FOLLOWING LEADERS

FI R S T
CLASS
Winter 2012
Volume 32 Number 3
Model 579 at TMC
FOLLOWING
LEADERS
PACCAR Parts Offers More
Than Name Implies Page 11
Model 320 Production Reaches
Record High Page 19
Peterbilt Model 384s make up the BOLT
Transport fleet — and lead drivers
right to the bulk liquid hauler’s door. Page 14
2 l FIRST CLASS
FI R S T
CLASS
CONTENTS
6 Volunteer Pride
16 Following Leaders
8 Being the Change
18 Parts, Service Awards
11 Parts Partner
19 Model 320 Production
PACCAR Parts offers more than name implies
Popular refuse vehicle at record high pace
14 Success Stories
20 Engine Evolution
ESOP plan means Peterbilt fleet stays in service
CNG-powered Peterbilts drive waste disposal specialist
BOLT followed unlikely path
TMC readies for Model 579 conversion
Peterbilt recognizes leaders
Next-generation PACCAR engines are ready
22 Peterbilt News
Horne honored; new calendar available
FIRST CLASS l 3
COMMENTS
Anticipating
the Curve
A
Bill Kozek
General Manager
sk any well-trained driver how to navigate a curve, and they’ll say they
adjust their speed before entering the curve, so they won’t be required to
brake during the curve.
In other words, proper anticipation is the key to moving safely
and smoothly.
Your success, as fleet owners and managers, and our success, as a manufacturer, is just as dependent on properly anticipating curves, in a figurative sense.
At Peterbilt, we recognize that you deal with ever-changing business conditions
and regulations. And those who forecast them and adjust for them before they
arrive succeed. Those who don’t are forced to play catch-up, and soon might not
be negotiating curves at all.
A terrific example of succeeding in a changing environment is Greg Roemer,
who runs a Dallas-based waste disposal business that serves a market where
improvements in efficiency drive profitability (page 8). As proof, Roemer is among
the first to run CNG-powered Peterbilt Model 320s — and figures to save $18,000
in fuel costs per vehicle, per year.
“These trucks aren’t just good for the environment,”
he says of his Model 320s. “They’re good business.”
The new Peterbilt Model 579 promises to provide
another tangible solution for dealing with the inevitable
curves your business will encounter. With outstanding
safety, driver comfort and aerodynamic innovations, the Model 579 will maximize
fuel economy and minimize cost of operations.
TMC Transportation (page 16) is among those who have come away impressed with the new model — so much so that the company has ordered 1,500
Model 579s.
“The bottom line is that the Peterbilt product keeps getting better and better,”
says Jason Webb, Executive Vice-President of Asset Management. “And the Model
579 is clear evidence of that.”
Let Peterbilt help you not only anticipate the curve, but stay well ahead of it.
Let Peterbilt help you not only
anticipate the curve, but stay
well ahead of it.
Editorial director: Cara West • Editor: Bill Laste • Art director: Dale Aspinall • Client services manager: Cyndy Seitz • Publisher: Pete Sobic
First Class is published by Northbrook Custom Media, a division of Randall-Reilly Publishing Company, LLC, on behalf of Peterbilt Motors Company and its dealers. Editorial office: 21420 W. Greenfield Ave., New Berlin, WI 53146.
Phone (262) 650-9260. Printed in the U.S., copyright 2012. Postmaster: Send form 3579 to 21420 W. Greenfield Ave., New Berlin, WI 53146. One-year subscription in the U.S. $12.00; $15.00 in Canada; $25.00 all other countries payable in U.S. funds.
“Agreement Number 1689312”. Change of address or undeliverable copies should be sent to: 1415 Janette Ave., Windsor, Ontario, N8X 1Z1 Canada.
FIRST CLASS l 5
VOLUNTEER EXPRESS
Volunteer Pride
Employee ownership plan ensures that a Peterbilt fleet carries on
W
hen J.B. Baker, owner,
president and CEO of
Nashville based LTL specialist Volunteer Express,
decided in 2011 that the time was right for
the next and final steps in his succession
plan, the script looked pretty familiar.
No one would have been surprised if the end result was another tale of consolidation in the
trucking industry, even if such
a deal could mean Volunteer’s
long standing motto — “Large
6 l FIRST CLASS
Enough to Perform, Small Enough to
Care” — would soon ring hollow. And
it could mean that Volunteer’s signature
fleet of Peterbilts might soon be replaced
with a fleet that represented something
less than the premium service upon which
the Volunteer reputation had been built.
But there soon emerged an option
that ensured the familiar orange and
gray Peterbilts that define the company’s
performance were still on the highways,
and that the Volunteer Express legacy carried on. Quickway Distribution Services,
Inc., a diverse Nashville-based hauler specializing in refrigerated goods hauling,
offered Baker a deal, finalized in October
2012, that resulted in Volunteer associates becoming the new owners of the
company through an Employee Stock
Ownership Plan.
