DRIVEN - Peterbilt

FI R S T
CLASS
SUMMER 2015
Volume 35 Number 2
DATA
DRIVEN
High-tech Peterbilts
give CEI an edge
in profitability
14
The Intelligent Solution
11 |
EPIQ, APEX Boost MPG
22
FI R S T
CLASS
6
Oasis in the Desert
Model 567s anchor Otto’s growth strategy
11
The Intelligent Solution
Remote diagnostics system maximizes uptime
14
Data Driven
High-tech Peterbilts give CEI an edge in profitability
18
Meeting Diverse Needs
Model 220 makes its debut at Columbia Distributing
The Peterbilt Model 579 EPIQ — with performance
optimized by the APEX drivetrain pairing the
PACCAR MX-13 Engine with the Fuller Advantage
Automated Transmission — is delivering fuel economy
improvements by as much as 14 percent. For more
information about the Model 579 EPIQ, see page 22.
22
Peterbilt News
EPIQ fuel economy gains, new CNG and LNG
configurations, upgraded SmartNAV and more
FIND US ON:
All in the Details
S
uccessful fleet owners and managers know that success doesn’t happen
without turning a razor sharp focus to the details.
A fuel economy gain of a mere tenth of a percentage point, for example, can result in significant cost savings. Or the weight saved from spec’ing
trucks with lightweight components results in additional payload.
Peterbilt is detail driven to provide you with an ownership experience that
is unparalleled in satisfaction and unprecedented in profitability. It’s why
we build Peterbilt trucks the way we do – with an unwavering commitment
to quality and providing maximum return for our customers. This is evident
in the design, engineering, production and support of each and every truck
bearing the red oval.
Darrin Siver
General Manager
State-of-the-art design optimized the aerodynamic efficiency of the Model
579 EPIQ, which is providing customers with up to 14 percent improved
fuel economy. Engineering down to the smallest of details made the Model
567 the most reliable, durable and versatile vocational truck in our history.
Production committed to quality and continuous improvement led to three
prestigious Frost & Sullivan Manufacturing Leadership awards this
“Even the tiniest of details year, for a total of six since 2014. Peterbilt also launched the Rapid
can tilt the scales in favor Check service program and SmartLINQ remote diagnostics system to
maximize uptime.
of the fleet who
Peterbilt’s commitment to and investment in ensuring your ownwill put that driver to ership experience is second to none guides all aspects of our operwork in a Peterbilt.” ations. We know that every competitive advantage we can provide
improves your bottom line. Our current portfolio of products and
services is the strongest it has ever been. Solutions are there for optimizing fuel
efficiency, attracting and keeping the best drivers, and maximizing uptime. We
know that even the smallest of details we consider can make positive, significant impacts on your business.
“We’re in the penny-counting business,” says Troy Baird, a customer who similarly understands that the details are where you earn your profitability (page 14).
Mr. Baird is in the business of hauling municipal refuse. We are in the
business of building trucks. As partners, we both succeed by turning the focus
where it needs to be — and that’s on the details.
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FIRST CLASS l 5
OTTO
Oasis
in the
Desert
6 l FIRST CLASSCLASS
Driver-friendly Model 567s anchor growth strategy for Otto companies
Put any ambitious young man
from the frosted, wind-swept North
Dakota prairie into the Arizona
sunshine and you can surely understand that the new environment
would have an appeal.
But for Alan Otto, the shift
from the home farm to getting his
business rooted in Phoenix back
in the mid-1980s was about far
more than settling in an improved
climate. Back then, he was a man,
a truck (a classic Peterbilt Model
359) and a vision.
Today, Otto Trucking and its
Otto Logistics sister companies
operate more than 350 power
units, more than half of which
are Peterbilts. Otto Trucking is a
construction materials hauler that
has grown steadily in the Phoenix
metroplex and is the largest hauler of its kind in the area. Otto
Logistics is primarily a waste hauler with operations in Denver, Salt
Lake City, Wichita, Kan., and
Colorado Springs, Colo. A separate
Otto Logistics division also focuses
on waste hauling in Phoenix and
Tucson, Ariz.
Surely, Otto has benefitted
from settling in the right place at
the right time. Phoenix has long
been ripe for growth and while
it’s not the extreme boomtown it
once was, the area still sprouts
more than 20,000 new homes a
year. And Otto has been a handson participant in much of that
growth, with his company’s rep-
Peterbilt Model 567s have become a key part
of the growth strategy for Otto Trucking and
Otto Logistics.
FIRST CLASS l 7
The Model 567 is a versatile workhorse for
Otto Trucking on highway construction
projects in the Phoenix area.
utation for reliable performance helping
it gather an impressive and diverse list of
more than 400 customers, the largest of
which account for 7% of the operation’s
business.
