Mack Announces mDrive Features, Software, Donation to CIM
Photo: Tom Berg
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Photo: Tom Berg
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Mack Trucks today introduced “rolling start” and “auto neutral” for its mDrive and mDrive HD automated transmissions for use in concrete mixer chassis, at the World of Concrete 2017 in Las Vegas. Also announced were a telematics-based dispatching software called WheresMyConcrete, and donation of a Granite mixer to benefit an educational program.
“Mack’s mDrive transmissions serve a wide range of customers, including those with demanding paving and concrete applications,” said Tim Wrinkle, Mack construction product manager. “Now updated with rolling start and auto neutral, mDrive transmissions are even better suited to those tasks.”
Rolling start allows a driver to shift the transmission from neutral to drive without applying a truck’s service brakes, which has been necessary with mDrive. This eliminates the possibility of creating a bump in the paving surface, which is a critical benefit for paving, he said.
Auto neutral shifts the transmission into neutral when the driver sets the parking brake, eliminating the possibility of the truck moving under power, such as when a remote throttle control is used. Both features are now standard on mDrive and mDrive HD.
Concrete-specific software
WheresMyConcrete, a cloud-based and telematics-connected dispatching, analytics and customer service tool, is a new addition to Mack Fleet Management Services. It’s now available for ready-mix customers seeking improved asset visibility, dispatch efficiency and real-time data identifying exactly where a concrete load is in the delivery process.
“This tool gives managers information in real-time, helping eliminate the potential for unnecessary downtime on the job site,” Wrinkle said. WheresMyConcrete is available on Mack truck models equipped with a Mack engine, including the Granite, TerraPro, Pinnacle and LR.
WheresMyConcrete can be tailored to ready-mix customers’ needs, including those who need only GPS tracking of their trucks. Additional features can be bundled to enhance the service, including digital tickets, electronic billing, …Read the rest of this story