“From that point on, our directive from Quickway has been to continue doing exactly what had helped
make Volunteer so successful in the
past,” says current president and Chief
Operating Officer Ken Hickman, a
The Volunteer Express
fleet also includes about
100 day cabs for the
regional hauls that make
up an LTL carrier’s work
base. The latest additions to this portion of
the fleet are Peterbilt
Model 384s, the lightweight, tight-turning,
fuel-efficient tractor that
Peterbilt designed speKen Hickman (left) and Jeremy
cifically for the regional
Johnson with a Volunteer Express
haul market.
Model 579, here and at far left.
Additionally, about
20 Peterbilt medium-duty
says Baker. “The ‘V’ shape of the grill just
units, in straight-truck
scoots the air out to the sides. The visor
configurations, focus on smaller delivery
channels it off and over the roof. The
and inter-urban routes.
chassis fairings — it’s all about reducing
Getting much of the attention these
air resistance.”
days at Volunteer Express is a new arrival,
the Peterbilt Model 579. Paired with
a PACCAR MX engine, the Model 579
has been getting a workout since it’s
mid-summer arrival at Volunteer. First
in a dedicated route from Nashville to
Cincinnati and now with
a team running it, the
truck has put on 70,000
miles under the close
scrutiny of driver and
fleet management alike.
“The team loves it,” says Larry Baker,
Nashville Shop Manager. “They tell me
it turns on a dime. And the clutch is
air-activated. You can depress it with
your finger.
“The driver on our dedicated route
was very positive about it too. He really
liked the visibility, the placement of the
mirrors and the pulling power.”
What also has Baker impressed is the
fuel economy of the new truck as it has
been an impressive figure considering the
areas in which it has been utilized.
“Everything about this truck is
designed to channel the air around it,”
“Everything about the Model 579 is
designed to channel the air around it.”
25-year veteran at Volunteer Express.
“We retained our identity — a large
part of which is our Peterbilts.”
Model 579 arrival
Volunteer Express has long served its
diverse customer base of retail stores,
manufacturers and distributors in need
of both LTL and truckload services with a
variety of Peterbilt equipment. About half
of the fleet is made up of Peterbilt Model
587s in sleeper configurations. The spacious cabs appeal to the team drivers who
serve the outer points of the company’s
operating niche on the East Coast.
Class impresses
New Director of Maintenance,
Jeremy Johnson, was instantly impressed
by the new Model 579 and the rest of
the Peterbilt fleet.
“Immediately you’re aware of the
class of the equipment,” says Johnson.
“Drivers prefer it, mechanics prefer it,
and you see why. Plus, the support we
receive from PACCAR and Peterbilt has
been phenomenal. Their 1-800 Peterbilt
customer support line has really taken a
burden off us and helped us meet our
service and performance standards.”
And if ever there was any doubt
that Volunteer Express wouldn’t be running business as usual, those fears were
squelched when the company took delivery of 39 new Peterbilts — including the
new Model 579 — this summer.
“If anything, that really sent the message that we were doing business as we
always had,” says Hickman. “Volunteer
is as Volunteer was, and is poised to get
even better.”
FIRST CLASS l 7
COMMUNITY WASTE DISPOSAL
Being the Change
Running Peterbilt CNG vehicles is good business at CWD
W
hen Greg Roemer made
his first sale in the
dumpster business back
in 1980, he charged the
customer $75 a month for a truck,
owned by the company that then
employed him, to empty it regularly
and maintain it.
The world has since changed remarkably for Roemer and the Dallas-based
firm, Community Waste Disposal
(CWD), that he went on to start in 1984.
Now he runs 125 trucks, three of which
are Peterbilts running on emission-free
natural gas engines. He employs 250
people, runs the largest privately held
waste-disposal company in North Texas
and services the entire Dallas Metroplex.
But one thing remains the same: he
still charges close to $75 a month for
dumpster services.
“People ask me how that’s possible,”
says Roemer. “Labor is up, fuel is up,
overhead is up, insurance is up, but we’re
still charging the same rate and making a
profit. How?”
Roemer nods toward one of CWD’s
Peterbilt Model 320s, powered by a
Cummins Westport ISL G engine and
fueled by compressed natural gas (CNG).
The truck is driving out of the yard, ready
to clean up the Metroplex, and leave less
of a carbon footprint than ever before.
“It’s the equipment, that’s how,”
Roemer says. “The equipment has
changed so much, and these Peterbilts
powered by natural gas are a perfect
example of how we’ve managed to continuously improve our efficiency and processes. Routing efficiency has certainly
helped us too, but the equipment is so
much better than it’s ever been.”
Recycling brought change
Roemer has seen evolution in the
waste disposal business since he
decided he had the marketing
know-how and a service plan
sound enough to develop
Greg Roemer, founder and
owner of Community Waste
Disposal in Dallas, marked the
arrival of his CNG-powered
Peterbilt Model 320s with a
celebration.
fork or the other,” he says. “It’s always
turned out to be the correct fork. You
really need the ability to adapt in this
industry, to change quickly if you have to.