At the root of it all is a hard-working,
reliable, driver-friendly fleet. While spec’ed
heavier for work on the construction side
and lighter for waste hauling, Otto’s recent
fleet additions — leased through PacLease
— are made up entirely of Peterbilt Model
567s, as part of a strategy to maximize
uptime, return top dollar at resale time
and help ensure that Otto continues to
employ the best drivers in the area.
“My philosophy is you pay for what
you get,” says Otto. “We want the best,
most reliable equipment because that
helps us get the best drivers. People who
take care of their drivers will succeed in the
8 l FIRST CLASSCLASS
“We’ve got some really great customers. And I
like to treat our vendors — such as Peterbilt and
the dealerships that have earned our loyalty —
like our customers treat us.”
— Alan Otto
trucking business.”
Otto won’t put just anybody behind
the wheel of his new Model 567s.
Besides offering the opportunity to
operate premium equipment, spec’ed
for smooth and easy operation with
PACCAR MX-13 Engines and automatic transmissions, Otto offers what he
says is the best pay in the area.
“If you can’t pay $2 an hour more
for a driver in a truck making $100
an hour, then you’ve got the wrong
person in the truck,” Otto says. “The
Peterbilt equipment helps a lot, but pay
is important with the drivers we want.
They’re professionals and they want to
make money.
“But first, they have to pass the
‘common sense test.’”
Otto is an active participant in driver orientation. And the “common sense
test” he gives applicants is part of the
process of getting to know prospective
drivers — and them getting to know
Otto and his expectations.
“One of the questions I ask is,
‘What engine was in the last truck you
drove?’ Someone who aspires to be a
professional, quality driver is going to
know the answer.
“I’ll also tell the recruiter sometimes
to go look at what they drove here. If
it’s a clean, well-maintained pick-up
with a CB antenna, hire him.
“We also won’t take drivers who
are regularly jumping ship. They better
have a good excuse why they left their
last job.”
Even prospects without a perfect
score can earn a seat in one of Otto’s
Model 567s, but they’ll start lower on
the pay scale with an opportunity to
work their way up.
“I tell our prospective drivers that
we’re a hard company to work for.
We’ll work nights and weekends.
“But our driver retention is higher
than anybody in town. Without quality drivers, we wouldn’t be the success
we are. We put our drivers in the best
equipment out there and pay them well.
And our customers know that not only
do we have the best drivers in the area,
we’ll work nights, travel, do whatever
we have to do to get the job done.”
Otto has long recognized the draw
of Peterbilt’s vocational products on
the resale market.
“They pay top dollar for them,”
he says. “People like our specs. We’ve
always tried to get them light but we’re
really after longevity. So we’ll go with
46,000-pound suspensions and 14,600
on the front ends.
“And the Allison and Eaton transmissions on our new trucks, they just
run so smooth. Other trucks would
be lugging the clutch climbing out of
the places we do with a full load. They
just help our drivers perform their job
better.”
Otto says the first of his Model 567s
— he’s been running them since 2014 —
were initially on a 6-year plan.
“We like to keep them as long as we
can, but there’s a point where it pays
to update the fleet while the value is at
its highest,” he says. “So we might not
make six years. It’s going to pay for me
to update before then.”
That update is expected to include
new Peterbilts, according to Otto.
“We’ve got some really great customers. And I like to treat our vendors
— such as Peterbilt and the dealerships
that have earned our loyalty — like our
customers treat us.
“I just think of it as a real strong
partnership.” FC
This Peterbilt Model 348 provides a mobile refueling unit to
keep the Otto fleet operating at peak efficiency.
FIRST CLASS l 9
The
Intelligent
Solution
SmartLINQ remote diagnostics system
promises to maximize uptime
With the performance demands
often placed on shippers these days, a
sudden service issue can lead to costly
consequences for both a trucking fleet
and its customers.
But Peterbilt’s new SmartLINQ
remote diagnostics system can provide
fleets with real-time information — via
email and a customized PACCAR web
portal — to manage a service issue with
maximum efficiency and keep deliveries on time, according to Peterbilt
Chief Engineer Scott Newhouse.
“What’s unique about this technology is the level of information and
detail we’re able to provide the customer,” says Newhouse. “What we’re really
doing here is helping drive our customers’ operating efficiency to higher levels.
This is about uptime, and maximizing
the productivity of the truck.”
SmartLINQ is factory installed and
now in production. It is standard on
all Peterbilts equipped with a PACCAR
MX-13 Engine, and includes a complimentary two-year subscription.
Code analysis
When the engine or aftertreatment
system generates a diagnostic code,
SmartLINQ analyzes the code and
communicates it to the customer, both
through the web portal and email. The
severity of the code indicates to the
customer whether or not the truck can
continue driving, or if service or an
engine shutdown are necessary.
“For example, let’s say the code
indicates that the truck is low on coolant,” says Newhouse. “There could
be several causes for that — the driver
didn’t fill it, there’s a leak, or the sensor
isn’t operating properly, for example.
