Peterbilt News

[kscarbel2]

Peterbilt Predicts 15% Market Share for 2017

Heavy Duty Trucking  /  March 22, 2017

Peterbilt Motors predicts the truckmaker could top 15% market share this year.

Kyle Quinn, Paccar senior vice president and Peterbilt general manager, noted the company sold 36,000 units in 2016 for a market share in Class 8 of 13.4% -- it's fourth highest production year.

"We're taking steps to set a new market share record of 15% in 2017," he said. "We are well positioned to accomplish this, as we have achieved market share north of 16% in both of the first two months of this year."

Quinn predicts the North American Class 8 truck build for 2017 will be somewhere between 190,000 and 220,000 units, with much or that strength coming from the vocational segment.

"If you look at where we've been in the past three years, for example, the energy business has been soft, but during that period of time we raised the percentage of fleet market share, moving from 23% fleets to 38% fleets," Quinn said. "So, as the energy sector improves, we will see the return of those vocational energy bids. And that will come on top of already good performance this year and late last year on vocational orders."

Peterbilt expects its medium duty business to remain strong at 85,000 units, and Quinn noted that orders are so far keeping pace with expectations.

Overall, Quinn said he expects the industry to continue gaining strength based on solid fundamentals:

• Freight tonnage is near record levels and is expected to grow by another two percent.

• Fourth quarter of 16 and early 17 prices are improving in the spot freight market.

• Over the past few months the energy sector has been gaining strength and the rig count is up from the bottom in 2016.

• The legislative agenda is showing some promise that could provide economic lift as renewed infrastructure spending and improving energy policy may provide new demand in both vocational and the energy business.

• Tax relief could help buoy customer sentiment and generate higher investment in capital goods.

• The market has strengthened since the election and quoting activity indicates that is could continue further into the year.

Last year, MX engines found their way into 26,500 Peterbilt chassis representing more than 48% of the truckmakers engine sales mix.

[kscarbel2]

Peterbilt boosts 579 fuel economy by 8%

Fleet Owner  /  March 22, 2017

New used-truck warranty, Allison line-haul transmission option

Changes to the Peterbilt Model 579 Epiq for the 2018 model year improve fuel efficiency by 8% compared to 2017 models, according to the company.

Peterbilt has also announced a new warranty for its certified used truck program and availability of a new Allison automatic transmission.

Half of the increase in fuel economy comes from updates to the Paccar MX-13 and MX-11 engines paired with Eaton Fuller Advantage automated transmissions, according to Peterbilt general manager Kyle Quinn. Predictive cruise control with neutral coasting accounts for an additional 3%, and a new Paccar 40,000-lb. tandem drive axle contributes 1%, he said.

Driver comfort has also been addressed in the 2018 version of Peterbilt’s line-haul tractor with new auto stop/start functionality for its No-Idle sleeper AC system, new interior color options, and a larger sleeper window.

In other news from the company’s press conference,tThe Peterbilt Red Oval certified used-truck program will now offer a one-year, 125,000-mi. warranty on Paccar MX engines and aftertreatment system, as well as a 90-day buyers assurance plan covering major chassis components. Red Oval certified trucks undergo a 150-point inspection before being reconditioned and serviced with a DPF cleaning and oil change.

Later this year, the company will add the fully automatic Allison TC10 transmission as an option for the Model 579 and Model 567.  Designed for regional and line-haul heavy-duty tractor applications, the torque converter 10-speed has been optimized for down-speeding to increase fuel economy, and requires no scheduled maintenance for 500,000 mi.  It can handle up to 1,850 lbs. ft. torque and 110,000 lbs. GCW, and comes with a 5-year, 750,000-mi. warranty.

Peterbilt also announced that it is making the Bendix Wingman Advanced collision mitigation system standard on the Model 579 beginning in the third quarter of the year. The system alerts drivers when it detects objects in the lane ahead and can reduce the severity of rear-end collisions with advanced braking technology.  It also provides drivers with adaptive cruise control.

Another future option is the availability of the FlowBelow Tractor AeroKit for the Model 579 beginning next month. The system combines center and rear fairings with wheel covers to deliver up to a 2% increase in fuel economy, according to the manufacturer.

[kscarbel2]

Peterbilt grows fleet sales, looks to build on strong 2016

Truck News  /  March 22, 2017

Peterbilt in 2016 opened 25 new dealerships for the third year in a row and produced more than 36,000 trucks – the fourth highest tally in its history.

Kyle Quinn, senior vice-president of Paccar and general manager of Peterbilt, provided a recap of the truck maker’s year during a press conference at the Mid-America Trucking Show. He said Peterbilt achieved a 13.4% share of the Class 8 market in 2016. More than 48% of its trucks were sold with Paccar MX engines. It also set a record for plant quality.

The company plans to grow its Class 8 retail market share to 15% in 2017, and Quinn said he’s confident this will be achieved, since January and February orders showed a 16% share. Asked where the company will gain share, Quinn said “As the energy sector improves, we see a return of those vocational trucks. We’ve had good performance this year and late last year for vocational orders and as the vocational and energy markets strengthen, we will see some return there.”

