While there has been some uncertainty in terms of overall market strength in the first quarter of 2016, Peterbilt Motors Co. expects this year to be another solid year for the trucking industry, estimating retail sales roughly between 230,000 and 260,000 heavy-duty units in the U.S. and Canada. Those are still numbers to be excited about when you consider that 2015 was one of the industry’s top five sales years. The heavy-duty truck market is alive and well, and for Peterbilt, the OEM’s success is being driven by a growing lineup of PACCAR engines.
The PACCAR MX-13 engine has become a staple in the Peterbilt Class 8 production lines. Since its launch in 2010, adoption of the engine in North America has been “impressive,” according to Darrin Siver, Peterbilt’s general manager and a PACCAR vice president.
“The PACCAR MX-13 engine’s fuel efficiency, reliability and performance have helped it reach more than 50% of Peterbilt’s Class 8 production,” Siver said. “The MX-13 helps Peterbilt customers reduce operating expenses through greater fuel economy, lower cost of ownership, maximum uptime and increased payload due to the engine’s low weight. Many of our large customers are reporting the Peterbilt Model 579 EPIQ powered by the PACCAR MX-13 engine as the most fuel-efficient truck in their fleets.”
In 2015 PACCAR reached an important manufacturing milestone with the 100,000th MX-13 engine produced in North America. “Peterbilt is proud to be part of the MX-13’s success and it will continue to be a strong focus for Peterbilt and its dealer network going forward,” Siver said.
This year, the PACCAR MX engine lineup is growing with the introduction of the PACCAR MX-11, which offers a broad horsepower range of 335 to 430 HP and a torque range from 1,250 to 1,550 lb.-ft. The new engine offering was recently installed in a Peterbilt 567 and Siver expects big things from the engine this year.
“We expect the PACCAR MX-11 engine to be very successful in both the vocational and on-highway markets,” he said. “The engine’s power and responsiveness makes a driver feel like they are driving a 13-liter engine in these power ranges but with improved fuel economy and weight savings. The engine is up to 15% lighter than other engines in this same power range, allowing customers to carry more payload.”
Peterbilt’s SmartLINQ technology connects the fleet to its trucks and engines. The remote diagnostics system provides customers with quick fleet health to maximize uptime, keep deliveries on schedule and manage service events. It’s currently standard and factory-installed on all Peterbilt trucks with a PACCAR MX-13 or MX-11 engine, and the OEM will expand its availability in the near future.
“There is a significant and growing population of SmartLINQ-equipped Peterbilts and customers are taking advantage of our connected truck technology every day,” Siver reported. “Peterbilt recently hosted its annual dealer meeting and invited panelists from several of our large fleet customers to share their SmartLINQ experiences. Listening to these customers, and the many others we have heard from who are using SmartLINQ, this system is providing greater uptime, improved on-time deliveries and better control over managing maintenance and service events.”