“That information goes to fleet personnel. They might tell their driver to
pull over and see if there’s enough
coolant. Or the code might say that the
sensor is inoperable, and that’s not an
issue a driver can fix, so he should go to
a Peterbilt dealership for repair.
“The customer can make a decision. Do we keep driving? Or should
we stop and check it?”
If service is needed quickly,
SmartLINQ also guides the customer
to the nearest local Peterbilt service
providers.
“For example, the customer can
customize SmartLINQ to direct the
driver to one of the three nearest
Peterbilt dealerships. The customer
can select one of the three, contact the
service department and the shop can
be ready when the truck arrives.
“Or, the customer might decide
to have SmartLINQ notify their selling
dealer. For instance, if the truck is
in Nebraska, the customer can notify the selling dealer and report the
SmartLINQ diagnostic code. The selling dealer can then take the necessary steps to contact the Nebraska
FIRST CLASS l 11
dealership and make sure the service
department is aware of the situation
and prepared to address it.
“In any event, the customer will
get the best, quickest service possible
to resolve whatever their service issue
may be.”
Rapid Check
Newhouse says SmartLINQ provides a powerful complement to
Peterbilt’s new Rapid Check expedited service and diagnostics program.
Through Rapid Check, Peterbilt customers are provided with an estimate
of needed repairs within two hours
or less.
“It’s also about providing the
service department with as much
information as possible to address
a repair as efficiently as possible and
get the truck back on the road,” says
Newhouse. “With Rapid Check, we’ll
already have the tools ready for diagnostic testing.”
Peterbilt General Manager Darrin
Siver notes that the “Q” in SmartLINQ
is a nod to the quality repair experience customers can expect from their
Peterbilt dealership.
“SmartLINQ is the intelligent
solution for getting the most productivity, profitability and performance from each Peterbilt equipped
with this new technology,” says Siver.
“Giving operators more information
when diagnostic codes are present
allows them to make smarter service choices — maximizing uptime,
minimizing potential damage to the
vehicle and helping keep deliveries
on schedule.” FC
New App Available
An exclusive new SmartLINQ app is
now available to further enhance fleet
management convenience.
The SmartLINQ app for both Android
and iOS platforms
is a free download
available through
the Android
storefront and
the Apple iTunes
store. The app provides customers
with full access to the SmartLINQ
portal, providing one-touch access to
fleet health and the tools to schedule
maintenance throughout Peterbilt’s
North American dealer network.
SPECIAL FINANCE OFFERS
Through PACCAR Financial!
No-Cost Extended Warranty on
Class 8 Trucks*
No-Cost Warranty and 4.99%
Interest Through Our Medium
Duty Combo Program*
$2,500 Cash Rebate on our
MX-Powered Trucks*
Call 800-777-8525 today
or visit PaccarFinancial.com
*Rates subject to change. Terms and conditions apply. Contact your local dealer for more information.
12 l FIRST CLASSCLASS
The Most Fuel Efficient
Peterbilt Powertrain Available
The Peterbilt APEX powertrain.
Peterbilt and Eaton have
collaborated to create a fully
integrated powertrain that
delivers superior performance
and provides a 4% improvement in fuel economy.* The
APEX package integrates the
PACCAR MX-13 Engine and
Eaton® Fuller Advantage™
10-speed automated transmission. They share critical data,
including engine torque and
operating gear. Precise engine
and transmission communications are combined with
proprietary control logic to
further enhance downspeeding in both overdrive and
direct operation, maximizing
fuel economy. This powertrain
simplifies operation for both
new and experienced drivers.
Smooth, automated shifting
makes driving easier.
For more information on the
APEX package, contact your
local Peterbilt dealer or visit
www.peterbilt.com
*Individual fuel economy improvement
will vary depending on use, road
conditions and other factors.
BACKED BY
SUPPORT
CUSTOM ECOLOGY, INC.
Data Driven
High-tech Peterbilts give CEI an edge in profitability
Troy Baird says he’s a man in the
“penny-counting business.”
That statement may not be literally true — Baird is, in fact, the CEO of
Custom Ecology, Inc. (CEI), a diverse
materials hauler focused on municipal solid waste (MSW) transport with
headquarters in the Atlanta suburb of
Mableton. But it does demonstrate the
attention to details that drives CEI’s
profitability and, in turn, that of his
customers.
For example, the newest of Baird’s
Peterbilt Model 579s, which make up
the vast majority of the firm’s 550 power
units spread over five different operating
units, are equipped with Peterbilt’s EPIQ
fuel efficiency package.
Any long hauler would surely find
nothing unusual about maximizing the
fuel-saving advantages of Peterbilt’s
aerodynamic and fuel-efficient performance. But Baird admits few who make
their living going to and from landfills
and MSW transfer stations, with round
trips typically less than 100 miles, think
in terms of aerodynamic benefits.
“We were 20 years in racing,” says
Baird of his years as a race team owner
that included a few laps in NASCAR.
“Racing teaches you exactly how much
wind matters.