Peterbilt has been focusing on improving its fleet sales, in response to consolidation within the trucking industry. Fleet sales now represent 37% of Peterbilt’s orders, up from 23% three years ago.

“Our growth in fleet sales is making a big difference in the landscape of customers Peterbilt services today,” said Quinn. It plans to grow that number to 38% this year.

Peterbilt’s Denton plant has received $100 million in investments, and is now churning out the highest quality trucks in its history, Quinn said.

The company’s SmartLinq remote diagnostics platform has been rolled out on more than 27,000 Peterbilt trucks and now includes Cummins engine coverage. Service Management is being added to provide dealers and fleets with more insight into vehicles’ repair histories. Fleets will be able to grant approvals online to expedite the service process.

Petebilt revamped its Red Oval used truck program and is offering one-year, 125,000-mile warranties on qualifying trucks, which undergo a 150-point inspection.

Scott Newhouse, Peterbilt’s chief engineer, said the Model 579 EPIQ package will boast 8% better fuel economy, thanks to a new Paccar 40,000-lb tandem axle and improvements in engine design. Key areas of focus on the MX-13 included the turbo, coolant water pump and air management within the cylinder.

All trucks now come with a single canister exhaust aftertreatment system, which provides a 100-lb weight savings. The 579 and 567 now have a sleeper window that’s 40% larger, allowing more ambient light.

Peterbilt is making available the Allison TC10 automatic transmission in the third quarter of this year. It is suitable for regional and linehaul applications with gross combination weights of up to 110,000 lbs.

Another new offering is FlowBelow’s wheel covers and rear and center wheel fairings, available on the 579.

[kscarbel2]

Peterbilt Sets Dealer Growth Record, Completes Denton Plant Expansion

Heavy Duty Trucking  /  March 22, 2017

Peterbilt has added a record number of 93 new dealers to its network over the past four years. In addition, many existing locations have been expanded or upgraded, vastly enhancing the responsiveness and coverage of the network, Peterbilt said at the press conference here at the Mid-America Trucking Show.

“Peterbilt has greatly increased our footprint in the industry to the benefit of our customers,” says Robert Woodall, Peterbilt assistant general manager of Sales and Marketing. “The network expansion results in higher levels of service and enhanced parts availability, which translates into increased uptime and greater profitability for Peterbilt customers.”

The dealer groups are committed to growing their footprint to support customers and to deliver the highest levels of service and support.

“New capabilities and expanded service bay count will also contribute to enhanced customer satisfaction," noted Peyton Harrell, Peterbilt director of dealer network development. "All Peterbilt dealerships throughout the U.S. and Canada are now certified in the Rapid Check program, which guarantees fast and accurate service diagnostics.”

To keep product flowing smoothly to those new dealer locations, the company has just completed a major expansion of its Denton, Texas manufacturing facility.

“The expansion investment is the largest made by Peterbilt since the plant construction,” said Leon Handt, assistant general manager of operations at Peterbilt. “We’re committed to manufacturing the industry’s highest quality vehicles. Growing the Denton plant’s footprint allows us to increase our manufacturing efficiency and positions us for future growth.”

The final expansion phase concluded in January with the opening of a new 102,000 square-foot Test Building. All testing and validation have been relocated to the new test building, which allows a more efficient process flow.

The building features a new dynamometer capable of handling all truck configurations, as well as two new paint booths. Total test capacity has been increased by 75 percent, Peterbilt says.

The Automated Storage Retrieval System (ASRS) is located in the building’s second level above the cab and sleeper trim sections. The system has enough capacity to hold 400 painted hoods, sleepers and cabs.

The opening of the test building and start of operations of the ASRS mark the conclusion of the three-phase expansion project started in 2015 to increase efficiency and quality throughout the Peterbilt Denton plant. In 2015, new shipping and receiving docks were added to the East and West sides of the plant in the first phase of the project.

With the conclusion of all three phases, the production square footage of the plant has increased to 600,000 square feet.

[kscarbel2]

Peterbilt Expands Next Generation Chassis Routing

Trailer/Body Builders  /  March 23, 2017

Peterbilt implemented its engineered routings in all configurations of the Models 579 and 567 as well as in the iconic Model 389, further enhancing serviceability across its product lines.

“Thanks to the innovative features of the engineered chassis routings, Peterbilt customers will enjoy enhanced ease of repair and maintenance,” said Scott Newhouse, Peterbilt Chief Engineer. “Peterbilt has taken great strides to improve product quality with the implementation of the engineered routings, which provide consistent manufacturability, improved product quality and improved serviceability.”

The engineered routings bundle each system (air, fuel and electrical) separately, allowing easier identification and service by technicians. Routing enhancements are standard with orders specifying 2017 emissions engines.

[kscarbel2]

Allison TC10 Available for Kenworth, Peterbilt Trucks Later this Year

Heavy Duty Trucking  /  March 23, 2017

Allison Transmissions has announced that its TC10 transmission will be available from Paccar later this year in the Kenworth T680 and T880, and Peterbilt 567 and 579 truck models.