That ability has allowed us to maintain
customer loyalty, gain market share, offer
competitive pricing and make a profit.”
Adapting to equipment changes is
a challenge in the industry, according
to Roemer, because the low-mileage,
high-running-time nature of their working day tends to extend equipment life
span. Roemer says he cycles his trucks
“These trucks aren’t just good for the
environment. They’re good business.”
a customer base and
go to work on his own
back in the early 80s.
The advent of recycling
in about 1989 was one
of many changes that
required Roemer to
remain nimble in the
operations of his firm.
“There have been a
number of times over
the years where we’ve
come to crossroads, or forks in
the road, and we
had to take one
out usually after more than nine years
of service.
Roemer has run a wide range of
equipment over the years, and the
Peterbilts have always impressed him by
their reliability.
“That’s at the top of the list regarding performance in this business,” says
Roemer.
With that reliability record in mind,
Roemer began looking for both cleaner
and more efficient ways to run his fleet.
That’s when he came upon natural gas.
“We started researching it about 18
months ago,” he says. “We found we
could get re-fueled at a station about five
miles from here, which is very
important.
“The more we talked to
people about it, the more we
learned about it, the more we
started talking to manufacturers. Eventually we became
convinced that Peterbilt
could build us a truck that would meet
our needs and be cost-effective.”
Payback benefits
In August 2012, Roemer took delivery
of the three new Model 320s and one
new Model 365, all CNG-powered, in a
ceremony attended by T. Boone Pickens,
the well-known financier who is one of
the world’s leading advocates of natural
gas-powered vehicles.
“These trucks aren’t just good for
the environment,” Roemer says. “They’re
good business. They basically eliminate
particulate matter from emissions.
“And they may cost about $30,000
more in upfront costs, but we’re realizing savings of $18,000 a year in fuel.
We’ll have made up the difference in 20
months.”
That kind of math has Roemer excited
about the future. CWD will soon be
building a slow-fill CNG station of their
own at their Dallas headquarters. And all
future equipment purchases will be CNGpowered, which has Fleet Manager Dave
Lucas also excited.
“Mechanically they’re easy for our
guys to maintain and our drivers like driving them,” says Lucas. “The power has
been adequate to perform the job and
we’re even running a little ahead of diesel
equivalent fuel economy. So the fuel savings are even better.”
FIRST CLASS l 9
PACCAR PARTS
Parts
Partner
Complete support for the life of your truck
L
ower operating costs, maximum uptime, and industryleading parts and service
support, when and where it’s
needed. These benefits and more are
what Peterbilt customers can expect
when they partner with PACCAR Parts,
according to PACCAR Vice President
and PACCAR Parts General Manager
Darrin Siver.
“PACCAR Parts’ goal is to provide
the Peterbilt customer – or the operator
of any make of truck – with products
and services that help lower operating costs and increase productivity,”
says Siver. “The bottom line is: Your
Peterbilt dealer and PACCAR Parts can
handle all your parts needs so you can
focus on your core business.”
PACCAR Parts manages more than
200,000 different part numbers, produced by more than 750 different suppliers. Success is defined by the availability
and delivery of the one part a customer
needs to keep them on the road.
“Demonstrating a sense of urgency
is what we’re all about,” says Siver. “Our
business is structured to ensure
that customers have the part they
need, when they need it. And if that
part isn’t immediately available,
we have the global resources and
distribution network to ensure its
delivery usually within 24 hours.”
A proprietary management system helps maximize parts availability at Peterbilt dealerships.
percent of our dealerships in less than
24 hours,” says Siver. PACCAR Parts has
achieved an industry-leading 99.98 percent shipping accuracy through the use
of technology such as bar coding and by
being one of the first in the commercial
vehicle industry to use voice recognition
technology in parts distribution centers.
Effective dealer inventory management
PACCAR Parts uses a proprietary inventory forecasting system based on industry-leading
technology to ensure maximum
parts availability at Peterbilt
dealerships. “We manage inventories based on histories and
what we see on the road ahead,”
says Siver. “Peterbilt dealers
were fully stocked with service
parts to support the new Model
579 before the first truck was
delivered.”
Global distribution & advanced
technology
PACCAR Parts operates seven
distribution centers in North
America and a total of 15 globally, including its newest location
The Customer Center offers specific support, including remote
in Moscow. “We can ship to 95 diagnostic technology, for customers operating PACCAR engines.
Continued on page 12
FIRST CLASS l 11
PACCAR PARTS
Bar coding ensures
near 100% accuracy
in order fulfillment
for PACCAR Parts.
