New 60" Mid-Rise Fits Right In Mack® Tractor Pulls 149-Foot

Summer
Summer
2004
2004
Fall
Fall
New 60" Mid-Rise Fits Right In
New 60" Mid-Rise Fits Right In
Mack Tractor Pulls 149-Foot Trailer
®
Mack Tractor Pulls 149-Foot Trailer
®
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Everyone wants to get the most value for their money. And the goal of
getting a solid return on an investment has never been more important
in our industry.
That’s why Mack always remains focused on bringing value to our
customers — with innovative products and personalized service that are
second to none. You can read about the variety of ways we’re helping
our customers in this issue.
Our Big Story introduces the new 60" mid-rise sleeper, which is the perfect
complement to our lineup of highway tractors. This vehicle provides
drivers and fleets the head room desired without the added weight of
a large sleeper. Both comfortable and practical, the 60" mid-rise fits
perfectly in our long line of highly productive Mack trucks.
Kevin Flaherty
Senior Vice President, Sales
You’ll see how our tireless efforts developing new products will positively
affect your bottom line. The LE Side Loader takes productivity to new
levels. The Granite® snowplow incorporates new technology to keep
drivers working efficiently and safely in the harshest winter conditions.
UniMax™ axles are now available for highway operations. And we
continue to refine our EGR technology, preparing our engines for the
more stringent 2007 EPA requirements.
As always, loyal customers who appreciate our value are featured
in this issue’s “Fleet Spotlight” articles. These companies rely on our
products and services, and they highlight how Mack trucks contribute
to the operation and growth of their businesses.
And our “From the Road” section is full of interesting stories and
anecdotes contributed by owners, drivers and supporters from around
the world.
When you read through these pages, you’ll discover the many ways that
Mack continues a long tradition of providing exceptional value for our
exceptional customers.
Enjoy the new issue.
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IN THIS ISSUE
SUMMER/FALL 2004
PRODUCTS
4
5
4
5
LE Side Loader
Heated Body For Granite ®
EGR Technology
Granite Snowplow
UniMax ™ Axles For Highway
BIG STORY
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New 60" Mid-Rise Sleeper
FLEET SPOTLIGHT
10
11
6
10
A. Duie Pyle
S&W Concrete
Site Development Inc.
WELCOME TO THE PACK
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G.I. Trucking
WORD ON THE STREET
12
13
18
20
22
From The Road
Dealer Focus
Dog Bites
Letters
ON THE COVER
The new 60" mid-rise sleeper is the
perfect complement to our full line
of top-quality trucks.
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Published since 1920 • Vol. LXXXIV, No. 2
Bulldog ® is published by the Marketing Communications Department of Mack Trucks, Inc. for Mack customers, distributors and enthusiasts.
TM Trademarks of Mack Trucks, Inc. ®Registered trademarks of Mack Trucks, Inc. ©2004 Mack Trucks, Inc. Mack Canada Inc. Mack Trucks Australia Pty. Ltd. Printed in USA.
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LE Side Loader Picks Up The Pace
Shown: Mack LE refuse truck with
Heil ® Python ® automatic side loader
(also available with rapid rail lift).
With More Productivity Than Ever
The LE (Low Entry) refuse truck is already known for its
driver-friendly features — from its comfortable, air-conditioned
cab to its easy in-and-out access to its flexible mirror
configurations for better visibility.
Cushioned cylinders reduce vibration and shock; they also
move loads to the hopper quickly and smoothly. And all
pickups are performed from the cab — allowing for one-person
operation and maximum efficiency.
Mack® recently introduced the LE side loader model with
dual-sit and right-hand-only-sit cab configurations. Now a
driver can collect from 1,100 to 1,200 homes a day.
Additional features include the largest door opening in the
industry, a single step just 17" from the ground for easy
access and our patented work brake.
Under the cab is the ASET™ AI engine with an Allison®
RDS 4000 heavy-duty transmission.
“The LE is the most versatile, dedicated refuse vehicle in
the industry,” said Steve Ginter, Mack vocational products
manager. “Keep the doors closed, turn on the HVAC system
and you’ve got a comfortable environment with unsurpassed
visibility — perfect for automatic loading.”
Because the automatic side loader operates in gear at idle
RPMs, it reduces wear and tear on the drivetrain, increases
fuel efficiency, and makes for a quieter operation.
Heated Body For Granite
®
Uses Exhaust to Stay Warm
The Mack Granite can now be equipped with a heated aluminum
dump body, which enables drivers to divert the truck’s exhaust from
the stacks into the understructure of the dump body. And because of the
clean design of the ASET AI engine (which requires no modifications
such as catalytic converters), it’s easy to hook up to various heated
body builders.
The exhaust heat keeps the body warm and helps maintain the temperature
needed for asphalt operations, keeping the product ready for feeding
to the machine. The aggregates won’t freeze in the winter cold — creating
a safer, more efficient operation.
This model has a 22-cubic-yard capacity, and is manufactured by
Benson International in Mineral Wells, West Virginia, a specialist in
custom-built trailers and bodies.
Mack Revs Up to Meet EPA ’07 Requirements
Mack is further refining its engine technology to meet
upcoming federal diesel emissions standards. The new
technology combines exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) and
diesel particulate filters (DPF) to comply with the more
stringent EPA ’07 requirements.
a system our customers have been using since 2002. By
building on existing technology that easily met the EPA ’02
emissions standards, we can reduce the environmental
impact of diesel engines and still meet customer quality and
performance demands.
EGR systems reduce emissions by recycling a portion of
exhaust gases to the engine’s combustion chamber to lower
combustion temperature and cut nitrogen oxide (NOx) creation.
We will field test engines using our EGR-based EPA ’07
technology, and continue to participate in industry efforts to
address customer needs and concerns as the 2007 deadline
approaches.
