Lisa, Kirk, Skip, Tyler, Lori and Darrel, who
is the president of the firm. The rest of the family eschews titles, according to Darrel.
“One of the smartest things we’ve ever
done,” says Wilson of the move to contract maintenance with Peterbilt. “They
have the ability to train their technicians
that we just couldn’t match.”
Pushing 10 mpg
Another major factor supporting
Peterbilt’s low cost of operation is the fuel
economy Wilson is getting with his new
Model 579s. He says 10 drivers recently
checked in with averages over 9.0 mpg,
one as high as 9.8, running fully loaded.
The PACCAR MX-13 Engine, a gear
ratio of 3.08, a variety of aero options
and governed top speeds of 62 mph are
among the factors contributing to the
impressive fuel economy.
“We train our drivers how to run
for fuel economy, how to put those MX
8 l FIRST CLASS
engines in the RPM ranges in which they
were designed to run best.
“I’m looking forward to seeing what
Peterbilt’s new EPIQ aerodynamic package on the 579 will get us. I think we’ll
reach 10 mpg some day, and the little
things in these aerodynamic refinements
are what will get us there.”
With an experienced group of quality drivers, a group of trusted employees
at Springfield that can afford Wilson the
opportunity to turn his focus to Montana,
and a Peterbilt-based fleet formula that
offers minimal cost per mile, Wilson is excited about the future for Jim Palmer Trucking.
“Our customers see that we’re increasing
our lanes, and I think they feel pretty secure
with their freight when they see the new
Peterbilt equipment we have hauling it,” he
says. “We’re going to rebuild this brand.”
Anniversary Model 579
Gets Special Duty
A new Peterbilt 75th Anniversary
Special Edition Model 579 is seeing special duty for Jim Palmer
Trucking, which celebrates its 50th
anniversary this year.
The limited-edition Model
579 highlights a partnership for
the Missoula, Mont.-based trucking firm with the University of
Montana, also based in Missoula.
Company president Darrel Wilson
says the truck will be used to haul
equipment to road games for the
school’s highly successful Grizzly
football program, as well as provide community services.
2 0 Y E A R S O F T R P Q UA L I T Y & VA L U E
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H E R I TA G E & I N N O V AT I O N .
Search for the TRP Parts you need on any device,
anywhere, anytime. Purchase at your local Peterbilt Dealer.
The Peterbilt Model 567 is
making an impression on
drivers at West Coast Sand
& Gravel, which celebrates its
46th anniversary this year.
WEST COAST
Image Building
New Peterbilts fit longstanding performance ethic at WCSG
When John Struiksma got his start with West Coast
Sand & Gravel (WCSG) in the late 1960s, the Buena
Park, Calif. area that hosts his current operations
was made up almost entirely of orange groves.
As the orange groves disappeared and urban
commerce flourished in the area, so grew the
Peterbilt fleet and operations of this major southern California materials hauler. Today, you’d be
hard pressed to find an orange tree in bustling
Buena Park, but the familiar teal-colored fleet of
West Coast Sand & Gravel, now up to 320 power
units, is a common sight.
The fleet is near 100 percent Peterbilt, mostly
configured as transfer dumps, and includes a mix
of older traditional conventionals as well as a pair
of new Model 567s, Peterbilt’s newest conventional designed specifically for the vocational market.
While Struiksma knows he’s in a business that
tends to value function over form, he also knows
there’s a point of differentiation to be made when
it comes to running equipment that gets noticed.
“They’re just more stylish,” he says, explaining
his longstanding preference for Peterbilt. “They’re
nicer looking trucks, and that defines your image
out on the road. Our customers, our drivers,
ourselves — everybody looks at it and takes pride
in the work that’s being done or the way we’re
delivering the product.”
While the elder Struiksma remembers well the
first Peterbilt in the West Coast fleet — a used
Model 359 — the younger Struiksma expresses a
preference for more recent Peterbilt vintage. The
Model 579 will soon be making up a greater portion of the West Coast fleet, he says.
