“Mack has been integrating powertrains since the company was founded and in 1900 and we’re now taking integration leadership to a new level,” says John Walsh, vice president of marketing for Mack. “Our goal is to provide integration for our customers to the entire truck ownership experience, providing a total business solution for customers.”

According to David McKenna, director of sales and marketing for Mack, the Super Econodyne package is designed with all-Mack proprietary components for a complete Mack Pedigree Powertrain, consisting of a Mack MP8-445SE diesel engine, Mack mDRIVE automated manual transmission, Mack C125 proprietary drive axles and Mack’s custom software, all of which combine to offer a system designed for industry-leading fuel efficiency without compromising power or performance. The result, McKenna says,  is up to 3.5 percent better fuel efficiency compared to other similarly spec’d vehicles.

Super Econodyne is available on all Mack Pinnacle models rated up to 88,000 lbs. GCWR. Contributing to the fuel-efficiency improvement, McKenna notes, is the Super Econodyne’s “down speed” feature.

Super Econodyne is engineered to “down speed” more than 200 rpm at a highway speed of 65 mph, cruising at 1160 rpm versus 1380 rpm, which McKenna says reduces fuel consumption by up to 2 percent compared with previous engine models, with a corresponding reduction in CO2 emissions. The Mack proprietary C125 drive axles deliver an additional 1.5 percent fuel economy improvement.

In conjunction with the Super Econodyne package, Mack also announced its new Pedigree Uptime Protection program. According to Dave Albert, director of aftermarket solutions for Mack, the Pedigree program is an integrated package of aftermarket solutions with three components: Bulldog Service Management, Bulldog Parts and Purchasing and Bulldog Asset Protection.

Bulldog Service Management is powered by MVASIST and includes Mack OneCall roadside support service. Alber says MVASIST allows customers to improve communications, manage costs, reduce downtime and increase operating efficiency. Through an online portal, customers are able to communicate with the dealer, initiate repairs, access a complete service history, approve and monitor repair status and manage repair expenses. Additionally Mack announced that MVASIST will now come free-of-charge on any new Mack truck delivered after Jan. 1, 2012.

Albert says Mack OneCall is a full-service support center that manages breakdown assistance, towing services, technical support and real-time online case tracking.

Bulldog Parts Purchasing enables 24/7 parts purchasing online and offers online access to purchase and invoice history. Bulldog Asset Protection includes purchased coverage and provides preventive maintenance programs performed at any Mack dealer in the U.S. as well as inspections based on CSA guidelines.

“We listened to what our customers said they needed from an aftermarket perspective, and we developed an integrated all-encompassing solution tailored to their needs,” Albert notes. “Customers said they wanted a solution that would improve communication with dealers and service technicians. They said they wanted to get back on the road faster and to have the ability to order parts around-the-clock. Pedigree Uptime Protection offers all of those benefits and more.”

Mean Green

“Technology and innovation are at the core of our business,” said Ron Huibers, president, Volvo Trucks North American Sales & Marketing, in a press release. “Mean Green is a prime example of Volvo’s technical capabilities and our continued focus on emerging technologies. Our engineers developed the world’s fastest hybrid truck utilizing the same Volvo hybrid drive system powering hundreds of Volvo buses throughout the world, including London’s double-decker buses.”

In building the Mean Green, which was revealed by Volvo Trucks on March 22 at the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS), Volvo’s team of hybrid technology experts adapted Volvo’s hybrid driveline to the chassis requirements of a world-class truck built for speed. Engineers then outfitted Mean Green with a highly tuned Volvo D16 engine and a modified version of Volvo’s automated I-Shift gearbox, which interacts with the hybrid’s electric motor.

“The result is a lightning-speed boost from start-off without any of the customary diesel-engine delay,” said Boije Ovebrink, Mean Green’s owner and driver. “It’s like a champagne cork, but without the sound effects. For the first couple of seconds the truck just makes a slight whistle until the diesel engine, which runs on renewable liquid rosin diesel, starts delivering with explosive force.”

In total, Mean Green pumps out a massive 2,100 horsepower and nearly 5,000 lb-ft. torque – of which, 200 horsepower and 885 lb-ft. of torque come from the electric motor. Aerodynamics also plays a vital role in achieving top speed, so Volvo designers selected a North American VN cab and sculpted the optimal aerodynamic shape for the truck.