Because EGR is similar to the technology in our current
ASET engines, we can accommodate the new standard with
UniMax Axles
™
Hit The Highway
The popular UniMax axles have earned their reputation
in the toughest Granite applications — at 18,000-lb.,
20,000-lb. and 23,000-lb. capacities. And now, they’re
available in 12,000-lb. and 14,600-lb. capacities for
highway-specific applications.
UniMax axles — which are lightweight, yet the strongest
available — are Mack axles with unitized hubs that
virtually eliminate maintenance costs. The unitized wheel
hubs require no maintenance at all, thanks to a permanent
seal and specially formulated synthetic grease that provides
effective lubrication.
A Snowplow
Made of Granite
The UniMax is robotically manufactured
so components are precisely assembled.
And components stay clean, enabling
trouble-free operation and longer life.
With its legendary reliability, the Granite is an ideal
vehicle to remove snow — and its snowplow-specific
enhancements make it even better. Drivers will love new
options like the heated, tinted mirrors and windshield for
clear visibility in all conditions.
The ASET engine delivers the horsepower needed to
plow through two-foot snowdrifts effortlessly. Granite
chassis are available with single axle, tandem or all-wheel
drive. The RoadWatch® temperature gauge reads the road
surface temperature, making it easier than ever to spread
the right amount of chemicals for the conditions.
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Mack Adds to The Pack
With New 60" Mid-Rise Sleeper
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Creative Thinking, Exceptional Products
Perhaps a high-rise is too big for your needs, but a flat-top
isn’t big enough. The best of both worlds is what owners
and drivers will find in the new 60" mid-rise sleeper offered
on Vision™ and CH models.
Mack engineers designed the 60" model to meet the needs
of customers looking for head room and more interior
space than flat-top designs offer — without the added cost
and weight of larger sleepers.
“The 60" mid-rise is the latest addition to our highway
product line designed to exceed the expectations of drivers,
owner-operators and fleet managers,” said Tom Davis, Mack
marketing manager for highway products.
“Our Vision series in particular has already established itself
as a premium highway truck. Those concerned with the
bottom line appreciate the low operating costs, reliability
and high resale value the Vision model has to offer. And it’s
a great-looking truck to boot.”
Building a New Model That Meets
High(Way) Standards
The Vision and CH series are available in 48" and 56" flat-tops,
a 70" mid-rise, and a day cab — all optimized for local and
regional distribution. But this new 60" sleeper increases the
flexibility of the company’s highway product offering.
Each sleeper promotes economical operation and unmatched
driver comfort. The advanced technology behind the ASET™
AC engine provides proven performance — now on the
road for more than two years and logging millions of miles.
And the Mack Integrated Powertrain — the “heart” of today’s
Mack trucks — covers six components with one warranty for
single-source responsibility.
With the new “hours of operation” rules, drivers are spending
more time in their tractors. That’s why Mack developed this
spacious sleeper for both Vision and CH models, providing
the storage and stand-up room of a bigger sleeper in an
economical 60" size.
Improved Ride And Performance
Every Vision or CH tractor rides on the new Advantage™ chassis.
Drivers will appreciate tight turning geometry, less interior
noise and vibration, and lighter components — allowing for
bigger payloads and more profit. Mack has ensured spec’ing
flexibility for our highway tractors, so owners can choose
from four rail options with increased strength, in order to
meet the needs of their applications. This new model also
features the innovative UniMax™ axle (see “New Products”
on page 5).
On the inside, materials were chosen to buffer engine noise,
reduce vibration and combat driver fatigue. Drivers appreciate
the fully electronic wraparound dash and the comfortable,
roomy, air-suspended cab that delivers the smoothest ride
on the highway. Engineers also focused on overall visibility
to enhance safety and vehicle aerodynamics to enhance fuel
economy.
During downtime, drivers can take advantage of the new
console with drawers, storage shelves and a pull-out tabletop
ideal for doing paperwork. The model also features plenty of
lighting, ample 12-volt outlets and convenient sleeper controls
for HVAC, lighting and stereo speakers.
When it’s time to catch some Z’s, the full-sized 35-inch mattress
allows drivers to rest comfortably — and it has a lift-up bunk
with locking storage underneath. A tall closet offers even
more storage, featuring a lower shelf to separate clothes from
boots. And if hunger strikes, a custom refrigerator is optional.
Committed To Highway Drivers
Tom Kelly, Mack vice president of marketing, stated that
“The fact that we’re introducing a new sleeper and expanding
our Vision lineup sends a strong message about Mack’s
commitment to the highway business. With the addition of
the 60" mid-rise, we now have a complete range of products for
local and regional haul applications. And we’ll continue to
work very closely with our customers to ensure that we
always provide the best possible products.”
The full sleeper area has all the amenities of larger units.
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Six powertrain components. One warranty.
(Boy, doesn’t that make life a lot easier?)
Life is simpler when you have a Mack® Integrated Powertrain. First of all, it works better because all the
components — engine, electronics, transmission, carriers, axles and suspension — are precisely built to work
together right from the beginning. That’s the power of smart engineering. Secondly, there’s only one warranty
instead of six. No confusion or finger-pointing between suppliers if something goes wrong. It’s all Mack so
you know exactly where to turn for service. The Mack Integrated Powertrain. It’s one less thing to worry about.
Six, if you count each component. For details, call 1-800-922-MACK or visit www.macktrucks.com
DRIVEN. BEYOND.
©2004 Mack Trucks, Inc. All rights reserved.
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A. Duie Pyle Hauls in Success
A. Duie Pyle celebrated 80 years of business this past April. That
kind of longevity is only achieved by a company that makes the
right decisions.
In 1924, the company was founded with one man and one truck in
Coatesville, Pennsylvania. Today, that one-man, one-truck operation
has become a highly diversified company that serves all points in
the Northeast, the Southeast and Midwest, and the Canadian
provinces of Ontario and Quebec — as well as all of Atlantic
Canada, through partner carriers.