“It’s like driving a luxury car,” says John Jr.
“The wide cab is very comfortable for a driver.
The visibility from the driver’s seat is an important
feature. And you don’t often think about aerodynamics in our application but it matters. We’re
definitely interested in saving some fuel.
Third generation
The Peterbilt image has long made an impression
on the third generation of the Struiksma family that
is now taking on a leadership role at the firm that
was started by John Sr.’s uncles. John Jr. now heads
up the company that operates out of 10 locations
(including Phoenix) with product and service offerings ranging from construction aggregate to sports
field products. Four sister companies (dealing with
bagged product, wood, redi-mix and brick, respectively) also operate under Struiksma’s guidance.
“We also have the PACCAR MX-13 Engine in
some of those trucks, and they’re performing very
well. We’re liking the fuel economy we’re seeing.”
If drivers have their way, the Model 567 will
soon be making a greater presence in the West
Coast fleet.
“The drivers we have in them now are ecstatic about them,” says John Jr. “Our guys average up to 300 miles and our trucks run up to
16 hours a day, so comfort and ride are very
important to them.”
John Struiksma Sr. (left) and son
John Jr. lead WCSG.
“The drivers we have in our
Model 567s now are ecstatic
about them.”
FIRST CLASS l 11
WEST COAST
Ride and comfort — and the associated reduction in driver fatigue — figure
into the West Coast safety plan as well,
according to the Struiksmas.
“Almost everything we do is about
safety,” says John Jr. “It’s our number
one concern. Everybody goes home at
the end of the day, and that’s the important thing, but it’s also good business.
Being safe saves us money, and the driver
environments in these Peterbilts help us
achieve an excellent safety record.”
Strong resale
Both Struiksmas have long been witness to Peterbilt’s outstanding residual
value. Their resale cycle has ranged from
six to 10 years and in any economic environment, return has always been strong.
“There have been people, no joke,
they’ll call me daily about our used equipment,” says the younger Struiksma. “And
12 l FIRST CLASSCLASS
Transfer dumps such as this one,
towed by a new Peterbilt Model 567,
make up the bulk of WCSG fleet work.
some of those trucks will have up to
800,000 miles on them. That’s a testament to Peterbilt. We’ve had some competitor trucks in here over the years, and
their dashboards are falling off — literally
— at 500,000 miles.
“Peterbilt’s durability record definitely
gives us confidence that we’ll see the same
kind of returns on the 567 and 579.”
But for all the business reasons the
Struiksmas prefer Peterbilts, some are
less tangible.
“We just like the way Peterbilts look,”
says the elder Struiksma. “Always have.”
Scan to learn more.
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CR&R
A Legacy of Innovation
New Peterbilts help CR&R stay ahead of the technology curve
CR&R Waste and Recycling Services has long been a technology leader in Southern California.
But for all the modern appearances of an operation that thrives on innovation,
there exists a foundation built on simple long-standing values such as performance and
dependability.
As an example, look no further than the fleet of the firm that services more than
2.5 million people and 5,000 businesses in the Los Angeles area. Leading residential
collection efforts for CR&R is the new technologically advanced, CNG-powered Peterbilt
Model 320 in efficient side-loader configurations. The CNG-fueled Model 320 also
heads the firm’s efforts in commercial collection in front-loader configurations.
Peterbilt Model 384s, which will soon be cycled out and replaced by Peterbilt’s innovative new aerodynamic Model 579 powered by the PACCAR MX-13 Engine, transport
the trailered materials to landfills and recycling stations.
But take a closer look and you’ll see an early 1970s era Model 352 still on the job,
as well as a classic Model 359 and a handful of hard-working Model 379s.