“Most people in the industry would
go, ‘What? Aerodynamics? You’re hauling MSW.’ But we started putting pen
to paper and the fuel economy improvements (more than 10 percent vs. traditional conventionals that used to be in
the fleet) were something we could not
ignore.
“Every technological advantage we
can use matters, and we’ll take every
opportunity we can get to show our
14 l FIRST CLASSCLASS
customers that we’re doing our due diligence to keep their costs down.”
Baird also identifies Peterbilt’s industry-leading residual value, a tight resale
cycle that helps keep his fleet on the
technological cutting edge, and performance reliability that maximizes uptime
as keys to driving the company’s growth
and profitability.
Resale strategy
Baird entered the trucking business
with a single Model 379 in Holly Hill,
S.C., in 1993. Through organic growth
and acquisition, his company grew
quickly and steadily, and the ambitious
Baird grew his stable of Peterbilts. At the
root of his success was a resale strategy
that saw Baird replacing his power units
in no more than 36 months, and often
at 30 months.
“We see equipment purely as a costto-own consideration, not cost-to-buy,
and Peterbilt’s cost of ownership truly
makes our business model work,” he
says. “We had one group of Peterbilts
that after 30 months, returned nearly 90
percent of their original purchase price.
It cost us $12,000 to own those trucks.
You can’t buy a compact car for that.
“There were other trucks out there
that might’ve cost $90,000 upfront, but
you got back $45,000 on it.”
Baird says his new Model 579 day
cabs — “spec’ed to sell” with a PACCAR
MX-13 Engine and 10-speed transmission — have found a hungry market.
“We have the youngest fleet in the
industry at an average of 1.5 years,”
Baird says. “And that means something
to drivers, too. If you’re a truck driver,
why not run the best truck on the road?
And why not run a new one?”
The Peterbilt Model 579s in the CEI fleet
conduct plenty of their business in landfills,
but that doesn’t stop CEO Troy Baird from
doing his best to maximize the aerodynamic
benefits of the Model 579.
FIRST CLASS l 15
Technological edge
CEI’s tight resale cycle has an
added benefit of keeping his fleet
equipped with the latest technological advances, and he says his
customers take notice.
“The way we buy trucks, we’re
bringing new technology into the
fleet every year,” he says. “Some of
our competitors bring new equipment in every seven years. They’re
not exposing their customers to the
benefits of new technologies like we
can.”
Among those technological
advances are satellite tracking, flowthrough billing and a tire monitoring system.
“People say, ‘A tire monitoring
system? Why? You’re in landfills.’
“But uptime is at a premium
in our business, and we have to
maximize it. Say our tire monitoring
system sends an email to our dispatch guy that says a tire is going
low. We can notify the driver, call a
service guy to meet him at an exact
time and do a NASCAR-style pit
stop. We’ve turned a 3-hour reactive
repair into a 45-minute proactive
repair.
“All kinds of little things like that
separate us from our competitors.
The guy with the most data always
wins.”
The performance and reliability
of the Model 579 also play well into
CEI’s uptime equation.
“It’s not the cost of a repair that
hurts, it’s the cost of downtime.
We need that truck on the road,
five days a week. You miss one day
because the truck’s in the shop and
that’s 20 percent of that week’s revenue. How are you going to make
that up? That truck has 630 minutes a day to catch all the cash it
can. Anything that takes away from
that 630 minutes, we can’t recoup.”
16 l FIRST CLASSCLASS
“We see equipment purely as a cost-to-own consideration,
not cost-to-buy, and Peterbilt’s cost of ownership truly
makes our business model work.”
— Troy Baird
Efficiency focus
Baird’s focus on the performance
efficiency of his fleet is not lost on his
customers.
“We can show our customers data
they’ve never seen before. Years ago, they
picked their providers based on price. It
is what it is — you pick the best one. But
now that we can help them maximize
their productivity and reduce their costs,
we’re offering a different level of partnership than they can get elsewhere.”
And by creating more mutually bene-
ficial partnerships, Baird can improve his
own bottom line.
“We always say we’re in the penny-counting business, and the fact is
we’re always looking for ways to increase
our margins. You don’t go out and get
a bunch of raises anymore. We need to
create our margins, and Peterbilt helps
us take full advantage of the technology
out there that will help us get our margins where they need to be.
“We’re excited,” adds Baird. “We’ve
got the right strategy, the right equipment
and the right managers. We’re setting
new standards for how things get done
in this industry. We aim not just to be
the largest, but the best MSW hauling
company in the U.S. We have the people,
the equipment and the technology to
do so.” FC
A fleet of Peterbilt Model 579s has helped
CEI employ new technologies that help the
company — and its customers — maximize
profitability.
