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2 hours ago, logtruckman said:

I read one of the articles about the 990 and a big wig at kenworth said the w900 is staying in production.

Good to hear. Glad that it was more than a rumor. We have enough ugly trucks to choose from already. 

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Kenworth Touts New W990 at Las Vegas Media Event

Joe Antoshak, Transport Topics  /  September 28, 2018

Kenworth Truck Co. introduced a new long-hood conventional Class 8 tractor at a media event at Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sept. 27.

The Kenworth W990 will be available as a day cab as well as with 40-inch flat top and 52-inch and 76-inch midroof sleeper configurations. Standard power will come from a Paccar MX-13 engine, with ratings up to 510 horsepower and 1,850 pound-feet of torque. Standard equipment includes Paccar’s proprietary 12-speed automated transmission and 40K tandem rear axles.

“We are passionate about our products, our customers that depend on them, and the drivers that operate them,” Mike Dozier, Kenworth general manager and Paccar vice president, said in a news release.

“We know that there are many customers and drivers out there who share our passion.”

The new truck is built on the same 2.1-meter cab platform used in the Kenworth T680 and T880, with style options including a limited edition cab and sleeper interior, and the W990 Driver’s Studio package of premium options.

“The Kenworth W990’s excellent performance, classical styling, premium finishes and lifestyle amenities underscore a sense of driver achievement and pride,” Dozer said. “We are driven to provide the best equipment in the industry to get the job done.”

Audio entertainment components include a 320-watt amp, 10-inch subwoofer and eight speakers. A swivel TV mount can accommodate up to a 28-inch flat screen, and prewire for satellite TV is an option.

The Driver’s Studio offers a 180-degree swivel passenger seat and rotating table for two, a refrigerator and a space that can fit a microwave. The sleeper boasts ample LED lighting, and under the lower bunk there is room for a full-size wardrobe, multiple drawers and more storage.

The W990 also features an 1,800-watt inverter that includes shore power connection and four standard 120-volt sleeper outlets. The truck is standard with Kenworth’s TruckTech+ remote diagnostics system, and the Kenworth NAV+HD 7-inch in-dash display gives access to truck-specific navigation, roadside assistance, vehicle data, hands-free calling, audio control, blind-spot camera inputs and the internet.

For design director, developing the Kenworth W990 a balance of emotions

Neil Abt, Fleet Owner  /  September 30, 2018

When Jonathan Duncan, director of design for Kenworth Trucks, and his team set out to create the next generation of the W900, he said they were facing “more emotional than functional details.”

Since its debut in 1961, the W900 had bas been a vehicle that “makes other truckers stare and nod their heads in appreciation,” he said.

After working on the project for more than two years, the new W990 was unveiled Sept. 27 at the Las Vegas Speedway during an event for fleet and dealer representatives.  

“The Kenworth W990 represents the pride, image and freedom of trucking, and captures the spirit of what trucking is all about,” said Mike Dozier, general manager of Kenworth.

The following morning, during a ride-and-drive event for journalists at the nearby Kenworth Sales Las Vegas dealership, Duncan said every step of the process focused maintaining the “wow factor” from the W900, while trying to improve it.

“Balancing the legacy with true innovation was really rewarding for our design team,” Duncan said. 

He called the grill the “face of the new W990” and discussed how the hood complements the stainless steel air intakes. 

The bumper-to-back measures 131.5-inches - 1.5 inches longer than the existing W900L.

The cab is based on the T680 and T880, so there are eight more inches between the seats, making it easier to move around the cab. The mirrors were lowered for better visibility and the bolt-on fender makes it easier to get on and off. 

Kurt Swihart, Kenworth’s marketing director, said the W990 is viewed by many fleets as an important component of their driver recruiting and retention programs. 

He called it a “reward truck,” with an exterior that displays pride and small details on the inside that drivers appreciate.

That feeling was shared by Kyle Cousins, vice president of operations of Fleetnor Bros., who was on hand to take the keys to one of the first W990s. 

“A well-spec’d long-hood conventional stands out in a crowd,” he said. “The big hoods get you noticed; and customers, as well as our, drivers love them. I know it’s helped in our recruiting and retention.”  

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  • 1 month later...

Outfitted Kenworth W990 to Set Off With Capitol Christmas Tree

Transport Topics  /  November 6, 2018

A new Kenworth W990 has the honor of hauling the 54th U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. The approximately 3,000-mile journey to Washington will start Nov. 9.

Central Oregon Truck Co., is this year’s designated hauler of the tree. CEO Rick Williams watched as the tree was lifted by crane and set on the 80-foot-long trailer. Williams and other executives will be driving the truck and its special load as a part of a company effort that will involve other driving team members. Central Oregon Truck transports freight across the 48 continental states and Canada, and purchases its Kenworth trucks from The Papé Group, a major sponsor of this year’s tour.

“It was a great sight. You don’t see an 80-foot tree loaded on a trailer every day, and they had to take great care to secure the branches,” Williams said.

The Kenworth W990 transporting the tree is adorned with a distinctive and festive graphics package. Featuring a 76-inch midroof sleeper, the W990 was spec’d with the Paccar Powertrain — a Paccar MX-13 engine rated at 455 horsepower and 1,650 pound-feet of torque, 12-speed automated transmission and 40K tandem rear axle.

Once the tree was set on the trailer, securing of the branches began. Phil Taylor, vice president of maintenance drove the truck and traversed the 8 miles of logging roads before hitting U.S. Route 20 and Forest Service Road 2044.

“The looks we received from other drivers were something else,” he said. “We had so much pride in hauling the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. It was inspiring.”

Once in Sweet Home, Ore., the tree was fitted with a special 200-gallon water bladder to keep it hydrated, carefully wrapped and boxed. The tour will stop for 25 community events, including the celebration of the 175th anniversary of the Oregon Trail and the 50th anniversary of the National Trails System Act.

Tour stops begin Nov. 9, at Sweet Home High School, where the tree will be the featured attraction for a parade and street fair. The tour will end Nov. 25 at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland before being delivered to the U.S. Capitol in late November. A tree-lighting ceremony Dec. 5 will be hosted by the architect of the Capitol in conjunction with the U.S. speaker of the House.

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