Last month, I had an opportunity to participate in the rollout of the Sterling Truck Corp. NightShift, which is a new integrated sleeper designed for regional-haul drivers. The new sleeper is specifically designed for less-than-truckload (LTL), distribution and leasing operations, which have drivers traveling multiple days per week. It is available in 60-in., mid-roof configurations for the Sterling Set-back 113 and 122 models.
Richard Shearing, manager of product strategy for Sterling Trucks, said that Sterling customers have asked for a sleeper configuration. As a result, the company developed a working-class sleeper that provides additional comfort and storage. Moreover, fleets will benefit from better-rested, more productive drivers. It’s all geared to help improve driver retention –– and the fleets’ bottom line, he added.
Once inside the sleeper cab, I noted that the workspaces and comfort control panels are conveniently located. In addition, the sleeper has a 36- by 10-in. back window, which improves visibility for back-ups. Also standard are side windows that allow for natural light and fresh-air ventilation.
The quiet ride was proof that the standard Sterling noise control package delivers noise reduction during peak-torque engine RPMs. The noise package muffles sounds using new door and engine cover seals, shift boot and steering boot material and construction, a new door weather seal for improved surface contact, front wall inter-panel sealing and front wall joints on the floor between seats. An optional auxiliary power unit will be available.
The new sleeper will be available for order in December. Production is scheduled to begin in March 2009.
Sterling NG trucks answer port call
I also had an chance to go out for a spin in the Sterling Set-Back 113 natural gas vehicle. The new truck is powered by a Cummins Westport ISL G engine and can travel in the 270-mile range with the current fuel tank, Shearing noted. These trucks are slated for service in California in the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
Shearing said that natural gas technology can save an estimated $6,000 in annual fuel and operating costs per truck. Customers in states such as California also will benefit from tax incentives for buying alternative-fuel vehicles. In addition, fuel providers take advantage of these incentives, which means that NG accessibility is on the rise.
The Cummins Westport ISL G, which is an 8.9-L stoichiometric cooled-exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) engine, is available in ratings up to 320 HP. The engine already meets the EPA 2010 standards with 85 percent lower NOx emissions than the C Gas Plus engine and features the highest power-to-weight ratio in its class with an optimized turbocharger, the company said.
Detroit Diesel unveils DD13
At the same event, Detroit Diesel introduced its new DD13 engine, which is a smaller version of the DD15 engine. The DD13 displaces 12.8 L and features a 6-cylinder, in-line configuration. This engine is specifically designed for the less-than-truckload, regional distribution and vocational markets. The DD13 will be offered in output and torque variants from 350 to 450 HP and 1,350 to 1,650 lb.-ft.
David Siler, director of marketing, Detroit Diesel, said the new DD13 provides a 5 percent increase in fuel economy over the MBE 4000 (which it will be replacing). In addition, he told me, further cost savings can be realized with the extension of maintenance intervals, which can be extended up to 50,000 miles. The engine was designed with cartridge-style filters (oil, coolant and fuel), which are positioned above the frame rail, to make service easier and cleaner, and the maintenance-free crankcase breather further contributes to low cost of ownership.
The DD13 is the second in a series of all-new heavy-duty engines from Detroit Diesel that will eventually cover three displacement categories: 13L, 15L and 16L. Part of the Detroit Diesel engine family, the DD13 shares a common-base engine design that will be leveraged on a global scale by Daimler Trucks.
“We have taken all of the lessons learned from our 70 years of building engines and applied this extensive history to our new engine,” said Siler.
The engine features many of the same technologies found in the DD15, but the DD13 weighs 400 lbs. less.
Built to spend more time in top gear, the DD13 pulls strong down to 1,100 RPM, which results in in-creased fuel economy. The DD13’s enhanced cooling system reduces fan-on time. Another key feature is the engine’s electronically controlled amplified common rail fuel system (ACRS) –– a fuel delivery system that works in unison with Detroit Diesel’s DDEC VI engine management system to deliver the exact amount of fuel needed at the right moment for optimal combustion, the company says.
“The DD13 is the only engine in its class to offer ACRS,” said Admir Kreso, director, HDEP Engineering for Detroit Diesel. “We are utilizing our proven technologies across the board to help our customers save money.”
Siler added, “Many of the design features we included enable customers to easily perform routine maintenance on their own. This reduces time spent in the shop, off the road –– and increases profitability during this ever-so-competitive time in our industry.”
The DD13’s torque curve provides a wide peak torque range –– up to 500 RPM wide. This allows drivers to easily find the DD13’s “sweet spot” for optimum engine performance. In addition, an asymmetrical turbocharger results in less moving parts when compared to variable-geometry turbochargers (VGTs) or waste-gated turbocharger designs, creating a more reliable and durable engine, the company said.
The launch of the DD13 will start with Sterling Trucks and Freightliner in 2009, followed by Western Star in 2010. It will be manufactured at the Detroit Diesel plant in Redford, Mich.