FIRST CLASS l 17
FC3502_CEI.indd 17
7/31/15 11:40 AM
COLUMBIA DISTRIBUTING
18 l FIRST CLASSCLASS
Meeting Diverse Needs
Model 220 makes its debut
at Columbia Distributing
Standardizing a fleet can be a challenging task when acquisition is the primary driver of company growth, such
as that at Columbia Distributing, the
ever-growing Portland, Ore.-based beverage distributor that is already one of the
nation’s largest.
At last count, 24 different truck models, representing 10 different manufacturers, were at work in the Columbia fleet,
totaling 488 power units. Such is business when the acquisition of smaller
operations often includes the equipment
of the acquired operation. And acquired
fleet is required to hit the ground running
to service the 112,000 square miles of
territory the company covers in Oregon
and Washington, with 750,000 annual
stops and 6.7 million miles traveled.
But for Director of Fleet Joe Braun,
only one manufacturer — Peterbilt —
handles his diverse needs in supplying
new equipment to the fleet. Six different
Peterbilt models now operate in the fleet,
the most recent new arrival being the
Peterbilt Model 220, fitted with 24-foot
van bodies. The company also continues
to take delivery on the medium-duty
Model 337 to pull 28-to-37-foot trailers as well as the Class 8 Model 579 to
shuttle 48- and 53-foot trailer loads of
product in the efficiency-oriented huband-spoke distribution model.
For obvious reasons, fleet standardization has its benefits, says Braun. Parts
inventory and technician training is certainly more efficient. Having a knowledgeable partner to help develop specifications uniquely suited to the routes and
duties of the equipment can also help
maximize performance. Gear ratios and
horsepower, for example, can be tailored
to the equipment running routes through
mountainous regions.
An interesting payoff for Braun comes
in seeing the needs he’s identified realized in a product. Such was the case
with the development of the Model 579,
when Braun was among a group participating in various forums, focus groups,
workshops and panel discussions steered
toward ensuring customer satisfaction
for Peterbilt’s landmark aerodynamic
specialist.
“They showed us the prototype and
we gave them feedback, telling them
what we felt worked and what didn’t
work,” says Braun. “We sat in the vehicles. They asked if we had specific wishes,
what would they be?
“Most definitely, they were listening to
us, and they took what we said to heart,
because the Model 579 is a great vehicle.
The drivers who have them love them.
“Similarly, we’re very excited about
seeing that happen again with a 12-bay
delivery truck.”
“Image is very important
to us — particularly with
the rolling billboards
we operate”
— Joe Braun
FIRST CLASS l 19
The Peterbilt Model 337 is
also a key component of the
Columbia Distributing fleet.
Meeting customer needs
To be clear, Braun already has some
conventional straight-truck-mounted
12-bay delivery trucks with the uniquely beverage-oriented body designed to
service “on-premise” customers, such as
restaurants or bars. The body style is a
favorite for Braun given its ease of sidewalk unloading (vs. street unloading)
that reduces driver fatigue and improves
safety, and the fact that lift gates and
pallet jacks are unnecessary.
“In any inner-city delivery environment, you want a 12-bay over a box
truck,” he says.
He also has 16 new Model 220s, the
Peterbilt Class 7 cabover that is winning
praise from his drivers for its outstanding
maneuverability, comfortable ergonomic
cab environment and excellent visibility.
What he envisions is merging the popu-
20 l FIRST CLASSCLASS
lar operating features and robust design
characteristics of the Model 220 with the
12-bay body he prefers.
It’s not necessarily a simple design
directive. Various components that usually occupy space on the frame rails
and the back of the cab will have to
be repositioned to accommodate the
12-bay body, a solution that will help be
achieved by the Model 220’s optional
clear frame rail package. But he’s confident that he has the right manufacturer
working on a potential Model 220 design
that will receive a 12-bay body.
“We started chewing on it last year,
and they started working on it,” he says.
“They listen. That’s the main thing.”
Resale expectations
While Braun expects to enjoy a
seven-to-10-year ownership cycle with
the Model 220s he already owns, he’s
counting on a resale market similar
to that which he’s enjoyed on other
Peterbilt products.
“We just sold some of our older
over-the-road equipment,” he says.
“Let’s just say we got considerably more
than we would’ve out of Brand X. I
would expect that to occur with our
Model 220s as well.”
And a Class 7 cabover can show off
some of the pride and class for which
Peterbilt is renowned.
“I call it ‘the shiny bumper syndrome,’” he says. “Give a driver a shiny
bumper and he feels good and we look
good. Image is very important to us —
particularly with the rolling billboards
we operate.
“We like to be number one in how
we look and what we do.” FC
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PETERBILT NEWS
Model 579 EPIQ, PACCAR MX-13 Engine
Score Double-Digit Fuel Economy Gains
Among Peterbilt’s latest
fuel efficiency innovations
is the Model 579 EPIQ, an
aerodynamically optimized
and technologically advanced
vehicle that can improve fuel
efficiency by up to 14 percent.