“What we’ve come to know over
the years is that Peterbilt is all
about the details. They think about
a lot of things other companies
don’t think about.” — Frank Alvarez
“We do tend to stretch our cycles out, in part because our equipment is so specialized,” says Fleet Manager Frank Alvarez. “But the fact is that this Peterbilt equipment
can handle the longer life cycles. If you need further proof of its durability, we have
Peterbilts around here we’ve been running since the 1970s.”
The staying power and durability of its equipment is just one reason the firm has
been growing a foothold in the competitive southern California waste services industry
since its inception half a century ago.
Better ways
From its 1963 start when Clifford Ronnenberg took ownership of the small, Stanton,
Calif-headquartered firm, the company embraced better ways of collecting waste, and
minimizing its environmental footprint.
“We’ve always been about ideas, research and development, staying ahead of the curve,”
says David Ronnenberg, Clifford’s son and president of the company’s primary transfer division.
14 l FIRST CLASS
The company focused largely on
sharing the benefits of innovation with
its customer base. In California, where
waste-control issues have long been front
and center, ideas such as the center for
buying back recyclables, or the three-can
residential system that made it easier for
residents to recycle at home, positioned
CR&R as a clear leader in a state that
looked for new solutions to waste issues.
Other ideas improved the firm’s
operational efficiencies. As evidence,
Ronnenberg points to their first on-board
computers, so ahead of their time that
they were of the company’s own design.
Pioneering use of GPS also set CR&R’s
operations apart.
Natural-gas pioneer
But the use of natural-gas fueled collection vehicles, beginning in 2002, were
both environmental and business successes for the company. Initially starting
with LNG, by 2005 CR&R began the process of converting its fleet to CNG once
it could fuel its fleet at its own location.
The Cummins Westport engines available
for the Model 320 are capable of running
on either fuel.
“We went to alternative fuels long
before it was popular,” says Alvarez. “But
we’ve always been forward-looking when
it comes to adapting to new technologies. Such an approach has always been
necessary to succeed in our industry.”
Having a longstanding comfort level
with Peterbilt eased the transition, first
to alternative fuels, then to a new Model
320, as well as to the new Model 579,
according to Alvarez.
“What we’ve come to know over the
years is that Peterbilt is all about the
details. They think about a lot of things
other companies don’t think about, and
it shows in the product.”
Alvarez says the Model 320 is popular
with operators.
“Obviously, the customer comes
first in our business, but next comes the
driver,” he says. “We want them to be
working in as comfortable an environment as possible.
“So when Peterbilt first came out with
the new 320, we brought one in here and
had the drivers just climb all over it, tell
us what they liked, what they didn’t. They
liked the new cab. They liked the new
windows, and the improved visibility. And
the turning radius is sharper.”
Adds Ronnenberg, “Frank and I got
to go to the factory and watch our
trucks being built. It was fascinating
to watch their processes. And as big
as Peterbilt is, we could ask them right
there about various features that were
specific to our needs.
“That’s what I like about Peterbilt.
They listen to us.”
ABOVE A CNG-fueled
Model 320 in a front-end
commercial application.
BELOW Another Model 320
deftly handles residential collection duties for CR&R Waste
and Recycling Services in a
side-load configuration.
SMARTAIR
SmartAir sets new
standards for no-idle cooling
Innovative design distinguishes Peterbilt system
When Peterbilt engineers set out to develop a Peterbilt-proprietary no-idle cooling
system, they did so with the knowledge
that the market was already familiar with
similar systems.
The challenge they faced was to make
theirs operate with minimal fuel consumption, improved efficiency and payload and a reduced footprint — aspirations that aren’t entirely compatible.
“We knew where the benchmarks were,
where the bar was set with competitor products and previous cooling systems we had
offered,” says Peterbilt Chief Engineer Landon
Sproull. “We aimed to set new standards with
our product.”
The result is the Peterbilt SmartAir
system, a battery-based anti-idle cooling
op new products, began with engineers
looking beyond the trucking industry.
“We took a step back and looked at
other industries, particularly the recreational vehicle industry,” says Sproull.