Continued from page 11
Industry-leading parts and
service support
In addition to PACCAR Genuine Parts
and PACCAR MX Engine Parts, PACCAR
Parts provides Peterbilt dealers a full line
of OE vendor brands and TRP aftermarket
parts, designed for all makes of trucks,
trailers and buses. “Customers tell us we
offer the best range of parts brands in the
industry,” Siver says. “We have the part
they need and we can deliver when they
need it.”
Peterbilt customers have peace of
mind knowing that parts supplied by
PACCAR Parts are backed by a nationwide warranty that meets or exceeds what
is offered by competitors. And Peterbilt
customers benefit from technical support
provided by PACCAR Parts dealer training
programs. “We help the dealers become
active partners with their customers,” says
Siver. “We help ensure they know the right
North America that doesn’t charge a fee
for this service.
Siver says the PACCAR Customer
Center handles about 60,000 calls
annually and has helped customers
save costs. “Some fleets were able to
downsize their own assistance programs
because ours worked so well for them,”
Siver says. “Many dispatchers said, ‘If
it’s between 8 and 5, call our center.
small and medium-sized fleets to dealerships in order to ensure efficient part usage
and expedite ordering.
“CONNECT makes it easy to do business with us,” says Siver, noting more
than 1,000 customers use the program
around the world. “We provide customers
information on parts purchases so they
can make better management decisions.
It’s an added value, and another way we
can enable customers to focus
more on their business, and
less on parts management.”
In addition, PACCAR Parts
Fleet Services quickly and easily
enables large fleets to streamline daily operations with consolidated billing, customized
reporting, 24/7 account support and consistent national
pricing on PACCAR-supplied
parts. According to Siver, “The
key is its flexibility – billing and reporting
how you want it, when you want it, in real
time online.”
Free of charge, operators of
any make of truck can call the
PACCAR Customer Center at
1-800-4-PETERBILT, 24/7, 365
days a year.
parts for their customers’ vehicles and
know how to install those parts for lasting
performance.”
Complimentary roadside assistance
Free of charge, operators of any make
of truck can call the PACCAR Customer
Center at 1-800-4-PETERBILT, 24/7, 365
days a year. Featuring bi-lingual agents,
the PACCAR Customer Center works with
dealers to get most customers back on
the road the same day. The PACCAR
Customer Center is the only call center in
12 l FIRST CLASS
During off-hours, call PACCAR.’”
The Customer Center also helps
Peterbilt dealers support customers operating PACCAR MX engines with a dedicated support line that dealer technicians can
call for instant assistance from PACCAR
MX engine specialists using industry-exclusive remote diagnostics technology.
Fleet management services
Customers operating Peterbilt trucks,
or any make, can benefit from CONNECT,
a fleet management technology that links
Unparalleled customer support
“What matters most is getting our customers what they need, when they need
it.” says Siver. “For the life of their ownership experience, PACCAR Parts and the
Peterbilt dealer network are committed to
providing our customers the highest possible level of quality, service and support.
It’s what we do.”
PACCAR PARTS
Rewards for Loyalty Card Holders
PACCAR Parts has announced a new rewards program to
deliver even greater savings on parts and services for Peterbilt
Preferred cardholders.
The Peterbilt Preferred loyalty card program already offers
cardholders significant discounts on parts and services. In
addition to these savings, cardholders now earn bonus
rewards for using their cards on three separate days over a
quarterly period at participating Peterbilt dealers.
“The Peterbilt Preferred card makes it easy for truck and
bus operators to save money,” says Karl Mowat, general marketing manager for PACCAR Parts.
In addition to rewards, which cardholders redeem simply
by using the card at a Peterbilt dealer, Preferred members are
eligible for more than 100 parts and service discount offers.
New rewards offers start each quarter.
For more information, visit Peterbiltpreferred.com, call 888-7228606 or send an email to: Peterbilt.preferred@PACCAR.com.
FIRST CLASS l 13
BOLT TRANSPORT
Success Stories
BOLT Transport followed destiny
T
racy Thomas likes to tell
stories.
For example, there’s the one
about how she became CEO and
majority owner of Bulk or Liquid
Transport, LLC, the Grover
Beach, Calif.-based food-grade
liquid hauler that she operates
with her partner, COO and husband, Mike. That one starts in
the 1970s with Mike going to
work for Tracy’s father’s trucking firm, starting as a yardman.
Tracy, who as a youngster had
watched her father’s career in
trucking grow, eventually took on accounting, safety and customer relations tasks
for the firm, as Mike learned operational
aspects of trucking. Over the years, the
couple developed a deep appreciation for
the trucking industry as well as a knack
for satisfying high-profile, demanding customers. Tracy’s dad eventually retired and
another party assumed ownership of the
company, and by 2006, the Thomases
made the decision to operate their own
business.
That leads to the story about the
couple walking into a Peterbilt dealership. Their years of experience with various
truck manufacturers had convinced them
a superior quality fleet was essential. But
their equity to obtain one consisted largely
of a love of trucking, a hard-earned reputation from years in the industry, a business
plan and — perhaps — the destiny that
Tracy follow in her dad’s footsteps to ownership of her own firm.
