Mack Anthem Makes Mexican Debut

Photo: Jim Park

GUADALAJARA, MEXICO — Mack's newest on-highway model, the Anthem, was introduced to Mexican truckers and journalists yesterday at the 2107 ExpoTransporte show here in Guadalajara.

“Mack is in Mexico and Mack is here to stay,” Mack's vice president for Latin America, Eduardo Herrera, said during his remarks at the introduction.

Mack launched the Mack Anthem model for the U.S. and Canadian markets in September. The truck introduced for the Mexican market is exactly the same as the truck US and Canadians will get, except for the engine emissions reduction system. Mack Anthem models sold in Mexico come standard with Euro 4-rated Mack MP engines. Where approved, and where ultra-low-sulfur diesel and diesel exhaust fluid are available, customers can choose Mack's GHG2017 MP8 for improved fuel efficiency and reduced emissions.

“The Mack Anthem is designed to meet the needs of our Mexican customers,” said Dennis Slagle, president, Mack Trucks. “We're confident that these features, along with the new standard of driver comfort delivered by the Mack Anthem, will help boost Mack's presence in the important Mexican market.”

Mack's share of the Mexican on-highway market is “slim,” but John Walsh, vice president of Mack Trucks, global marketing, says he expects Anthem's introduction to change that.

“The 70-inch sleeper will be very popular here,” he said.

Mack said it is also expanding its dealer network in Mexico, with the addition of 18 new locations owned by the Trasca Group.

Related: Mack's New Anthem Highway Tractor in Photos

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HDT’s Top Green Fleets of 2017

HDT's Top Green Fleets for 2017 demonstrate that there's no single path toward sustainability. Nor are such efforts limited to large fleets, or to a particular type of operations.

This is the fifth year we've recognized some of the country's “greenest” fleets with our Top Green Fleets award – and this year, we've narrowed the field and made it more competitive, honoring 25 of the most fuel-efficient, environmentally conscientious, alternative-fuel-forward fleets in the U.S.

All of this year's honorees operate at least some heavy-duty Class 8 trucks; some operate mixed fleets ranging from light- to heavy-duty. They range in size from fewer than 100 trucks to 26,000 vehicles. There are private, for-hire, government, utility, vocational and refuse fleets. We honor a variety of “green” efforts, from high-mpg diesel-powered vehicles to alternative fueling to green facilities and recycling, and we pay special attention to what fleets have done in the past year.

West Chester, Pennsylvania

With nearly 1,100 trucks, this primarily regional LTL fleet consistently invests in new equipment that minimizes exhaust emissions and improves fuel efficiency. This past year, Pyle implemented an ongoing internal initiative for fuel savings. The MPG challenge is an incentive for A. Duie Pyle drivers to always use best practices while driving to save fuel. During the first three months of the challenge, average mpg improved from 6.25 to 6.6. Pyle's trucks have adaptive cruise control, automatic tire inflation systems, aerodynamic skirts for long-haul tractors and APUs for sleeper cabs. The fleet is made up of trucks with smaller 11L and 13L engines that have the ability to carry more freight at a higher fuel efficiency, and all its trucks are governed to 68 mph.

Hammond, Indiana

With 250 heavy-duty and 20 light- and medium-duty vehicles, the for-hire petroleum/chemical hauler this year significantly changed its truck spec, moving to ...Read the rest of this story

New FMCSA Deputy Administrator Outlines Agency Priorities

FMCSA new Deputy Administrator Cathy Gatreaux talks about the importance of regulators and enforcement partnering with industry to improve safety. Photo: Deborah Lockridge

BIRMINGHAM – On her third day on the job, the new number-two at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration outlined the priorities of the agency under the Trump administration, including ELD implementation, deregulation, infrastructure investment, autonomous vehicles, and fighting human trafficking.

Deputy Administrator Cathy Gatreaux had only a day and a half in her new office before hitting the road for the FMCSA's Southern Regional Road Show, the fourth such regional event this year.

Gatreaux, who has a degree in criminal justice and experience in law enforcement before her 32-year stint at the Louisiana Motor Transport Association, said this is “an exciting time to be in transportation,” citing an expanding economy, new technology, and a “rare bipartisan consensus about infrastructure.”

“Of course, these opportunities also present challenges,” she said, including congestion, highway fatalities, neglected and aging infrastructure, and concerns around the reliability, security and privacy of new technologies.

That's why the DOT, she said, has three over-arching priorities:

“These priorities will have a major impact on our work at FMCSA over the next few years,” she said, and outlined the following priorities for the agency:

Gatreaux noted that the agency has had many meetings with stakeholders on the new rule requiring electronic logging devices to track driver hours, from beef and pork industries to the motion picture industry to individual trucking companies and Capitol Hill staffers.

“FMCSA has heard from a wide range of people on this issue,” she said. “The staff heard the concerns presented and we want to work with the groups, but the bottom line is in the end, FMCSA cannot arbitrarily change the compliance date of ...Read the rest of this story

Minimizer Seat Offers Adjustability for Men and Women

The Minimizer Long Haul Series Seat was designed to be adjustable enough to fit any body type of both men and women drivers.

"Minimizer seats are not only comfortable for men, we need to remember there are women drivers, too," said Craig Kruckeberg Minimizer CEO and chief visionary. "Unfortunately, due to their body type, certain things don't always fit them correctly, like their seat. It's one of the reasons we came out with the Minimizer Seat.”

The seat is fully adjustable and comes with shock absorber and airbag suspension and is available in cloth or leather configurations. Optional features include heated backrest and seat cushion, cooled backrest and seat cushion, and a massager.

"There are nearly 250,000 female truckers on the road today, and they need equipment that's going to keep them safe and comfortable," said Kruckeberg. "I'm happy to say the Minimizer Long Haul Series Seat fits the bill."

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