“The Model 579 EPIQ is
revolutionizing the industry
with its aerodynamic efficiency, optimized powertrain and
innovative fuel-saving technologies,” says Darrin Siver,
Peterbilt General Manager and
PACCAR Vice President. “Since
introducing the EPIQ fuel
economy package last year, we
have been successful in engineering even more miles per
gallon through precise aerodynamic refinements.”
Peterbilt engineers incorporated design elements
from the SuperTruck, which
achieved 10.7 miles per gallon
after extensive field testing, to
reach the 14 percent gain possible with the new Model 579
EPIQ.
EPIQ includes an optimized drivetrain that pairs
the PACCAR MX-13 Engine
with the Fuller Advantage
Automated Transmission.
“The MX-13 is an industry leader in fuel efficiency, performance and
reliability. We developed
proprietary
control
logic that provides pre-
22 l FIRST CLASSCLASS
cise communication between
the MX-13 and the Advantage
transmission for a fully integrated powertrain that delivers superior fuel economy,”
says Scott Newhouse, Peterbilt
Chief Engineer.
The Model 579 EPIQ
includes numerous aerodynamic enhancements that
were developed through CFD
(computational fluid dynamics), wind tunnel testing and
thousands of miles of on-theroad validation.
Among the newest elements of EPIQ are:
s!ROOFFAIRINGBRIDGETHAT
reduces the gap between truck
and trailer;
s%NHANCEDCHASSISFAIRINGS
that minimize the opening
in front of the tandem axle;
s Rubber
wheel
closeouts on the front axle;
s A durable bumper dam
that reduces aerodynamic lift
and drag; and
s A bumper-to-hood seal that
redirects air around the truck.
Other fairings included in
EPIQ are 18-inch sleeper side
extenders with 8-inch rubber
flares; rubber skirting along
the chassis fairing from the
quarter fender to the front of
the tandem axle with rubber
closeouts under the sides of
the cab and sleeper; and roof
fairings with an exclusive rear
wall closeout. Aerodynamically
enhanced components include
a three-piece aero-style
bumper; multi-piece aero-style
hood; painted outside sun
visor; and an aero-style aluminum battery box positioned
on the passenger side, under
the cab.
“The Model 579 is the
most aerodynamic truck in
Peterbilt’s 76-year history and
when configured with the
EPIQ package, it takes fuel
economy to even greater levels,” says Siver. “The Model
579 EPIQ makes a significant
difference to our customers’
bottom lines.”
Peterbilt Debuts New Predictive
Cruise Technology
Anticipating and responding to
changes in terrain, Peterbilt’s new
Predictive Cruise technology automatically optimizes engine and transmission
operation when in cruise control for
maximum fuel economy.
“Predictive Cruise technology is our
latest innovation to provide customers
with trucks that lead the industry in fuel
efficiency,” says Darrin Siver, Peterbilt
General Manager and PACCAR Vice
President. “By integrating the powertrain, cruise control and satellite mapping, the vehicle automatically responds
to the road ahead for up to three percent
improved fuel economy.”
Predictive Cruise includes the neutral
coasting feature. Neutral coasting utilizes the truck’s momentum to save fuel
and engages the engine brake to manage
downhill speeds.
According to Peterbilt Chief Engineer
Scott Newhouse, Predictive Cruise and
neutral coast work together to maximize
the truck’s kinetic energy:
1. When approaching a hill, the system uses onboard maps and GPS data to
select the optimal gear for the increasing
road grade;
2. Before the peak of the incline, the
vehicle curbs its speed before proceeding
downhill;
3. Neutral coast engages as the truck
rolls downhill;
4. If necessary, the engine brake
engages to avoid over speeding; and
5. Cruising speed is maintained as the
vehicle continues onto level terrain.
“Predictive Cruise also integrates with
Peterbilt’s Driver Performance Assistant,
which coaches drivers with fuel-saving
tips,” says Newhouse. “Predictive Cruise
is available factory installed for both
the Model 579 and 567 and plans are
to expand to other products in the near
future.”
Newhouse adds, “Predictive Cruise
builds upon our lineup of fuel-saving
solutions, such as the Driver Performance
Assistant and the APEX powertrain.
Through innovative technologies and
optimized aerodynamic designs, Peterbilt
continues to raise the bar for vehicles
with outstanding ROI.”
The Right Tire
Changes Everything.™
Michelin manufactures some of the most fuel efficient tires in the
industry. In fact, the SmartWay ® verified MICHELIN ® X One ® Line ™
Energy D tire is the most fuel-efficient drive tire in North America.
Switching to MICHELIN ® X One ® wide base single tires can save you up
to 10% in fuel*. That’s why more than two million X One tires have
worked hard for customers across North America.
Michelin offers tires to fit every application. Choosing the right tire
allows for the best performance and durability for your specific need.
For more information on selecting the right tire for fuel economy or
vocational use, visit michelintruck.com.
*Based on industry standard rolling resistance testing of comparable tires and retreads. Actual results may
vary, and may be impacted by many factors, to include road conditions, weather and environment, driver
performance, etc.