At the end of the day – July 15, 2006 –
the Thomases had 16 Peterbilt Model 386s
at their disposal, leased through PACLease.
14 l FIRST CLASS
LIKING WHAT THEY DO
Clearly, Mike and Tracy Thomas enjoy being
in the trucking business. But the stylish, allPeterbilt fleet of the bulk food-grade liquid hauler
signifies a deeper appreciation for the industry
than one might expect.
“Trucking is a very exciting industry to be
part of,” says Tracy. “It’s just so important. It’s
the industry that feeds America.
“We’re just very proud of what we contribute, and what this fleet of trucks represents.”
“I remember it well,” says Tracy. “The
guy shook our hand and said ‘I believe in
you. Let’s do it.’”
“Since then, it’s been an awesome ride.”
Fleet growth
Today, the BOLT (an acronym for
Bulk or Liquid Transport) fleet has
grown to 21 power units and 22 foodgrade liquid trailers that operate out of
terminals in Ogden, Utah; Lynwood,
Calif.; and Phoenix, Ariz. Their average
length of haul tops out at 150 miles
as they deliver liquid sweeteners for
some of the nation’s largest food
processors, whom they convinced
early on to take a chance on the
fledgling company.
Today, their truck of choice is
the Peterbilt Model 384 day cab,
which is well-suited for the type
of regional haul in which BOLT
specializes, particularly with its
light chassis weight.
“Payload is so important to us,” says
Mike, noting that the density of the liquids (more than 11 lbs./gal) they haul
means they can deliver up to 55,000 lbs.
of product in a 5,100-gallon tank. “The
chassis weight of these Peterbilts as well
as the efficient size and design of the
PACCAR MX engine allow us to maximize
our payloads.”
Also important to the Thomases
is the appearance of their equipment.
They know that image is key in foodgrade hauling, so their tanks are always
sparkling. But the cab, factory painted
in what Mike likes to call “Corvette
Yellow,” is the real attention stealer,
so much that it powers their driver
recruitment/retention
program.
“People see our
equipment on the road,
and they ask about working for us,” says Tracy.
“We don’t advertise.
Drivers come to us and
really become ambassadors for the company once they’re here.”
Literally, according to Mike.
“We had one guy who kept seeing our
equipment on the road, and he wanted
to know more about working for us just
based on its appearance,” he recalls. “So
one day he just followed our truck right
into the yard.”
Improving fuel economy
Mike also notes unexpected results
in fuel economy. As his drivers adjust to
maximizing torque and operational efficiencies with the PACCAR MX, Mike says
“People see our Peterbilt equipment
on the road and they ask about
working for us. We don’t advertise.”
some of their routes see averages of 7.5
miles per gallon.
With a Peterbilt fleet helping Mike
address operational challenges such as
fuel economy, driver retention and payload, Tracy has been free to look at other
ways to bring value to customers. Her
commitment to certification from the
Women’s Business Enterprise National
Council, for example, has helped several
of her customers achieve supplier diversity
goals. Additionally, her drive in becoming
a SmartWay Transport Partner is a benefit to customers as well.
“Our scores have just been phenomenal,” she says. “The Selective Catalytic
Reduction technology used in the
PACCAR MX, our fuel mileage improvements — I’m really excited to see what we
can do in the future. Our goal is to achieve
a Carrier Partner Excellence Award.
“It’s a voluntary program — we don’t
have to do it but we do,” she adds.
“It’s important to our customers to be
partnered with a fleet that works toward
such a goal.”
SM
The Peterbilt Model 384 delivers maximum payload, outstanding fuel
economy and cost-efficient operation for BOLT Transport in Phoenix.
FIRST CLASS l 15
TMC TRANSPORTATION
Following Leaders
TMC readies for conversion to new Model 579
T
MC Transportation is accustomed to leadership.
For example, the Des
Moines, Iowa-based firm is
the largest privately held flatbed carrier in the nation. Its
The Peterbilt Model 579 is soon
to become standard in the TMC
Transportation fleet.
16 l FIRST CLASS
driver hospitality center is the first
in the industry to provide premium
lodging and an upscale level of services. And it’s long been a leader in
embracing safety technology, being
among the first to install radar-
based collision avoidance systems
on all its tractors.
So it should be no surprise that
TMC took delivery of the first Model
579, the innovative new Peterbilt
that embodies the latest in aerody-
namic science, driver comfort, safety and
operational efficiency, and has placed an
order for 1,500 more.
“This will eventually be our standard
fleet truck,” says Rod Simon, Executive
Vice President of Maintenance. “We’re
excited about so many of the features the
Model 579 offers — and so are our drivers. It’s definitely a driver’s truck.”
Adds Jason Webb, Executive VicePresident of Asset Management, “We’ve
long been a Peterbilt fleet, so we’ve
always had a saying around here. We
call it ‘pride in your ride.’ And that’s a
theme that will continue here well into
the future.”