“We have approximately 430 Mack® tractors in our fleet at this time,”
said Jim Miske, director of fleet maintenance for A. Duie Pyle.
“Primarily, we use CHs and the new Visions. Many of them see dual
use — we put them into the line haul operation, and also in P&D
for daily pickup and deliveries.”
Pyle operates out of 12 terminals with an almost even mix of singles
and tandems. “About 45 of them are powered by the post-2002
engines and our drivers like their performance. They’ve been pretty
durable, too,” added Miske.
Recognized for its industry-leading, on-time service level, A. Duie Pyle
has received Distribution Magazine’s Quest for Quality Award for
14 consecutive years. In addition, Pyle is one of the few carriers to
employ satellite communications technology throughout their entire
LTL fleet.
“We’ve had extensive involvement with the folks from Mack,” said
Miske. “I’ve even been to the New River Valley Plant to see the pilot
tractors. It’s a good organization, and our support from Harvey Truck
Center is excellent. Any issues that arise, we’re able to work through
them — so we’re very happy with the response we’re getting.”
Mike Heleva, sales manager at Harvey Truck Center in New Castle,
Delaware, says that Harvey has been working with A. Duie Pyle since
about the mid-1990s. “They’ve bought a combination of single-axles
and tandems, and it’s a pleasure to deal with the people at A. Duie Pyle.”
With a strong partnership like this, it appears that A. Duie Pyle will
be able to rely on Mack for their next 80 years.
S&W Concrete Builds Rock-Solid Relationship With Mack
When a company finds exactly what they need from one supplier,
it’s best to stick with them.
That’s why S&W Ready Mix Concrete — a concrete supplier based
in Clinton, North Carolina — has gone almost exclusively with Mack
over the last three years.
“We’ve run many different kinds of trucks in the past,” said S&W
partner Don Sutton, who also serves as secretary/treasurer. “Mack
offers a great package, and everybody at Mack and Triple T Parts
and Equipment has worked really well with us.”
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“The Granite® cab is really user-friendly, and our drivers love it,”
Sutton continued. “And the air-ride cab handles a bumpy road well —
drivers aren’t as tired at the end of the day.”
Founded in 1986 by partners Earl Wells, Harry Shaw and Sutton,
S&W has bought more than 60 Mack Granites and 8 Vision™ DayCab
tractors from Triple T Parts and Equipment in Rocky Point, N.C.
Triple T President Stewart Brown said that “our company is thrilled
to have the account. We worked closely with Don to develop the
best spec to do the job that they needed.”
Site Development Inc.
Depends Heavily on Mack Durability
For the past nine years, SDI has maintained a strong
relationship with Wiegand Mack of Sterling Heights,
Michigan. “Our longtime loyalty to Mack is largely due to
our business relationship with James Rushak,” said Meade.
“James has always serviced our Mack truck needs with a
positive attitude and a willingness to go the extra mile.”
Rushak, the operations manager for Wiegand Mack, supplies
SDI with their Mack tractors which are used to pull lowboy
trailers that transport heavy equipment from jobsite to jobsite.
Based in Madison Heights, Michigan, Site Development Inc.
(SDI) is one of southeast Michigan’s largest excavation and
site development companies. SDI specializes in mass
excavations, site balancing, erosion and pollution control,
concrete and asphalt paving, water main construction and
repair, and construction of sanitary and storm sewers. With
more than 100 pieces of heavy equipment in operation
every day, SDI strongly relies on the durability of Mack
trucks to get the job done.
“Site Development has been a valued customer of ours for
many years, and we will continue to provide the quality and
reliable service that SDI requires to meet their business
needs,” noted Rushak.
Site Development Inc. currently operates four Mack Visions
and the latest Granite tractor to haul their equipment. “The
Macks are on the road six to seven days a week, most of
the time with crews of employees expecting our equipment
to be on the job when they show up for work. Mack has not
failed us,” said Meade. “Thank you Mack — and James!”
“The ability to move heavy equipment such as excavators,
bulldozers, loaders, etc., from site to site without breakdowns
is of utmost importance to us,” said Jim Meade, director
of business development for SDI. “We always depend on
our Macks.”
Brown recalled: “We sold them 12 Granites initially, then
took an order for 15 more in just a few months. They liked
the looks of them, as well as their performance.” He went
on to say that Triple T delivered 27 more this spring, with
another order already in place for delivery this fall.
With a territory that stretches through eastern North and
South Carolina, S&W operates 27 plants in the area.
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G.I. Trucking
When soldiers Frank Dunn and Charles Hutchings returned
from World War II, they started G.I. Trucking with just two
trucks. The former G.I.s began hauling furniture throughout
Los Angeles in 1946.
Today, G.I. Trucking is one of the fastest-growing
multi-regional LTL motor carriers in the country. In 1999, the
company won the American Trucking Associations (ATA)
President’s Trophy for the best overall safety program
among large motor carriers (with under 25 million miles
driven per year). They also won the award in 2002,
qualifying in the 25- to 100-million-mile carrier group.
In June 2002, G.I. bought their first Mack® trucks — 45 used
1999 CH612s. Since then, they have purchased more than
100 units from TEC of California, based in La Mirada. TEC
has the largest inventory of new Mack trucks in the West.
“Our relationship is very good,” said Stan Lovell, vice president
of maintenance at G.I. Trucking. “Mack supports their products
very well, and they have been a part of our rapid growth.”
Tracey Craik, general manager at TEC of California, sees
“a lot in common” between the two companies. “Our values
are the same — we each look at quality of service as the
key to success. We enjoy supporting them and helping them
thrive as a growing company.”
Craik stated that TEC is glad to work with G.I. Trucking on a
continuing basis in all aspects of the dealership — from parts
to services to meeting all of their new and used truck needs.
“We’re here to take care of their needs” Craik continued. “If
they have an issue, we get immediate answers and solutions.”
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Ron Cole, western regional fleet manager for Mack, calls
G.I. “a joy to work with.” He explained that the companies
work together to evolve their spec better with each order.
