Hino Trucks’ 338 model took home the 2011 Medium Duty Commercial Truck of the Year award. The 2011 award marks the second year in a row that the American Truck Dealers (ATD) division of the NADA bestowed the honor on Hino after its 268 model received the same accolade in 2010.
The trucks were judged on innovation, design, fuel economy, driver and owner satisfaction, ease of maintenance and safety. “We congratulate Hino Motors Sales U.S.A. and all of the nominees for participating in this year’s ATD Commercial Truck of the Year competition,” said Dick Witcher, ATD convention chairman. “The award competition, which honors the top medium- and heavy-duty trucks sold in the United States, continues to grow. We look forward to hosting the competition next year during the convention in Las Vegas.” The judging panel consists of journalists from leading truck publications in North America.
“We are honored and thrilled to have won the ATD Medium Duty truck of the Year Award for the second consecutive year,” said Sumio Fukaya, president and CEO of Hino Trucks. “We strive to make the world a better place to live by helping people and goods get where they need to go – safely, economically and with environmental responsibility – while focusing on sustainable development. It brings us great satisfaction to see that our efforts are meeting the expectation of the industry.”
According to the truck maker, the 33,000 lb. GVW, 2012MY Hino 338 features Hino’s signature J08E series 8-liter diesel engine producing 260 HP and 660 ft./lb. of torque that has become the premier choice for many vocations such as beverage delivery, municipalities, construction, utilities, petroleum/gas delivery and waste/recycling. In addition to a 13% improvement in engine torque, Hino’s 338 model provides Class 7 vocational fleets the advantages of an industry-leading 5-year/250,000-mile warranty and the only conventional medium-duty EPA10 engine certified at the mandated level.
Standard features on the Hino 338 include powder coated frame rails and Allison automatic transmission, which add to the truck’s durability; the spacious straight-forward cab design, superior visibility and unmatched maneuverability that contribute to a more safe operating environment; and he standard exhaust brake feature, air-suspension driver’s seat with armrest, cruise control, air-conditioning and CD player that add to the truck’s performance and operating comfort, the company said.
Hino noted it has expanded the optional equipment list for the 2012MY 338 to accommodate the needs of more vocations than ever before. The option combination of a clean cab-to-axle and an Allison 2500 transmission with Shift Energy Management is perfect for straight truck beverage delivery, while municipalities running snow plows and utility service companies with aerial lifts have options for 14,000-lb. front axle, front frame extension, and 120,000psi frame. Also available from Hino on the 338 model is Hino Insight, powered by Webtech Wireless, which the truck maker said is the most advanced, tailored, comprehensive telematics solution in the industry. Insight is an enabler for fleets of all sizes to achieve sustainable competitiveness by driving fleet operational efficiencies, safety, security, customer satisfaction and green initiatives.