Fuel economy improvements
It’s more than pride that has Simon
and Webb looking forward to the integration of the Model 579 into the TMC
fleet, mostly made up of traditionalconventional Peterbilts. There are
tangible, bottom-line benefits as
well, starting with fuel economy.
The variable nature of flatbed
loads often creates fuel efficiency
challenges for TMC, but both
Simon and Webb have watched
closely the performance of their
first Model 579, and are expecting
significant improvements in fuel economy
when new Model 579s arrive.
“Everything’s pointing to us realizing
an 8 percent improvement with the
Model 579,” says Webb. “The
contours in the
hood, the mirror and visor design — there
are several features where you can tell
Peterbilt engineers spent a lot of time in
the wind tunnel with this truck.”
“And we have customers who are paying attention to our fuel economy, too,
through the SmartWay program.”
TMC personnel have long been
impressed with Peterbilt’s reliability
record, and expect no change in that area
with the Model 579. Maintenance will see
a few changes — but in the end, that task,
which TMC performs nearly entirely at
PM + resale
A stringent preventive maintenance
program along with Peterbilt’s industryleading residual value has helped TMC resell its equipment with an excellent return
in the past. The usual sell point was at
around 500,000 miles, but that might be
about to change.
“First of all, we maintain our trucks at
retail standards,” says Webb. “Whether
they’re at 50,000 miles or 500,000 miles,
you’re not going to be able to tell the difference, and that’s important.
“But what we’re learning
about the Peterbilt product
is that we can realize a lower
total cost of ownership by
running them longer. They
just keep going, and they hold
their value longer. The bottom
line is the product keeps getting better and better, and the
Model 579 is clear evidence
of that.”
TMC has long been a
driver’s destination, certain“Everything is pointing to us
ly due in part to the equipment the company operrealizing an 8% fuel economy
Simon says they’re
improvement with the Model 579.” ates.
targeted by a large number
of drivers straight out of
its own terminals, should become more
driving school, but the reactions from the
efficient, too.
veterans used to running “long and tall”
“There are a few things different with
Peterbilts has been interesting to watch.
this truck, but a lot of these changes
“Sure, there are some guys who say,
will make maintenance easier,” says
‘Give me my hood,’ but we’ve had hunSimon. “Things are easier to get to, more
dreds of drivers in and out of the Model
accessible.
579 here. They like the comfort, the
“And I have no doubt that Peterbilt
wide opening between the cab and the
will help us on our learning curve with
sleeper, the cabinet layout, the dash laythis new truck and provide us the supout, the standard disc brakes. And with
port we need.”
the low windows, they really like the
visibility. It’s clearly a very comfortable
SM
Continued on page 18
FIRST CLASS l 17
DEALER NEWS
Following Leaders
Continued from page 17
truck. And it’s a very safe truck.”
And engineered into all of it is
class, for which both Peterbilt and
TMC have long stood.
“It’s got that image, something
we’ve always taken a lot of pride
in,” says Webb. “It means something to our drivers, and it means
something to our customers. And
with the Model 579, that’s going to
continue.”
Thanks — and Jobs —
for Veterans
TMC Transportation is among thousands of American companies that
offer their gratitude to military service men and women.
But the Des Moines, Iowa,
flatbed carrier is taking their gratitude one step further by offering
veterans a job. TMC founder, CEO
and Chairman Harrold Annett has
pledged to hire 500 veterans — in
addition to the 600 already on its
payroll — by 2014 as part of the U.S.
Chamber of Commerce Hiring Our
Heroes program.
“We’re known for regimented
operations and premium quality equipment,” says Jason Webb,
Executive Vice-President of Asset
Management. “I think we provide a
perfect working environment for our
veterans. You’ll see a lot of parallels
between the military, TMC and the
pride we have in our service and our
Peterbilt equipment.”
18 l FIRST CLASS
Peterbilt Recognizes Parts and Service
Dealer Achievements
A
llstate Peterbilt of Fargo has
been named the 2011 North
American Parts and Service
Dealer of the Year. Don Larson,
dealer principal of Allstate Peterbilt of
Fargo, accepted the award at the recent
annual Parts and Service Meeting. The
award recognizes overall excellence in parts
and service performance while enhancing
business operations with the integration
of new Peterbilt technology and product
offerings. In 2011 Allstate Peterbilt of
Fargo was also recognized as a Platinum
Oval Dealer Award Winner.
“Allstate Peterbilt of Fargo is committed to being best in class and their customers have come to rely on that high level of
quality customer service,” says Bill Kozek,
Peterbilt general manager and PACCAR
vice president. “They embody the Peterbilt
brand and continuously exceed their customer’s needs.”
Originally founded in 1971, the
Allstate Peterbilt Group has grown from
a single location to 16, providing an
expanded footprint to support their large
customer base.
“We are all honored to be recognized
as the 2011 North American Parts and
Service Dealer of the Year,” said Larson.