“They’re a very good customer, and we share a good
partnership,” said Cole. “G.I. is excellent at communicating
their expectations, so we can work better to meet them. And
they have great employees, from the shops to the drivers to
the management.”
Stan Lovell says the same things about Mack. “They have
proven their strong commitment to customer service on several
occasions,” he said. “TEC has gone above and beyond what
I’ve observed from other dealerships.”
From all sides, this sounds like a relationship as solid as a
Mack truck.
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In For The Looong Haul
Ever since the mid-1980s when he established Lucia
Specialized Hauling in Schenectady, New York, Rick Lucia
has relied on Mack trucks to pull extraordinarily large,
heavy loads, including plant machinery, bulldozers, turbine
parts and silos. “We haul machinery of virtually any size and
weight,” says Lucia. “We once even hauled the bus featured
in the movie Ironweed, starring Jack Nicholson and Meryl
Streep, back from California.”
Sometimes it takes Lucia longer to obtain the permitting,
police escorts and route survey than it does to make the
haul. “Depending on the load and the route,” he explains,
“the process can take two to three weeks.”
Lucia readily admits he’s been with Mack for the long haul,
“I’ve had Mack trucks pretty much my whole life.” His first
truck was a 1970 F model cabover with a small sleeper.
Recently, however, Lucia hauled “the mother of
Second-generation Mack owner
all loads” — a donut ring for a cement kiln (see
photo above) from a barge at the Port of Albany to
Rick Lucia has hauled loads of
a LaFarge plant in Ravena, N.Y. The ring was over
20 feet in diameter and weighed 178,000 lbs. Add
more than 300,000 pounds.
to that the 135,000-lb. weight of the 149-ft.-long
Siebert trailer and Mack CL713 tractor, and you
have a 310,000-lb. gross load. Although the trip was only Then in 1981, he purchased an R700 model, his first new
about 20 miles, Lucia has hauled similar loads from New York truck, which he outfitted with a sleeper. Since then, he has
owned a variety of R, CL and CH models. Currently, Lucia
to Texas.
operates about a dozen Mack trucks.
“You talk to some truckers, and they brag about hauling a
40,000-lb. load like it was a big deal,” explains Lucia. “But And the Mack tradition goes back even further in the Lucia
without a Mack with a 600-HP engine, you simply couldn’t family. Rick’s father, who was in the construction business,
move the kinds of loads we handle; otherwise you’d have to owned a 1947 XKT model, plus a number of B models and
some ’51s and ’52s — one of which Lucia plans to restore.
have another truck pushing them from behind.”
Lucia was also one of the first hauling companies on the
East Coast to own a Siebert trailer, which acts like a suspension
bridge to spread the weight of the load over its length.
“They just weren’t that common as recently as ten years
ago,” he notes.
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An “Unbelievable” Truck in Indian Country
“Whenever we can, we try to save our trees,” explains Joe
Baidy, director of golf courses and grounds.
To save its trees, the Nation recently purchased a new
10-wheel Mack® MR 690S flatbed truck with a Mack ASET™
AMI 370 engine, transmission and rear axle. It is equipped with
a 96-inch tree spade manufactured by Vermeer ® and the largest
ever to be mounted on a truck. The tree spade weighs
22,000 lbs. and can remove trees up to 12 inches in diameter
with root balls 65 inches deep and 94 inches in diameter.
Because of their inherent love of nature, Native Americans
are extraordinarily conservation-minded. This helps explain
why the Oneida Indian Nation is reluctant to cut down trees
on its reservation in upstate New York. Instead, they prefer
to pull them up and replant them on their extensive holdings
near Verona, N.Y., which include three 18-hole golf courses,
two 9-hole courses, two RV parks, a casino and two motels.
“The truck is unbelievable,” says Baidy. “When you consider
that the root ball of a large tree can weigh as much as
12,000 pounds, it’s moving a load that weighs more than
30,000 pounds.”
Mack to The Rescue
Fleet Addition Improves Rescue Response Capability
When the Charlottesville-Albemarle Rescue Squad (CARS)
decided it was time to add a heavyweight to their fleet of
rescue vehicles, they chose none other than a Mack MR688
with a 400-HP ASET AI engine and an Allison® 6-speed
automatic transmission.
“With this new truck, we now have greatly improved
response capability and reliability,” Fleet Operations Manager
Benjamen Sojka said as he summed up the new unit’s
capabilities.
Now known as Squad 135, the heavy rescue truck
carries the squad’s technical rescue equipment. The
truck has full extrication capabilities, and hauls the
technical rescue team’s 20-foot Wells Cargo® heavy-duty
collapse trailer when needed. It’s also set up to supply
air and electricity a full 400 feet away from the vehicle,
making it ideal for high-rise firefighting support.
“With a state-wide response area for technical rescue,
our squad was in dire need of a much larger and
more powerful truck to haul the team’s rescue gear.
This new vehicle allows us to carry everything in the
rescue equipment cache and allow for future expansion
as new technology comes on line,” said Sojka.
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CARS is a completely volunteer rescue department that provides
primary rescue and emergency medical services to the city
of Charlottesville, the University of Virginia and most of
Albemarle County, Virginia. All vehicles and rescue apparatus
are purchased with funds raised through community donations.
The good citizens of Charlottesville can rest assured that
with the purchase of this new heavy-duty Mack truck, their
money was spent wisely.
Moving The Mixers
Hard work, determination and quality paid off
tenfold for Vermont Mack this year when a single
customer purchased ten mixer trucks.
The transaction, which included seven Granite Bridge Formula®
mixers and three Granite® standard mixers, posed some logistical
issues, but it was nothing that dealer principal Mike Sheldon
couldn’t handle.
S.T. Griswold, a leader in Vermont’s construction industry
with 200 employees, nine locations and a fleet of 80 trucks,
came to Vermont Mack in January looking to add ten new
mixers by June.