Michelin_Ad_half_vertical_Peterbilt.indd 1
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FIRST CLASS l 23
PETERBILT NEWS
Models 579, 567 Available
with LNG Power
Peterbilt is expanding its
portfolio of natural-gas powered vehicles with the introduction of its Models 579 and 567
in LNG configurations.
“Last year production
began on compressed natural gas configurations of the
Models 579 and 567, meeting a healthy market need for
customers seeking cost effective, cleaner burning natural gas energy,” says Robert
Woodall, Peterbilt Assistant
General Manager of Sales
and Marketing. “We’re again
expanding our natural gas
product offerings with liquefied natural gas configurations
of these same models, giving
customers greater choice and
flexibility for their business and
operation requirements.”
The Models 579 and 567
LNG configurations are available as daycabs. Production
began in June.
Both trucks are powered by
the Cummins-Westport ISX12
G with up to 400 horsepower
and 1,450 lb.-ft. of torque.
“Peterbilt is the industry’s natural gas leader with
the largest market share,
most experience and broadest, most versatile product
lineup,” adds Woodall. “We
offer a natural gas truck
option for nearly every application, and we’re pleased to
offer our flagship aerodynamic Model 579 and vocational Model 567 in an LNG
configuration.”
Peterbilt Receives
Three Manufacturing
Leadership Awards
Peterbilt has received three
prestigious Manufacturing
Leadership Awards from
Frost & Sullivan’s Leadership
Council. Peterbilt’s awards
recognize
demonstrated
excellence in the areas of
employee leadership development, manufacturing innovation and operational efficiency.
The Manufacturing Leadership Awards honor a wide
range of leading companies
throughout many industries.
Peterbilt also received three
Manufacturing Leadership
Awards in 2014.
“Peterbilt continues to
24 l FIRST CLASSCLASS
set new standards of quality,
efficiency and productivity.
Our commitment to continuous improvement and
ongoing investment in our
people, processes and technologies allow us to achieve
ever-increasing levels of
innovation,” says Darrin
Siver, Peterbilt General
Manager and PACCAR Vice
President. “We are proud
to have our acheievements
recognized by Frost and
Sullivan’s Manufacturing
Leadership Council.”
Peterbilt
won
two
Manufacturing Leadership
Awards in the Operational
Excellence
Leadership
Category for its Cab Trim
Line project and for its North
Texas Lean Consortium initiative. In the Next-Generation
Leadership category, Peterbilt
was awarded for its Emerging
Leaders program.
The Cab Trim Line project integrated Peterbilt’s
cab interior production into
one assembly line. Peterbilt
founded the North Texas
Lean Consortium with local
companies to share and
benchmark manufacturing
practices and production systems. The Emerging Leaders
program develops next-generation leaders through
training at PACCAR Inc. divisions in the Southwest.
New 58-inch Sleeper for Model 579
Ideal for weight conscious
short- and regional-haul operations, Peterbilt has introduced a new 58-inch sleeper
for its Model 579 in both lowand mid-roof configurations.
The new sleeper, that is
now available for order,
reduces weight by up to 100
pounds (versus the 80-inch
sleeper) while including all of
the driver-pleasing amenities
found on Peterbilt’s larger
sleepers.
“The new 58-inch sleeper
is designed with an open, spacious feel that drivers expect
from a Peterbilt sleeper. It’s
thoughtfully engineered to
include ample storage, driver
Peterbilt, PFC Offer
Complimentary Extended
Warranty
Customers who purchase a new Peterbilt truck and
finance through PACCAR Financial can receive complimentary extended warranty coverage. The offer is available
until March 31, 2016, on trucks in dealer inventory or truck
orders received by Peterbilt prior to Dec. 31, 2015.
According to Peterbilt, the extended warranty includes:
s Three year or 300,000 miles (480,000 kilometers) of
basic coverage for Class 8 vehicles.
s Two year or 150,000 miles (240,000 kilometers) of
basic coverage for Class 5-7 vehicles.
The additional warranty is valued at approximately
$2,915 ($3,645 CAD) for heavy-duty trucks and approximately $660 ($825 CAD) for medium-duty trucks.
comforts and exceptional fit
and finish for quality rest and
off-duty time,” says Robert
Woodall, Peterbilt Assistant
General Manager of Sales and
Marketing. “For customers in
applications where less weight
and a shorter wheelbase are
critical, the Model 579 with
a 58-inch sleeper is a perfect
match.”
The new sleeper includes
a full-length door to help
facilitate loading personal gear and belongings
from outside the truck.
Additionally, full-length,
integrated extenders minimize trailer gap and improve
aerodynamic efficiency.
“The sleeper was designed
with extensive research and
customer interviews to help
ensure every inch of space was
considered for a layout that
was both practical and premium,” says Scott Newhouse,
Peterbilt Chief Engineer.