“Our Fargo team is highly trained and
dedicated to meeting the needs of our customers and providing the best customer
service possible.”
Darrin Siver, PACCAR vice president
and PACCAR Parts general manager, says,
“Allstate Peterbilt of Fargo scored near or
at the top of every standards of excellence
category. Their parts counter staff are
exceptional and resourceful, and their service department and body shop are always
full, as they’re recognized as the best shops
in the area.”
Peterbilt also named its Platinum Oval
and Best in Class Parts and Service Award
winners to recognize dealer excellence and
outstanding achievements in customer
support, parts and service operations,
facilities and financial performance.
Platinum Oval Award winners:
The Peterbilt Store – North Georgia
Peterbilt of Sioux City
Stahl Peterbilt – Grande Prairie
Peterbilt Manitoba – Winnipeg
Rush Peterbilt Truck Center – Tyler
Peterbilt Pacific – Kamloops
Best in Class Award winners:
Stahl Peterbilt – Edmonton
Rush Peterbilt Truck Center – Houston
JX Peterbilt – Bloomington
Peterbilt of Council Bluffs
Hunter Peterbilt – Smithfield
“These dealerships consistently deliver
excellent parts and service support to our
customers, and they continually exceed
their goals by performing at the highest
levels,” says Kozek.
Peterbilt dealers were recognized for
excellence in the support and sales of the
TRP brand of all-makes parts for trucks,
trailers and buses. Camions Excellence
Peterbilt was named the 2011 TRP AllMakes Dealer of the Year for North America.
The TRP Trailer Dealer of the Year was
Rush Peterbilt Truck Center – Denver, and
the TRP Bus Dealer of the Year was MidAmerica Peterbilt in O’Fallon, Missouri.
This year, three new awards recognized dealers for their creativity and
innovation in marketing, effective use
of the CONNECT system and engine
parts and service excellence. The Parts
and Service Marketing Dealer of the Year
was Peterbilt Ontario Truck Centres,
the CONNECT Dealer of the Year was
Allstate Peterbilt of Winona and the
Engine Parts and Service Dealer of the
Year was The Peterbilt Store – Knoxville.
MODEL 320
to withstand the rigors of the jobs
they perform.”
The Model 320 cab is available in left-hand, right-hand and
dual drive with right-hand stand-up
configurations. An industry-leading, 65-degree cab tilt enhances
maintenance and serviceability. The
Model 320 offers a full range of
axle selections in single, tandem or
tri-drive configurations, plus a full
complement of tag and pusher axle
options and a tandem steer front
axle configuration rated at 36,000
pounds. For heavier applications,
optional frame liners are available.
Quality, reliability, and continuous product enhancements have
contributed to customer satisfaction and increased demand.
P
eterbilt Motors Company has set a company production record for their popular Model 320. The low-cabforward vehicle, ideally suited for vocational markets
including refuse, construction, tanker and fire service
applications, is designed to facilitate specialized body installations and provide a comfortable work environment with the
durability required to operate in extremely harsh conditions.
“We are very proud to reach this Model 320 production
milestone, increasing our production by 33 percent over the
previous record year, which serves as an indication our custom-
“The Peterbilt Model 320 offers reliability
and the durability to withstand the rigors
of the jobs they perform.”
ers recognize the benefits and value this product offers,” says Bill
Kozek, Peterbilt General Manager and PACCAR Vice President.
“Peterbilt is a leader in developing solutions for the vocational
markets, and the Model 320 is a unique product that spans a
wide range of applications. From inner-city streets to landfills,
and from jet fuels to concrete pumpers, where the worksites
require excellent visibility for operators, the Model 320 offers
the reliability to operate day in and day out and the durability
FIRST CLASS l 19
PACCAR ENGINES
Peterbilt Product Line Features
Next-Generation PACCAR Engines
P
eterbilt Motors Company now
offers the next generation of
PACCAR engines, developed
to meet the Environmental
Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2013 emissions requirements.
The PACCAR MX-13, PACCAR
PX-9 and PACCAR PX-7 engines are
designed to maximize fuel efficiency,
Vice President. “The new PACCAR
engines were developed to combine
increased fuel economy with industry
leading reliability, resulting in maximum
operating efficiency.”
PACCAR MX-13
The PACCAR MX-13 engine is characterized by its combination of proven technologies and a large number of
state-of-the-art innovations
sors and actuators also play an important role in this respect, functioning
faster with increased precision to ensure
that the best possible mixture of air,
fuel and exhaust gases are used at all
times,” said Landon Sproull, Peterbilt
Chief Engineer. “Our testing indicates
significant fuel economy improvements
that will further improve operational
costs for our customers.”
The PACCAR MX-13 is available in
“The new PACCAR engines were
developed to combine increased fuel economy with industry-leading reliability, resulting in maximum efficiency.”
reliability and provide a low total cost
of ownership. The PACCAR engine lineup will be available in Peterbilt’s complete range of medium-and heavy-duty
products beginning in 2013.