While Griswold’s Williston, Vt., office is close enough to
Vermont Mack to “hit with a five-iron,” delivering ten new
trucks in six months required some creative assistance from
Mack headquarters, said Sheldon.
“I really have to give a lot of the credit to Brian Buckley at
Mack,” said Sheldon. “We knew in January the deal was
coming, and he worked behind the scenes to generate the
line slots we needed to meet their build dates.”
Larry Myers in Mack’s order and distribution department
also played a key role, making sure the orders received the
proper attention to meet Griswold’s deadlines.
S.T. Griswold had been a Mack customer for almost 50 years,
but went on hiatus during the recent economic downturn.
Being able to demonstrate the value of Mack products and
provide quality service helped reestablish the relationship,
Sheldon concluded.
No Hydrants, No Problem
With Mack Tanker
When the Lamartine, Wisconsin, Volunteer Fire Department
decided it was time to add a new tanker to their arsenal,
they chose one they knew they could depend on.
Impressed by the durability of their existing MR Tanker, the
fire department selected the rugged Mack RD688S for their
second tanker with a 300-HP Mack engine, Allison 5-speed
automatic transmission and 44,000-lb. Mack rear axles.
Partially funded by donations from the community and local
fundraisers, the newest member of the fire department was
purchased from sales representative Mark Dahlinger of
Fond du Lac Truck Sales, a division of the Kriete Group with
locations in Fond du Lac, Green Bay, Madison and Milwaukee.
“
Pictured above are members of the Lamartine
Wisconsin Volunteer Fire Department truck committee
with their new Mack RD tanker. Pictured (L to R):
Mack’s Mark Dahlinger with Bernie Ritger, Frank
Bartzen, Joe Birschbach and Mark Hintz.
This truck is an extremely valuable
tool for rural firefighting.
”
According to fire department Chief Joe Birschbach, “This
truck is an extremely valuable tool for rural firefighting.”
Rural farming areas like the ones found near Lamartine
obviously don’t have fire hydrants on every corner. So,
when the all-volunteer fire department is called to a fire,
they have to haul water with them. Their new Mack tanker
with its 3,000-gallon capacity has quickly become an invaluable
part of their team.
The Lamartine Fire Department has 40 volunteers servicing
the township of Lamartine and offering mutual aid to the
Fond du Lac County Area.
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Jim Nielsen,
“Virtual Customer”
Jim Nielsen, of Fort St. John, British Columbia, Canada, faced a
dilemma last June. He knew it was time to trade in his beloved
1992 CH Mack® gravel truck, but the 17-hour drive to Vancouver
Mack just wasn’t convenient.
After seeing an advertisement in Truck Trader magazine,
Nielsen decided to contact the dealership, becoming a “virtual”
customer. He reached Ray Cotton at Vancouver Mack by phone
and explained the situation.
“He loved our drivetrain and wanted to stay with Mack,”
Cotton said. “It was up to us to find a way to make the deal
work.” Cotton got creative and set the wheels in motion.
®
Nielsen wanted to trade in his truck for a Granite model, so
Cotton used a digital camera to take pictures of a 2003 Mack
Granite CV713 with a Mack powertrain, 460-HP engine and
18-speed transmission. The pictures were then e-mailed to Nielsen.
Nielsen liked what he saw and responded with digital
photographs of his CH. He then called Cotton to arrange the
trade-in. The deal was finalized by phone, fax and e-mail, and
Nielsen headed south to Vancouver.
“It was funny, by then I felt like he was an old friend,” Cotton
said of Nielsen, “We met for the first time when he dropped
off the truck and picked up the Granite.”
Nielsen arrived at the Vancouver Mack dealership on June 9,
2003, got in his new truck and drove home a happy customer.
“We sure have received a lot of compliments on the truck,”
Nielsen said. “People say I’ll have to haul a lot of gravel to pay for
this one, but I just smile knowing I’ll be doing it in my new Granite.”
A Veteran of The
Firefighting Wars
Mack trucks are synonymous with durability. But this is the tale of a
fire truck that has gone far beyond the normal call of duty. The 1972
Mack Aerialscope® fire truck began its career with Fire Department of
New York, where it was assigned to Ladder Company 131 in the Red
Hook section of Brooklyn. For the next 13 years, it responded to
thousands of fires until it was damaged by falling debris from a
collapsing building.
The truck was refurbished in 1985 when the 5-speed transmission was
replaced by an Allison® automatic
transmission and new storage
compartments were added to the
rear of the body, including high
side compartments which were not
part of the original truck.
It was then purchased by Tower
Company 141 of Vernon, Connecticut.
Responding to its first call, the
truck crashed into a telephone
pole during an ice storm. It again
sustained significant damage and
was repaired by Baker Equipment
Company, the same firm that
repaired it in 1985.
The Mack Aerialscope can be
operated at a maximum working height of 75 feet with a bucket capacity
of 1,000 pounds in any position, making it ideal for many rescue and
firefighting applications.
“Over the years, Tower 141 responded to thousands of calls in the
town of Vernon,” said Captain Thomas McKinney. “Due to its
versatility, the apparatus proved itself time and time again.”
After more than 30 years of wear and tear, it remains in service in
eastern Connecticut, where it was purchased in 2003 by the Scotland
Volunteer Fire Department. Mack salutes this hero for its years of service!
“We’ve had Macks in our fleet since 1987,”
says owner Rick Renall. “They’ve always been
reliable, and they have a good warranty and
service, so we’ve stuck with them.”
With a rated tare weight of 45 tons, Macks
easily handle Renall’s woodchip and fertilizer
loads — another reason their nine-truck
fleet is all Mack.
Two Million Kilometers,
Zero Major Repairs
Renall doesn’t skip on the maintenance,
either. There’s minor service at 7,500 km (4,660 miles) followed by
more intensive 15,000-km (9,320 mile) and 60,000-km (37,282 mile)
care. During round trips to Hawke’s Bay, the Mack Service Branch in
Napier handles scheduled maintenance.