The fully automatic TC10 combines Allison’s torque converter with a twin countershaft gear scheme. The company said this combination provides both full power shifts and cruising fuel economy for greater productivity and efficiency. The transmission is well-suited for distribution applications in which the tractor-trailer splits its work cycle between city and highway conditions.

"The TC10 combines the startability and continuous, uninterrupted power shifting qualities of a fully automatic transmission with the cruising aspects of a manual transmission," said Heidi Schutte, Allison’s vice president of marketing and sales for the Americas. “Simply put, drivers don’t have to be experts at shifting because the TC10 shifts for them at exactly the right point to maintain vehicle performance and maximize fuel economy, thereby allowing the driver to focus their attention on the road.”

Fleets adopting the TC10 and sharing data with Allison are reporting an average fuel economy improvement of 5% when compared to other transmission technologies. With FuelSense technology, a unique package of software and electronic controls, the TC10 is designed to achieve the best fuel economy in most situations, according to Allison.

The Allison TC10 includes a standard warranty of five years or 750,000 miles, with no exclusions on individual components and no scheduled maintenance for 500,000 miles.

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[kscarbel2]

Peterbilt’s Chassis Routings Improve Serviceability

Heavy Duty Trucking  /  March 24, 2017

Peterbilt has implemented newly engineered routings in all configurations of the Models 579 and 567 as well as in the Model 389 to enhance serviceability across product lines.

The engineered routings bundle each system-- air, fuel, and electrical-- separately, to allow easier identification and service by technicians. These routing enhancements are standard with orders specifying 2017 emissions engines.

“Thanks to the innovative features of the engineered chassis routings, Peterbilt customers will enjoy enhanced ease of repair and maintenance,” said Scott Newhouse, Peterbilt chief engineer. “Peterbilt has taken great strides to improve product quality with the implementation of the engineered routings, which provide consistent manufacturability, improved product quality and improved serviceability.”

Peterbilt also announced the introduction of the Paccar Engine Pre-Owned Warranty for Peterbilt Red Oval-certified truck customers.The warranty is offered and administered through Peterbilt dealers and Paccar Financial USed Truck Centers, providing protection for the MX engine and aftertreatment system for one year and 125,000 miles and a 90-day buyer assurance plan covering major chassis components.

Peterbilt Red Oval Certified vehicles pass a comprehensive 150-point factory certified inspection performed by factory-trained service technicians. All Red Oval certified trucks are reconditioned and serviced, including DPF cleaning and an oil and filter change. Additionally, every Red Oval truck is DOT-certified.

“With the Paccar Engine Pre-Owned Warranty, Peterbilt further enhances the Red Oval certified program,” said Robert Woodall, Peterbilt assistant general manager of sales and marketing. “Buyers of Red Oval certified trucks benefit from additional  assurance of the MX engines’ proven durability and reliability.”

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[kscarbel2]

Peterbilt Model 579 Updates Aimed at Fuel Economy

Heavy Duty Trucking  /  March 24, 2017

Peterbilt has made changes to the Model 579 Epiq package that it says deliver an 8% fuel economy improvement for the 2018 model year.

For the 2018 model year, Peterbilt’s Model 579 Epiq is available with the Paccar [DAF] MX-13 and MX-11 engines and is paired with the Fuller Advantage automated transmission, offering a wide range of horsepower and torque ratings. Fuel economy improvement resulting from the 2017 MX engines is up to 4% over the prior model year.

The new Paccar engines are also lighter by 50 pounds than previous options and offer extended service intervals, leading to more uptime and lower maintenance costs over the life of the vehicle, according to Peterbilt.

Predictive Cruise Control on the MX engine provides additional fuel economy improvements of up to 3%, according to Peterbilt. By optimizing the truck’s speed based on the terrain, Predictive Cruise Control allows the truck to operate in the most efficient manner for the situation.

The recently introduced Paccar 40,000-pound tandem drive axle is also standard with the Model 579 for linehaul applications. Its design optimizes power distribution and has fewer parts for reduced maintenance, greater reliability and a 150-pound weight savings. It features a through-shaft design that optimizes power flow in the forward rear axle for better efficiency and less oil churning losses, resulting in a 1% fuel economy improvement.

Peterbilt has also introduced new interior color options, automatic interior temperature control for the Model 579 and several other features to improve driver comfort, the company said.

“Peterbilt trucks and Paccar MX engines are optimized to deliver unprecedented levels of value,” said Kyle Quinn, Peterbilt general manager and Paccar senior vice president. “The newest generation of Paccar MX engines and powertrain technologies once again raises the bar for fuel efficiency, performance and reliability, resulting in the lowest cost of ownership in the industry.”

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[Bullheaded]

I found out why all the improvements to Paccar products. Did you hear about the acquisition?

[kscarbel2]

If Paccar was on the market, which it isn't, Volkswagen would be the buyer.

The continual product improvements at Peterbilt are all about being competitive......producing a great truck. Take a tour of their Denton, Texas plant and you'll see for yourself.

https://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/36531-paccar-no-merger-talks-with-vw/