“The integration of PACCAR engines
into Peterbilt vehicles provides an outstanding solution to our customer’s
operational needs,” says Bill Kozek,
Peterbilt General Manager and PACCAR
20 l FIRST CLASS
that improve fuel economy.
The PACCAR MX-13 engine is designed
to meet the demands of heavy-duty truck
applications in both vocational trucks and
on-highway tractors. It’s available in a
wide range of horsepower ratings starting at 380 with torque offerings up to
1,450 pounds.
Additional PACCAR MX-13 engine
enhancements include a common
rail fuel system that maintains injection pressures of 2,500 bar, providing improved efficiency. The result is
finer fuel atomization and more ways
to optimize combustion, ensuring the
lowest possible fuel consumption,
emission and noise levels.
“The advanced engine software, sen-
Peterbilt’s all new Model 579 combining
Peterbilt’s aerodynamic craftsmanship
and innovation with the quiet operation,
increased fuel efficiency, and unprecedented reliability of the new PACCAR
engine.
The Model 579 offers luxury automotive comfort with its wide, spacious cab,
easy-to-reach controls and exceptional visibility, and the detachable sleeper
design adds versatility and the longevity
to the vehicle’s second life for highest
resale value.
The MX-13 is also available in
Peterbilt’s aerodynamic Models 587,
386 and 384, as well as its traditional
and vocational line-up that includes the
Models 389, 388, 367 and 365.
PACCAR ENGINES
operational costs and maximizes
uptime for medium-duty customers. The PACCAR PX-7 is available in horsepower ratings from
200 to 325hp and offers up to
750 lb/ft. of torque.
The PX-7 is available in Peterbilt’s
entire medium-duty product line including
Models 330, 325, and Models 210 / 220,
which are ideal for pickup and delivery,
towing, refrigerated van, roll-off and landscaping applications.
PACCAR PX-9
The PACCAR PX-9 engine has one
of the highest power-to-weight ratios in
its class, with heavy-duty features like
replaceable wet liners, roller cam followers, bypass oil filtration and targeted piston-cooling. The PACCAR PX-9 engine
is available in both medium and heavyduty configurations with horsepower ratings from 260 to 380hp and provides up
to 1,250 lb/ft. of torque.
The PX-9 is available in Peterbilt’s
regional haul Model 382, specialty application market Model 348, and the Model
320, a low-cab-forward vehicle specializing in refuse markets.
PACCAR PX-7
The PACCAR PX-7 engine delivers superior performance, minimizes
FIRST CLASS l 21
PETERBILT NEWS
Horne Honored at UTA Convention
Peterbilt Motors Company is
pleased to announce that Tom Horne
of Hunter Peterbilt has been posthumously awarded the Marvin F. Gordon
Lifetime Achievement Award at this
year’s 2012 Used Truck Association
(UTA) Convention. Horne’s wife Amy
and his eldest son Samuel accepted the
award on Tom’s behalf.
“Tom’s performance throughout the
years was outstanding,” says Mike Conroy,
Peterbilt Director of Dealer Network
Development. “He has served as an exceptional representative for Hunter Peterbilt,
the used truck industry and exemplified
Peterbilt’s commitment to class.”
Each year, the UTA Marvin F. Gordon
Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes
an individual who has made numerous
and significant contributions to the used
truck industry.
Peterbilt
Calendars
Available
The 2013 Peterbilt calendar is now
available for purchase. This year’s calendar showcases the legendary models capturing Peterbilt’s image of class.
“Every year we choose locations that
are visually unique and complement the
styling of the vehicles,” says Bill Kozek,
Peterbilt General Manager and PACCAR
Vice President. “The 2013 calendar is ideal
for customers and Peterbilt enthusiasts.”
Peterbilt’s calendar is available in two
formats. The oversized wall calendar features six beautiful truck images with two
months per truck image, measures 28 x
26 inches and costs $15.95. The spiral
bound appointment calendar featuring
12 unique truck images measures 12 7/8 x
9 3/4 inches and cost $10.95.
Prices do not include shipping and
handling. Orders are shipped within 48
hours of receipt via priority mail.
“This year’s calendar highlights the
trucks in their natural working environment,” says Robert Woodall, Peterbilt
Director of Sales & Marketing.
The calendars can be purchased at
http://www.peterbilt.com or through
Peterbilt dealers. Quantities are limited,
and sale of the calendars may not extend
beyond January. They are only available
for purchase in North America.
22 l FIRST CLASS
FIRST CLASS l
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PETERBILT MOTORS COMPANY
DENTON, TX
(940) 591-4000
HORSHAM, PA
(215) 773-2990
NASHVILLE, TN
(615) 208-1800
SAN RAMON, CA
(925) 830-4900
SCHAUMBURG, IL
(847) 310-9939
MISSISSAUGA, ON
(905) 858-7090
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