Two million kilometers (or 1,242,727 miles) is a landmark for any
truck in New Zealand — but Renall Haulage of Masterton, New
Zealand now has three Macks surpassing that magic number —
without any major repair work.
“We know that keeping the maintenance up-to-date works,” says Renall.
Their 1996 MH613 model does daily double shifts, covering over
1,100 km (684 miles) per day carting woodchips from Masterton to
Hawke’s Bay, and returning with fertilizer for delivery in Manawatu and
Wairarapa. A 1995 Mack MH689 eclipsed the 2,000,000 km mark last year,
and a 1991 model clicked over 2,000,000 km a couple of years ago.
The latest member of the “Two-Million Club” hasn’t had any major
engine or transmission work — just tires, batteries and brake linings
have been replaced as necessary. “It’s only been the consumable
items we’ve had to spend money on,” says Rick Renall.
Discerning Duluth
Goes Granite
The city of Duluth, Minnesota, recently welcomed three new
Bulldogs into its fleet, all Granite models — two tandem axle dump
trucks and one with a sewer vector body. All three chassis have
350-HP ASET™ AI engines and Allison® automatic transmissions with
brake retarders to handle city hills with ease.
the city hopes to extend the life of the fleet by some five years per
unit.” He further adds that, “when you have around 75 trucks in the
whole fleet, that represents a significant total savings for the city and
ultimately to the taxpayer.”
These hard-working trucks will be used in the water and sewer
division for the first four to five years. Then, they’ll be transferred to
the streets division, where they are expected to remain in service
for at least another ten years.
Frank Carle, city of Duluth maintenance supervisor, says, “Reliability
and longevity of service are our ultimate concerns when considering
what equipment to purchase. We are very excited to see what our
new Mack trucks will do.”
Jon Granson, head of the fleet maintenance division for the city,
says that “by opting to purchase the rugged and proven Mack chassis,
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Top Dealers Don Coveted Green Blazers
Each year, Mack® honors its top-performing
dealers with its Distributor of the Year awards — a
green blazer and a special plaque to commemorate
their dedication to our ideals of quality, reliability
and total customer satisfaction.
For 2003, we awarded the green jacket to
a second-generation Mack distributor from
Wisconsin, to a dealer who did some amazing
work in Canada, and to a five-time international
honoree. Emerging from a pool of regional
honorees, Roger Kriete, dealer principal of
Milwaukee Mack Sales, was selected as 2003
U.S. Distributor of the Year.
Kriete took over the business in 1973 from his
father Henry, who purchased Milwaukee Mack
in 1951. He has since opened three additional
locations in Wisconsin. A two-time American
Truck Dealers Dealer of the Year nominee,
Kriete was the 2001 chairman of the Wisconsin
Automotive and Truck Dealers Association and
currently serves as chairman of its foundation
and investment task force.
A director of the Lombardi Charitable Funds
since 1980, Kriete is a major donor to the
Rawhide Boys Ranch, which teaches mechanical
skills to troubled children. He also contributes
engines and scholarships to the Milwaukee Area
Technical College. Kriete and his wife Sandy
live in Mequon, Wisconsin, and have four children,
two of whom currently work for the dealership.
Rewarding a Quick Turnaround
Mack Canada Distributor of the Year Richard
“Rick” Mayer of Mack Sales and Service in
Nanaimo, British Columbia, grew up in the
trucking business and used that experience to
turn around a lackluster enterprise.
Born and raised in Nanaimo, Mayer got his start
in the trucking business at the age of 10, relining
brakes on the all-Mack fleet at his family’s concrete
ready-mix operation. After the business was sold,
Mayer bought a struggling Mack dealership in
2001 and quickly turned it into a thriving operation.
Mayer, his wife Anu, two young daughters and
a son still reside in Nanaimo.
Five-Time International Honoree
For the fifth time, Roberto Salinas of S.A.C.I.
Salinas y Fabres has been named International
Distributor of the Year. Starting in the tire
department of the family business in 1961,
Salinas rose to become chairman and CEO of
one of Chile’s largest companies with headquarters
in Santiago and seven branch locations throughout
the country.
S.A.C.I. Salinas y Fabres has been affiliated with
Mack since 1938. In the intervening years, it has
developed into a leading importer and distributor
of heavy equipment and machinery. Salinas and
his wife Nany have six children and 16 grandchildren.
Mack Dealers Complete ATD Training
Roger Kriete
Mack U.S. Distributor
of the Year
Central Region Distributor
of the Year
Milwaukee Mack Sales, Inc.
Milwaukee, WI
Richard Mayer
Mack Canada Distributor
of the Year
Mack Sales & Service of
Nanaimo Ltd.
Nanaimo, BC
Roberto Salinas
Mack International Distributor
of the Year
S.A.C.I. Salinas Y Fabres
Santiago, Chile
Debra Harvey
Northeast Region
Harvey Mack Sales & Service
New Castle, DE
Ted Steele
Southeast Region
Steele Truck Center
Ft. Myers, FL
Tom Graddy
Tom Ewing
Southwest Region
Houston Mack Sales & Service
Houston, TX
Jack O’Brien
Western Region
Arizona Truck Center
Phoenix, AZ
The Mack Bulldog was well represented at the April 2004
American Truck Dealers (ATD) Dealer Academy graduation
ceremony in Seattle.
Six individuals completed the 12-month training program
for medium - and heavy-duty truck dealers: David
Blackwell, Indiana Truck Sales and Service Inc.;
Tracey A. Craik, TEC of California; Travis Hibler,
Northwest Equipment Sales Inc., Lindsey G. Kriete,
Milwaukee Mack Sales, Inc.; John J. McDevitt III,
McDevitt Trucks Inc.; and Mark A. Yacobozzi, Chicago
Mack Sales and Service Inc.