“Operators will enjoy the fulllength mattress and abundant
storage areas, including the
cabinets, under bunk and
back wall.”
Other features include a
television mount, refrigerator
and microwave shelf.
Newhouse adds that
offering the 58-inch sleeper in
both low- and mid-roof configurations further increases
its versatility to meet specific application requirements,
including flatbed and tanker
operations.
OOIDA, ALC Members Receive
Rebate on New Peterbilts
Members of the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers
Association (OOIDA) and the American Loggers Council
(ALC) can receive a $1,000 cash rebate from Peterbilt when
they purchase a qualifying truck through a Peterbilt dealership.
“Peterbilt and owner-operators have been synonymous for
decades and we’re proud to continue to support these valuable
customers and the OOIDA organization,” says Robert Woodall,
Peterbilt Assistant General Manager of Sales and Marketing.
“And from our first chassis in 1939 to the vocational trucks
we build today, Peterbilts have been familiar sights on logging
roads and forest job sites.
“Peterbilt continues to embrace these important markets
with these valuable rebate offers.”
Up to three trucks can be purchased during 2015 under
the rebate programs, which covers trucks specifically designed
for their respective markets.
FIRST CLASS l 25
PETERBILT NEWS
Peterbilt Launches
Next-Generation
SmartNav System
Peterbilt is introducing the next generation of its in-dash SmartNav infotainment system that features an expanded
array of virtual gauges, auto-activated
safety cameras, improved hands-free
calling and the capability to provide realtime traffic and fuel price information.
“Peterbilt was the industry’s first
manufacturer to offer a factory-installed,
all-in-one infotainment system,” says
Darrin Siver, Peterbilt General Manager
and PACCAR Vice President. “This
new, enhanced system greatly expands
SmartNav’s functionality and will help
drivers operate with greater levels of productivity, safety and convenience.”
Operators engage SmartNav through
its touch-sensitive, full-color, seven-inch
display. Drivers can also interact with the
new system through improved voice-recognition capabilities for hands-free calling. Other enhancements include:
s Nearly double the available virtual
gauges, for a total of 30, including all
vocational gauges;
26 l FIRST CLASSCLASS
s Expanded satellite radio content
with both Sirius and XM channels;
s Automatic activation of optional
safety cameras when the vehicle is put
into reverse or turn signals are on; and
s Real-time traffic updates and fuel
pricing through an optional subscription
service.
“One of the key improvements to the
new SmartNav system is its ability to be
customized with approved applications
developed by Peterbilt, PACCAR or third
parties,” says Scott Newhouse, Peterbilt
Chief Engineer. “For instance, future
functionality could include integration
with reefer trailers or truck bodies to
provide operational data, like reefer
temperature. SmartNav’s new flexible
architecture allows it to be updated
quickly with additional features and
capabilities.
“Additionally, it is telematics enabled
to communicate with systems such as
electronic logbooks and other fleet management platforms.”
Peterbilt Adds
Tire Pressure
Monitoring
System to
Model 587
The Bendix SmarTire Tire
Pressuring Monitoring System
(TPMS) that helps improve fuel
economy and safety is now available
for Peterbilt’s aerodynamic, integrated cab-and-sleeper Model 587.
“TPMS provides operators with
real-time, on-demand tire status that
helps ensure peak performance and
can give the operator early warning
before potential tire failure,” says
Scott Newhouse, Peterbilt Chief
Engineer. “The TPMS display is integrated with the vehicle’s main instrument cluster for convenient, quick
glance access to the temperature
and pressure of each truck tire. By
helping prevent tire failure, TPMS
means customers benefit from more
uptime, lower operating costs and
longer tire life.”
Newhouse says operators
are alerted to potential tire issues
through an alert on the display and
an optional audible alert.
According to the Technology &
Maintenance Council, tires are the
largest maintenance cost item for
fleets and are a primary influencer on fuel economy. A tire that is
10 psi low can reduce fuel economy by about 1 percent. Given their
cost-saving benefits, TMC estimates
TPMS systems provide an ROI within
two years.
TPMS is also an optional feature
for Peterbilt Models 579 and 567.
Ready for what’s ahead?
Even the safest and most skilled drivers are at risk of rear-end collisions, rollovers,
and loss of control. Bendix gives you the power to help reduce that risk. We offer
proven advanced safety technologies like high performance air disc brakes,
full-stability systems, collision-mitigation technology, and more. The unexpected
is up ahead – will you be ready?
The time to prepare is now. To learn how, visit safertrucks.com/solutions, email
safetysolutions@bendix.com, or call 1.800.AIR.BRAKE (1.800.247.2725) today.
© Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC, a member of the Knorr-Bremse Group. All Rights Reserved.
First Class Magazine
21420 West Greenfield Avenue
New Berlin, WI 53146
579 EPIQ FuelAd-2015(RR-CCJ & Overdrive).indd 1
3/31/15 1:59 PM
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
90000
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