“That’s not necessarily apples to apples
because they tend to have the availability of more charging and plug-in facilities. But we were able to learn some
things there.”
Sproull said his team also looked
closely at diesel-powered APUs. While an
idling engine can burn as much as 1.0
gallons of fuel per hour, a diesel-powered
APU used for cooling purposes burns
closer to 0.2 gallons per hour.
But even that improvement failed
to meet the expected changes in the
stringent air quality standards set in
California, where APUs would soon be
Competitors were arriving at the same
conclusion. And in fact, the Technology
and Maintenance Council had come up
with specifications for a no-idle system,
and recommended that such a system
should maintain an ambient temperature
in a sleeper for a 10-hour period.
Meeting this standard would require
four batteries in addition to the four starting batteries usually present in a Class 8
tractor with a sleeper. But in the first of
several design innovations that set the
SmartAir system apart, it would employ
four deep-cycle, 31-plate, absorbed glass
mat PACCAR auxiliary batteries.
“We tied our system together so that
our no-idle system would draw from
all batteries until the starting batteries
reached 12.5 volts, or sufficient voltage
to start the truck,” Sproull says. “Then
“The question we asked is, ‘How do
a running motor from the process
— Landon Sproull
system that has been saving users thousands in fuel costs and helping customers
achieve compliance with anti-idle laws
nationwide since its 2012 launch.
The development process, as often
happens when Peterbilt engineers devel-
16 l FIRST CLASS
expected to operate with aftertreatment
systems of their own to reduce their
emissions output.
“So the question we asked is, ‘How
do you eliminate a running motor from
the process completely?’” Sproull says.
“The battery bank was the next best
thing.”
continued operation of the SmartAir
system would pull only from the auxiliary
batteries, until they reached 11.3 volts.”
The system exceeded TMC standards by 30 minutes, according to
Sproull. Competitor systems, which
draw only from a bank of starting batteries, may require an automatic restart
of the truck that could interfere with an
operator’s rest.
“When you have a truck start in the
middle of the night to charge the batteries,
that’s going to rock the truck,” says Sproull.
The configuration also requires about
25 percent less time to fully recharge than
competitive no-idle configurations. The
SmartAir system fully recharges batteries
in four to five hours at an average engine
speed of 1150 RPM. The resulting fuel
savings is about 70 percent vs. an APUpowered system, according to Sproull.
Another point of differentiation from
competitive systems is the split-system
design. Simply put, the condenser is
mounted on the outer sleeper wall and
connected to the main unit, containing the evaporator, blower, compressor
and air filter, by hoses. The main unit is
New SmartAir Configuration for Model 579
Compact space-saver battery boxes now available for Peterbilt’s no-idle
SmartAir system on the Model 579 allow for greater spec’ing flexibility
with new chassis configurations, Peterbilt recently announced.
“The SmartAir system provides customers with unparalleled climate
control performance through our exclusive no-idle technology that is fully
integrated and factory installed on select Peterbilt models,” says Landon
Sproull, Peterbilt Chief Engineer. “Offering the space-saver battery box
option for our Model 579 minimizes weight and further reduces what was
already the industry’s smallest footprint for a no-idle cooling system.
“Additionally, the space-saver battery box can be mounted to the
chassis in a variety of locations allowing for greater spec’ing flexibility,
including exhaust configurations with the diesel particulate filter and selective catalytic reduction catalyst in the right-hand, under-cab position.”
The space-saver battery box is constructed of lightweight aluminum
and available with a choice of either an aluminum or composite cover.
you eliminate
completely?’”
mounted under the bunk in the sleeper.
Compared to a combined unit that
would mount all the components under
the bunk, the SmartAir system is a space
saver as well, and opens up greater space
for under-bunk storage. Additionally, the
split-system is significantly quieter than a
comparable combined unit.
These auxiliary
batteries help the
Peterbilt SmartAir
system both save
fuel and exceed TMC
cooling standards.