The 2004 graduating class of the American Truck Dealers (ATD) Academy
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The ATD Dealer Academy combines six weeks of classroom
training with 45 weeks of work experience at the sponsoring
dealerships. Dealer personnel receive classroom instruction
by industry professionals who reinforce those sessions
with specific assignments for completion at the dealerships.
Unlike most forecasts, our new snowplow is 100% reliable.
For Mack,® removing snow is just one tough job in a long line of tough jobs we’ve conquered in the past century.
You’ll find the Granite® snowplow is perfectly suited to the task. Our ASET ™ engine delivers the horsepower and
torque to move mountains of the white stuff. Drivers will love our special options like an electrically heated, tinted
windshield and heated mirrors for clear visibility in all conditions. Also, Road Watch™ temperature gauge reads the
road surface temperature making it easier than ever to spread the right amount of chemicals for the conditions. Single
axle, tandem and all-wheel drive are available. Add to that our legendary reliability and durability, and you have a
machine that gets the job done. For more details, call 1-800-922-MACK. Or visit macktrucks.com.
DRIVEN. BEYOND.
©2004 Mack Trucks, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Bulldog Challenges
World’s Strongest Man
Hugo Girard, the winner of the World’s
Strongest Man competition in North America,
recently pulled a 17,000-lb. Mack® Vision™ truck
20 feet at the Expocam truck show in Montreal.
And just to show that he wasn’t kidding around,
he loaded the cab and sleeper with people and
encouraged more to hang onto the sides. But
nothing could stop the powerhouse once he
got started. Hugo was wearing his Mack hat
and a special Mack Bulldog T-shirt (size
XXXL) at the time. Is it possible he gets his
Herculean strength from his “inner bulldog?”
You may remember Hugo from his appearance
in the previous issue of Bulldog® magazine, in
which he was featured for winning a World
Strongman event in North Bay, Ontario, by
pulling a Mack Vision truck 100 feet. These
Strongman events are televised (most often on
ESPN2) and seen by millions of people all
over the world. The Bulldog is proud to be
associated with such powerful personalities!
Old ‘Dog’ Runs All The Way Home
After spending the better part of nine years
rebuilding a 1963 Mack B67T, retired freight
hauler Delmar Bequette and his wife Sarah
took their “dog” for a walk.
Bequette said the trip from New Douglas,
Illinois, to Mack’s Allentown, Pennsylvania,
headquarters went without a hitch — all 1,800
miles round trip. But it all began when he
picked up the truck at an auction in 1995.
The top-to-bottom project included numerous
adjustments to the turbocharger, replacing
the 711 Mack engine with a Mack E6 672,
completely refurbishing the body, and equipping
the truck with a 1950 34-foot tandem
Trailmobile® trailer.
Bequette entertained us with accounts of battling
Mother Nature and Murphy’s Law throughout
the overhaul of his beloved “Bulldog.” With
the restoration of his truck and remodeling of
his 1912 house behind him, Bequette is looking
forward to relaxing at his five-plus acre property
and enjoying his retirement.
V.P. Thanks Mack
U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney sent a thank-you
letter to Mack representative George Forschler
of Alexandria, Virginia, for Mr. Forschler’s gift
of a Mack Bulldog paperweight.
Building Legends With LEGO
®
It turns out that even in LEGOLAND,® the toughest trucks are Macks.
Bulldog enthusiast and ardent LEGO fan Troy Miller has been carefully
building LEGO reproductions of his favorite Mack trucks for years. We
have to admit — they look every bit like the real thing and seem to work
just as hard.
Evidently, Troy has had better success at replicating a Mack than our
competitors, who have been unsuccessfully trying to match our legendary
durability for years. Troy’s next project: the indomitable Mack DM800.
Good luck Troy!
The Brawn of The Bulldog
With a service area that encompasses interstate highways in
four states, NexTow Towing and Recovery Inc. of
Hagerstown, Maryland, looked to Mack when it wanted to
upgrade its top-of-the-line truck for maximum towing.
“It’s the axle ratings that really set it apart, though,” Finafrock
said. “We set it up with 18,000-pound front axles and
44,000-pound rear axles. He should be able to tow anything
he can get a hold of.”
“NexTow owner Steve Eyler came to us and said he needed
a truck that could handle his maximum load,” said Carl
Finafrock, sales manager at Interstate Truck Equipment, also
of Hagerstown. “He said he had plenty of trucks for the
small-to-medium stuff but wanted something he could take
out if a fully loaded tractor trailer broke down.”
“We do a lot of work with him, and we’ve seen him pulling
a full tractor and trailer,” Finafrock added. “It’s a good-looking
truck, and the way we set him up with all of these combinations,
there shouldn’t be anything that he can’t do as far as his
wrecker goes.”
Finafrock took the challenge head-on, putting together a
powerful Mack Granite® CV713 with a 427-HP engine. He
worked with Jerr-Dan® Corporation of Greencastle, Pennsylvania,
to outfit the body and delivered the truck to NexTow in
December of 2003.
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Dutch Mack Fan Club
®
To Celebrate 25th Mack Day
(Editor’s Note: The following article is a result of a letter
received via e-mail from the Dutch Mack fan club.)
On October 10, 2004, as many as 60 Mack trucks from all
over Europe will convene in Utrecht, Holland, for the Dutch
Mack fan club’s 25th annual Mack Day. The club has nearly
500 members, and more than 10,000 visitors are expected
to attend the event.
In addition to proud owners showing off their Mack trucks,
this year’s meet will feature a small market selling Mack
memorabilia and a “best driver” competition. The club will also
honor Willem Kuiper for his 25 years’ service as its president.
The annual event began at Kuiper’s home near Amsterdam
but had to move to a larger venue as it drew an ever larger
number of enthusiasts.
Pieterse himself owns a 1979 Mack F700 model. With a red,
white and blue American flag paint job, it is a “show truck”
only. Built in the U.S., it was licensed in Holland in 1980
and spent nearly 20 years traveling southern Europe, Iran
and Iraq until Pieterse purchased it in 1998.
