It’s been almost 20 years since the Mack Trucks bulldog was seen on a new
medium-duty truck model, so it was big news when the OEM recently launched the new Mack MD Series.
“We’re already providing our customers with a full product lineup of Class 8 vehicles, so the Mack MD Series expands even further the solutions available to them,” said Jonathan Randall, Mack Trucks senior vice president of North American sales and marketing. “Now that we have a full line of Class 6 to Class 8 vehicles, customers desiring Mack’s durability and reliability now have an option for lighter GVWR configurations.”
The Mack MD6, a Class 6 model, has a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 25,995 lbs., and the MD7 Class 7 model has a GVWR of 33,000 lbs. Both models are exempt from the 12% Federal Excise Tax (FET), the company noted, adding to their affordability for operations requiring dry van, refrigerated, stake, flatbed, dump and tank bodies. With the lighter GVW MD6, the OEM added, drivers are not required to have a Commercial
Driver’s License (CDL) when hauling non-hazardous payloads.
The new Mack MD Series, which matches the look and styling of the Mack Anthem on-highway model, is available in 4×2 configurations. Other features of the trucks include a sharp wheel cut for enhanced maneuverability and a short bumper-to-back-of-cab (BBC) measurement of 103 inches.
“Our experience with Class 8 vocational trucks, virtually all of which are upfit with a body of some type, has Mack working with body builders and customers who use the end product,” said Roy Horton, Mack Trucks director of product strategy. “For the MD Series, we combined that knowledge with additional input specific to medium-duty trucks to incorporate design features that assure easy body installation.”
For example, Horton points to several features of the MD Series. Included is a completely clear back of cab, a flat load platform with an assembled frame width of 34 in., and open space on driver and passenger side frame rails for installation of ancillary equipment. Additionally, the trucks feature plenty of chassis frame strength with rails rated at 120,000 PSI.
The Mack MD Series will be supported by the OEM’s dealer network. “Through our Mack Trucks Academy, we are creating a specialized curriculum focusing on vocational bodies used in the medium-duty market,” Horton related. “Our dealers have always worked with key industry suppliers to provide support for Mack products equipped with vendor content. The new MD Series uses many of these same suppliers, so we are taking the necessary steps to make sure dealers are ready to support Mack and vendor content in the MD Series.”
Available for order now, serial production of the Mack MD Series will begin in July at the OEM’s Roanoke Valley Operations manufacturing facility in Virginia. Mack also announced a $13 million investment in equipment, tooling and building enhancements in the 280,000 sq. ft. of the facility dedicated to the assembly of the new medium-duty vehicles.
Production of the MD Series in the RVO manufacturing facility will create 250 new jobs, Mack noted as well. Additionally, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam announced the approval of a $700,000 grant from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund for the project.
“The medium-duty market today is solid, particularly as consumers continue to demand more last mile delivery services,” Horton said. “There are also many current Mack customers that operate significant numbers of medium-duty trucks. We anticipate expanding industry demand for medium-duty trucks, and with the new MD Series Mack is poised to be a large part of that growth.”