PETERBILT NEWS
Peterbilt Showcases Autonomous Assist Driving Technology
Advanced technologies capable of
autonomous driving highlighted a recent
demonstration of a Peterbilt Model 579
concept truck at the Intelligent Transport
Systems World Congress in Detroit.
“The autonomous truck of the
future is an extension of existing, individual systems already available for
today’s commercial vehicles,” says Bill
Kahn, Peterbilt Principal Engineer and
18 l FIRST CLASS
Manager of Advanced Concepts. “The
vehicle we demonstrated during the
ITS World Congress showcases how
these technologies can integrate to provide the next generation of advanced
cruise control and automation features.
Heavy-duty trucks are an ideal platform
for automated operation because, compared to motorists, commercial vehicles
travel a majority of their miles on mod-
ern highways, at constant speeds and
for extended periods of time.”
Kahn noted the automation technologies are not driver replacement tools but
rather complement the truck operator.
“Improving safety, efficiency and performance are top priorities for the entire
transportation industry. These are common goals we are collectively working
toward,” Kahn says.
Among the existing technologies utilized by the vehicle are:
s A collision warning system that provides
visual and audible alerts to warn the
operator of obstructions to the front
and sides of the vehicle.
s Radar-based adaptive cruise control
(ACC) that automatically accelerates
and decelerates to maintain safe following distances.
s Lane departure warning systems (LDWS)
which use cameras to detect lane edges
and striping and alerts the driver if the
vehicle is drifting outside of its lane.
Kahn said the performance of these
technologies is boosted by giving the
LDWS the ability to self-correct the vehicle through integration with the electronically controlled steering system and the
ACC the ability to use the cameras to
bring the vehicle to a complete stop, if
necessary.
Additionally, the Model 579 autonomous concept truck uses the Global
Positioning System to add features such
as last mile routing, parking assist and
new driver proficiency.
“Combined, these technologies
– while still evolving – increase safety
through continuous situational awareness, reduced driver fatigue and improved
driving accuracy for superior fuel economy,” said Kahn.
The Model 579 concept truck was
made available for demonstrations
throughout the event.
PETERBILT NEWS
Model 220 Now
in Full Production
The first new Peterbilt medium-duty
cabover Model 220 – featuring numerous
enhancements to performance, durability
and the operating environment – recently rolled off the assembly line at the
company’s COE manufacturing facility in
Mexicali, Mexico. The Class 6 and 7 truck
is now in full production.
“The new Model 220 brings customers greater levels of productivity. Drivers
will enjoy enhanced maneuverability that
shortens the curb-to-curb turning radius by 30 percent and the new, standard electronic braking system (EBS) for
improved braking performance,” says
Robert Woodall, Peterbilt Director of
Sales and Marketing. “These characteristics combine with an efficient bumper-tobumper length that can be as low as 35
feet for added agility while still delivering
an extra 45 inches of payload area and
a frame rail system that can be upfitted
with bodies ranging from 16 to 28 feet.
“It is extremely versatile and will
exceed expectations in every application, from urban pick-up-and delivery to
refuse, and from landscaping to street
sweeping and striping.”
Interior Features
The cab features a completely redesigned interior that was engineered to
give operators unparalleled levels of safety, productivity and comfort.
“Maximizing visibility was a key
consideration in designing the Model
220,” says Landon Sproull, Peterbilt
Chief Engineer. “Our 2,500-squareinch windshield, large side windows
and multiple-mirror array provides
operators with a panoramic view, helping them navigate the confined and
congested areas in which these vehicles
often operate.”
The redesigned
interior offers
operators of the
new Peterbilt
Model 220
unparalleled
levels of safety,
productivity
and comfort.
The new curved dashboard features
easy-to-read instrumentation and an
interactive, 5-inch color display module
that provides information on vehicle and
driver performance.