Pieterse now does only short hauls driving a Dutch-made
DAF®. But he began his career as a long-haul trucker in a
Renault® with a Mack engine — “a great truck for the long haul.”
Mack was a big name in the Netherlands, said Kuiper, who
also founded the club. It all started after the Second World
War under the Marshall Plan. Most trucking companies started
with American trucks because there was nothing else. By
the 1970s, Mack was selling about 15 trucks a year here, he
added. The fan club really started to grow after the film
Convoy, starring Kris Kristofferson as “Rubber Duck.”
Club member Rene Pieterse, who is helping organize the
event, added: “Normally, we would have about 30 to 40
trucks, mostly from the Netherlands. In the past, it was a
one-day event, but because some of the drivers will be
coming from a considerable distance, they will probably
arrive the day before the actual meet.”
What ’s Going On?
Send your pictures, letters, stories, anecdotes, and other correspondence to:
Steve Tercha, Bulldog® Editor, Mack Trucks, Inc. World Headquarters, 2100 Mack Blvd., P.O. Box M, Allentown, PA 18105
Phone: 610-709-3751, Fax: 610-709-2380, E-mail: [email protected]
Letters may be edited due to space constraints. To help us verify any questions,
please include daytime and evening phone numbers.
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A Thank-You Note From an Avid Fan
Dear Editor:
Thanks for returning my call — I was really glad to hear
from someone from Bulldog magazine!
I had over 32 years of service at Orrville Products, and I miss
my co-workers and all the great people at Mack.
I am an avid Mack Trucks nut! At work, I was given the
name “Mr. Mack!”
I collect model Mack trucks and have all kinds of Mack gifts
from people at Mack headquarters and Macungie, Pa.
My “love affair” with Mack started in May 1969 at Bien Hoa,
Vietnam. I was in the Air Force, hauling supplies. If planes
couldn’t fly them, we did it with our trucks. One day, we
finally got brand-new R-model Macks!
My Mack was a really good, tough truck — it got me out of
a lot of “situations,” although I did lose the truck in a fierce
ambush. I survived, thanks to Mack — but the truck was too
shot-up to repair.
variety of other parts. At one point in my career, all I did was
work with people from Mack!
I got to take a tour of the Macungie plant, finally meeting
the people I dealt with on a daily basis. I was like a kid in
a toy store — I didn’t want to leave! (I even begged to just
start one up at the end of the line!)
Some of the people who have been so helpful and
supportive to me throughout the years include Macungie’s
Frank Feddor, Sr., Jane Healey and Dick Miller. At World
Headquarters, I have fond memories of Frank DePerte and
Carl Riter, among many others.
And I couldn’t forget Clara and Carmen Campanella,
formerly of Mack Service-Bridgewater — who “adopted” me
as their “Mack son.” (We still keep in touch by mail!)
Thanks again for the BEST truck that will ever be on the
road — and thank you to all its great people who make this
possible.
Sincerely,
William Fardin
After my tour, I started working at Orrville Products —
which at one time supplied Mack with cabs, bumpers and a
Ontario Still Home to Plenty of Mack Fans
Dear Editor:
One day last week, I received in the mail a copy of the
Winter/Spring issue of Bulldog magazine. A complete surprise
— as I haven’t had the pleasure of reading it since the
Canadian Oakville Assembly plant closed in August 1993.
Last fall, a very successful reunion dinner was organized in
Oakville by our last plant manager (Paul O’Connor and his
wife Vicky) and other previous employees. More than 350
people attended the event.
Having worked initially in 1966 at the original assembly
operation out of the Toronto branch, and then 27 years at the
Oakville location, it was most interesting to reconnect with
those former employees — plus some of our old contacts
and friends that had made the journey up from Allentown.
When working in many departments — such as scheduling,
warranty, sales and mat/control — naturally, there are many
people that you come in contact with over the years!
Mack is still well-represented in this area of Ontario, with
tractor/trailer, dump, cement and garbage collection in the
new models. Every week, R and DM models can still be
seen on the roads — bringing back happy and fulfilling
memories of both the product and the fine people at the
Oakville plant.
I would be very grateful to receive copies in the future.
My thanks to you, as once again — “YOU MAKE THE
DIFFERENCE.”
Jack Holden
Burlington, Ontario, Canada
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New Celebrity Host for Mack Challenge
When the new CD version of our popular Mack Challenge trivia game needed a
host, we didn’t have to look past our own backyard. We signed up a celebrity,
former swimsuit model and household name — the Mack Bulldog!
Played at trade shows across the country, Mack Challenge is a trivia game in which
contestants answer questions about a variety of topics, including the company and its
vehicles.
An animated version of the Bulldog hosts the new CD version of the game, which
also features videos about Mack and a direct link to the company’s Web site. The
game provides players with information about Mack and its products in a fun,
entertaining and interactive way.
New York-based digital marketing company BrandGames developed the Mack
Challenge game. Mack plans to distribute it to customers primarily through direct
mail, trade shows and dealer sales personnel.
So when the “Applause” sign goes on and the Mack Bulldog comes onto the stage,
get ready to play Mack Challenge!
Allison is a registered trademark of General Motors Corporation. Heil and Python are registered trademarks of Delaware Capital Formation, Inc. RoadWatch is a registered trademark of Commercial Vehicle
Systems, Inc. Vermeer is a registered trademark of Vermeer Manufacturing Company. Wells Cargo is a trademark of Wells Cargo, Inc. Aerialscope is a registered trademark of JGB Industries, Inc. Trailmobile
is a registered trademark of Trailmobile, Inc. Jerr-Dan is a registered trademark of Jerr-Dan Corporation. Lego and Legoland are registered trademarks of Kirkbi AG. DAF is a registered trademark of DAF
Trucks N.V. Renault is a registered trademark of Renault Corporation.