Allison Transmission is giving fleets of heavy-duty road tractors the opportunity to test drive its TC10 TS fully automatic transmission, first unveiled earlier this year at the Mid-America Trucking Show.
Six test vehicles are rotating throughout the U.S. to provide fleets – and media, in an event held last week at Allison’s Indianapolis, Ind., headquarters – the chance to experience the TC10’s smooth, quick-shifting performance that saves time and fuel, the company said.
TC10 TS (for tractor series) features Allison’s revolutionary torque converter and twin countershaft design, which combine to offer seamless shifting through a 10-gear range. According to company representatives, the TC10 optimizes acceleration and eliminates the interruption of power that occurs in manual and automated manual shifting.
It provides increased revenue through higher average vehicle speeds and increased uptime, as well as keeping loads safe during smoother launches and acceleration; reduces operation costs by improving fuel economy in both city and highway conditions, as well as reducing training and maintenance costs; and increases safety by offering greater low-speed maneuverability and better traction in snow and mud, Allison said.
The TC10 is primarily aimed at short-haul and regional tractors that see a lot of gear shifting and split time between city and highway conditions, but it also offers significant efficiencies in line-haul and sleeper applications, according to Allison. “The feedback we have received has exceeded our expectations for those applications, said Todd Dygert, an Allison product specialist.
The TC10’s durable torque converter provides robust startability, is maintenance-free, and offers driveline protection by eliminating U-joint failures, twisted drive shafts and blown rear axles, the maker said. Its twin countershaft design features helical gears for silent operation and wet clutches for continuously-delivered power. This constant flow of power and torque during gear change results in better acceleration, safer merging into traffic and greater fuel efficiency, Dygert explained.
The TC10, which will enter OE production in October 2012, has a targeted warranty of five years/750,000 miles. Weighing in at 1030 lbs., it will initially be rated for use with engines making up to 600 HP and 1,650 ft./lbs. of torque, with a higher torque rating to follow. The TC10 will complement, but not replace, Allison’s fully automatic 4000 RDS (for rugged duty series) transmissions designed for on/off-road service in straight trucks.