Mean Green features modified versions of the following Volvo production components:

• Volvo hybrid motor
• Volvo hybrid battery
• Volvo D16 diesel engine
• Volvo I-Shift automated manual transmission
• Volvo VN cab and frame
• Rear axle with 1.85:1 ratio

During its North American tour, Mean Green will also visit Truck World, April 19-21, in Toronto, and the Volvo Ocean Race, May 17-20, in Miami.

Jim Hebe, vice president of North American Sales for International, said the new truck shows that the company is laser-focused on all aspects of the vocational truck market, regardless of size.

“The industries this truck is designed for is fairly small in terms of volume,” Hebe said. “Generally, you’re talking 6,000 to 8,000 units a year. To say that International will build a product to solve all the customer challenges our customers face in a market that small proves that we strongly believe in vocational markets and reinforces our determination to be the number-one player. To meet that goal, we have to satisfy all the requirements those customers have, and the LoadStar is a truck that does just that.”

Hebe said the LoadStar is all-new from the ground up, even though it uses many shared components from preexisting International vehicles – most notably the WorkStar. But drivers and fleet managers were involved in the design process to meet a variety of needs in the waste, concrete-pumping and aircraft refueling markets – to name just a few, he said.

Key features identified during the conception process and finalized in the final product include a stainless steel cab to minimize corrosion and increase durability life in the field, vocationally-designed variable-depth frame rails for lower weight and frame rail heights as well as an improved ride, an ergonomically designed cab interior with fully optimized and body-builder-integrated control placements, and full Diamond Logic capabilities as well as integrated powertrain options including MaxxForce Cleanburn emissions technology or an optional natural gas version availableearly next year.

“To fit driver needs, we optimized the space in the cab, increased seat and steering wheel movement and adjusted joystick placement to deliver an outstanding ergonomic and customizable work environment,” Hebe said. “The exterior boasts the signature appearance and design of the International Truck brand.”

In other news, Hebe announced the new OnCommand Connection telematics vehicle support system from International – a program that provides commercial vehicle operators with vital operating information while the vehicle is on the road. “Celadon is testing this system now,” he said. “We expect a full launch later this year.”

The system is so sophisticated, Hebe said, that it can offer users a host of innovative information options – everything from critical parts, repair and service information when a fault code appears during vehicle operation, all the way down to formulation of Compliance, Safety, Accountability scorecards for drivers or real-time route planning and GPS navigation. The system will be free to any customer running International MaxxForce engines.

The new engines will deliver up to a 2 percent fuel economy improvement over comparable engines being produced today and will use the same “critical engine sub-systems” such as variable-geometry turbochargers, high-pressure fuel systems and exhaust gas aftertreatment.

Cummins’ theme for its 2013 and 2014 engine program is “Better where it counts,” a sentiment reflected by Rich Freeland, vice president and president of the company’s engine business, who said, “We met the EPA 2010 standard on time and our engines have earned their industry-leading reputation for great reliability and fuel economy. Our product development teams are now delivering even better products where it counts — to our customers — and these new, 2014-compliant engines are a sign of that.”

Freeland said Cummins will not change its diesel engine lineup in any significant way in January. The company’s full slate of diesel engines — from the medium-duty ISB6.7 to its flagship ISX15 – will be available and all will meet 2014 fuel economy and greenhouse gas regulations a year ahead of schedule, he added.

The only major pending change to the company’s power offering will be a natural-gas version of the ISX15. The new engine is in development as a spark-ignited alternative for fleets and operators concerned with rising diesel fuel prices. Cummins is producing on-highway, spark-ignited natural gas engines with Cummins Westport — its joint venture with Westport Innovations in Vancouver, B.C.

The new 15 liter development project is significant, however, in that it is being developed solely by Cummins. Ed Pence, vice president and general manager of Cummins heavy-duty engine business, said the new 15-liter engine will be based on the existing ISX15 platform and capable of burning compressed natural gas, liquefied natural gas or biomethane fuel. He added that Cummins expects to begin field testing the new engine early next year and begin production in early 2015.

Additionally, Cummins introduced its new Fleetguard FF5782 fuel filter. Joseph Saoud, vice president of Cummins Filtration, said the new filter, which uses nanotechnology-based filtration media is “revolutionary” and designed to trap 98.7 percent of all particles as small as 4 microns. He said the new filter can effectively trap particles 12 times smaller than anything the human eye can see. The result is a filter that offers protection that is 13 times better than its predecessor, allowing engines and engine components to last significantly longer in the field and deliver up to a 25 percent reduction in cost of ownership.