“The Driver Information Center display in the Model 220 keeps operators
abreast of all vital vehicle and engine functions,” says Sproull. “The multi-language
system features advice for the operator on
ways to improve in areas such as increasing fuel efficiency and reducing brake wear
by modifying driving behavior.”
Ergonomics was a primary focus
in designing the interior, according to
Sproull, resulting in easier-to-read instrumentation and grouping all switches by
function. Everything is within easy reach of
the driver and the overall layout provides a
logical, easy-to-operate environment.
Exterior Features
The new cabs are designed for durability to withstand harsh, urban operating environments. For instance, the new
bumper is manufactured from galvanized
steel, there’s a new radiator protection
plate and the headlamps are protected
by a tough Lexan covering. For improved
visibility during adverse conditions, fog
lamps have been integrated into the
bumper.
“Productivity and safety are two
major areas of improvement. We’ve facilitated ease of entry and egress with doors
that open a full 90 degrees and there’s
ample courtesy lighting,” says Sproull.
“Additionally, Model 220s are now standard with electronic braking systems for
improved braking performance and faster
response from the pedal to the brakes.”
FIRST CLASS l 19
MODEL 389
Pride & Class
New Special Edition
Model 389 Makes its Debut
Distinctive. Unmistakable. Uniquely Peterbilt.
Those are just a few of the praises being
used to describe the new special edition
Pride & Class Model 389, which is now in
production and shipping to Peterbilt dealerships throughout North America.
“Peterbilt has defined the look of trucking for generations and the new Pride &
Class Model 389 embodies that spirit of
bold design and legendary craftsmanship,”
says Darrin Siver, Peterbilt General Manager
and PACCAR Vice President. “Stylistically this
truck deserves a place on a pedestal or in a
museum, but it is every bit the workhorse
that customers expect from a Peterbilt.
20 l FIRST CLASSCLASS
“It’s a head-turning tribute to an
industry classic that keeps on innovating.”
The Pride & Class edition features
many unique features both inside and
out. Numerous bright exterior accessories
and interior accents provide a customized,
show-truck-ready look. Insignias in the cab
and on the sleeper identify the Model 389
as an exclusive Pride & Class edition.
“The Pride & Class edition appeals
to all truck owners who take pride in
their vehicles and want to make a lasting impression,” Siver says. He added
that some fleets will be using the Pride &
Class edition as a reward truck for their
best drivers.
Polished, Bright & Sophisticated
Among the Pride & Class exterior
features are:
s A louvered grille design reminiscent of
Peterbilt’s Model 351 (first manufactured in 1954) and manufactured from
durable polished steel;
s
A highly polished hood crown;
s
A brightly polished hood spine;
“A head-turning trbute to an industry classic,”
the Pride & Class edition Model 389 features
design elements first popularized with the
legendary Model 351 that was introduced in 1954.
s
Hood air intake vents integrated with
the Peterbilt logo and expanding the
polished metal theme are reminiscent
of the “egg-crate grille” style of the first
Peterbilts in 1939;
s
Bright metal front fenders;
s
Large polished exterior sun visor,
bumper and exhaust stacks;
s
Polished rocker panels complementing
the bright cowl skirts, battery box, fuel
tanks and trimmed mud flaps.
Luxurious, Exclusive & Distinctive
The Model 389 Pride & Class edition is
standard with Peterbilt’s Platinum interior
and features many unique accents, such as:
s Arctic gray color complemented by a
charcoal dash top;
s
Bright shifter plate with Pride & Class
logo and a Blackwood shifter knob;
s
Premium black leather seats with the
Pride & Class emblem embroidered in
the headrests;
s
Blackwood trim accents throughout,
including the dash, door pads and
sleeper cabinets;
s
Thick black carpeting throughout the
cab and sleeper.
s
Chrome door handles, bright-bezel
gauges and a special four-spoke metal
steering wheel with leather wrap;
The Model 389 Pride & Class edition
can be ordered as a day cab or with a 72or 78-inch sleeper.
FIRST CLASS l 21
PETERBILT NEWS
Peterbilt, PACCAR Win
Manufacturing Leadership Awards
Petertbilt and its parent company PACCAR Inc recently won
four prestigious Manufacturing Leadership Awards as selected
by Frost & Sullivan’s Manufacturing Leadership Council, and
took top honors in the categories of Workplace Leadership
and Engineering and Product Technology Leadership. The top
awards, called High Achiever Awards, were announced during
the Manufacturing Leadership Summit in Palm Beach, Fla.
“It’s an honor to be recognized for our ongoing efforts to
innovate in all areas of our operations, particularly from among
such a diverse and worthy field of candidates as those selected
by Frost & Sullivan,” says Darrin Siver, PACCAR Vice President
and Peterbilt General Manager. “Our design, engineering and
manufacturing initiatives lead not only the trucking industry,
but set new standards for quality, efficiency and technological
leadership across all industries.”
Peterbilt won the High Achiever Award in the Workplace
Leadership category for its Human Centered Design program used throughout all areas of its operations, including
during its product design and testing. Peterbilt also received a
Manufacturing Leadership Award for its model line approach to
Lean Manufacturing Management.
Frost & Sullivan’s Manufacturing Leadership Awards are now
in their 10th year and honor companies that innovate and set
new standards in manufacturing across all industries.
Peterbilt Technician Institute Expands
After graduating its first class of students earlier this year, the
Peterbilt Technician Institute (PTI) has expanded to a second
location in Lisle, Ill.
Peterbilt teamed with Universal Technical Institute (UTI) to
create the comprehensive technician training program last year
at UTI’s Dallas campus. Applications for enrollment are currently
being accepted for PTI at both campuses.
“Due to the success of the Peterbilt Technician Institute,
we’re very pleased to grow the program to Chicago and we
plan to continue expansion to other locations nationwide,” says
Robert Woodall, Peterbilt Director of Sales and Marketing.
Build Your Own Model 579 at Peterbilt.com
Pick a color. Select a sleeper, or go with a day cab. Fine tune
your PACCAR MX-13 Engine ratings. Make the Model 579 of
your desire with a new configurator tool at www.peterbilt.com.
“The new online configurator lets users build their own
Model 579 in a fun, immersive way,” says Todd Acker, Peterbilt’s
Director of Marketing. “Whether you’re a truck owner or an
enthusiast, the configurator lets you virtually design and customize your truck, save and e-mail an image of it, and contact your
nearest Peterbilt dealership for more details.”
Peterbilt also recently launched a new complimentary app for
Apple and Windows tablets that allows users to tour vehicles.
“The Class Pays application complements the sales process
by allowing customers to learn which Peterbilt model best meets
their requirements in a fun and interactive way,” says Robert
Woodall, Peterbilt Director of Sales and Marketing.
22 l FIRST CLASS
Better.
Where It Counts.
Better Fuel Economy. Every™ ISX15.
Better is taking a proven product and improving it in every way. Cummins ISX15 and
ISX12 get up to 2 percent better fuel economy than our previous products, with
better reliability and durability. Spec the ISX15 SmartTorque2 with the Eaton Fuller®
Advantage™ 10-speed Automated Transmission in the SmartAdvantage™ Powertrain,
and you’ll see a fuel economy gain of 3-6 percent. That’s putting better where it
counts most. For details, visit cumminsengines.com/heavy-duty-truck.
©2014 Cummins Inc., Box 3005, Columbus, IN 47202-3005 U.S.A.
%%
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PETERBILT MOTORS COMPANY
DENTON, TX
(940) 591-4000
HORSHAM, PA
(215) 773-2990
NASHVILLE, TN
(615) 208-1800
SAN RAMON, CA
(925) 830-4900
SCHAUMBURG, IL
(847) 310-9939
MISSISSAUGA, ON
(905) 858-7090
))))