Autocar
Two years ago, Grand Vehicle Works Holdings acquired the now 106-year-old Autocar name and modern Xpeditor products from Volvo, and since has aggressively marketed the Class 8 low-cabover-engine trucks to trash haulers. It plans to pursue construction, fire-rescue, city delivery and other specialty users.
Initial units were built under contract by Volvo, but Autocar's own factory at Hagerstown, Ind., now makes the regular cab WX64 and low-profile WXLL64. There's also a WXR64 with right-hand drive. Starting this month, the trucks will get a larger, roomier cab.
Caterpillar and Cummins diesels to 385 hp are among the components offered.
Freightliner
Freightliner dominates the highway tractor market with the high-tech Century S/T, simpler Century Columbia and traditionally styled FLD Classic and Classic XL (which now use a Century chassis). There's also the premium Coronado (based on the Century chassis and cab) and Argosy cabover.
The venerable FLD120 was dropped last fall, but SD (severe-duty) versions continue for vocational use. New this year is a Business Class M2-112, with regional tractor and vocational truck variants. It replaces the FL112, which phases out later this year. There's also the Condor heavy LCOE for trash and other vocational uses.
Power-wise, Mercedes-Benz' MBE4000 is standard in many models, with the Series 60 from Detroit Diesel (now part of DaimlerChrysler) and Caterpillar engines are also available. The company has slashed costs and returned to profitable operation since a financial crisis and management change in 2000.
Sterling
Sterling's A-Line (the former Ford AeroMax) has aerodynamic styling and L-Line (the former Louisville) is more "work" oriented. A few sleeper options are still available, but premium over-the-road business is now ceded to Western Star (also sold by Sterling dealers). Sterling is now positioned to serve local and regional highway haulers and operators of vocational trucks.
Many tractors and trucks (including some of the medium-duty Acterra series) are Baby 8s, with midrange powertrains. New this year are Sterling crewcabs and front-driving axles, and Dana's Central Tire Inflation system for on/off-road use. Sterling also sells the Condor heavy LCOE for trash and other vocational uses.
Sterling claims it was first to offer the new Cat C9, an 8.8-liter heavy-duty engine. It also sells Cummins' ISL and, of course, larger Cat and Mercedes diesels in its Class 8 models.
Western Star
Production of all models moved last summer and fall from the original factory in Kelowna, B.C., to a Freightliner plant in Portland, Ore., where Canadian supervisors trained American workers to ensure continuance of Western Star's quality tradition.
The Flagship Western Star OTR vehicle is the long-hooded 4900EX and its low-profile LowMax variant, both with forward-set steer axles and 132-inch BBCs. The 4900FA, also with a forward-set steer axle, is shorter, with 109- or 123-inch BBCs. The 4900SA has a setback front axle and slightly rounded nose, replacing the semi-aerodynamic 5900, which was dropped. All are available with Stratosphere sleepers in five lengths and five roof configurations.
The 4900s are also built as vocational trucks, and 6900 models are built for extra-heavy duty off-road service. Engines are from Mercedes-Benz, Detroit Diesel and Caterpillar, and Western Stars are sold through Sterling dealers.
General Motors
Chevrolet and GMC midrange models get into Class 8 territory when equipped with high-capacity axles, including tandem rears. The conventional C-8500, now into its third year, uses the wide cab from GM's Savana/Express light-duty vans. New in '03 was a four-door crewcab featuring purpose-built rear doors and good rear-seat legroom. Engines include the Vortec 8100 V8 -- the only gasoline engine available from any builder in Classes 6 through 8 -- and Duramax 7800 or Caterpillar 3126E (soon to be C7) diesels.
Tiltcab low-cabover T-8500 uses an Isuzu-made cab and domestic chassis; its front axle has been moved back several inches to make room for wider, easier-to-climb steps. Only the Duramax 7800 diesel is available in the T series. Isuzu, GM's partner, also sells medium and heavy cabovers as its F series.
International
International's main highway offerings are its 9000i conventionals with roomy aluminum cabs. These include aerodynamic 9200i medium- and 9400i long-hood models, plus traditional 9900i long- and 9900ix extra-long nose models. They come with 11- to 15-liter Cat or Cummins power, and a variety of sleeper accommodations with expanded storage.
The 8400 and 8600 uses the automotive-style steel cab and chromey nose from the midrange 4000; so does the severe-service 7000 series for vocational applications. These come with International's DT466HD and HT530, or 11- to 13-liter Cat or Cummins engines. The 7000 and 8000 can be had with extended cabs or crewcabs, which could be used as sleepers. International's now offering $1,000 to $2,000 in incentives for parts or extra trade-in allowance.
Kenworth
Kenworth continues to emphasize premium features for long life and high resale value. The aerodynamic T2000 with its wide, roomy cab is its premier highway tractor. But the aero T600B refuses to go away, and the traditional long-hooded W900B continues as a favorite among "large-car" devotees.
The T800, a sort of square-nosed T600, is KW's most versatile model and its most popular. It can be ordered as a heavy hauler, construction truck and highway tractor, among other things. The axle-forward W9 is often outfitted as a vocational truck in bridge-formula states.
New this year is an Extended Daycab option for the T600, T800 and W900. It adds six inches to the cab's rear and several inches of belly room. Various new in-cab accessories and interior refinements were also introduced. A new for '03 AG400 tandem suspension cuts weight and maintenance. Coming this fall is a kit to convert AeroCab sleepers to daycabs.
The midrange T300 becomes a Baby 8 with heavy duty axles, including tandem rears. Heil dump bodies can now be ordered through KW dealers.
The K100E high cabover is still in the catalog, though KW doesn't build many. Kenworth offers Cat and Cummins engines.
OOIDA members can get a $1,000 rebate if they buy a sleeper-equipped '03 Kenworth, and customers buying a fuel-hauling truck through Consolidated Buying Co. can get a $1,100 rebate
Peterbilt
Big news from Peterbilt is the 379X, with polished aluminum fenders and many special interior trim pieces; it enters production next month. It affirms the continued popularity of the "large-car" 379 -- the single most popular model at truck beauty shows. Peterbilt's main highway tractor is the Aero 387, which shares some cab parts with Kenworth's T2000.
The vocationally oriented 357 has a short-BBC version and special single headlamps; otherwise it's identical to the 378. The 385 is a medium-length aerodynamic model that can be a regional tractor, dump truck or something in between. Heil dump bodies can now be ordered through Peterbilt dealers. And every once in a while, Pete builds one or two 362 high COEs for diehard users.
OOIDA members can get a $1,000 rebate on certain sleeper-equipped 379 or 387 tractors, plus $1,500 worth of maintenance service or $1,000 in chrome accessories.
Volvo
Volvo reports encouraging sales trends and published perhaps the lowest surcharge for a post October '02 engine: $3,500. Meanwhile, it has reduced its models to two: The VN highway truck and tractor, with large, roomy, integrated sleeper options, and the VHD on/off-road vocational truck. Volvo sold its Xpeditor heavy low COE in '01 and got out of medium-duty trucks years ago. The VN was extensively redesigned for '03, with stylish headlamps in some VNs and scores of under-the-skin improvements in all.
The short product list makes sense as Volvo continues to encourage combined ownership of Volvo and Mack dealers (by year-end, more than two-thirds will be), which then could sell Mack vocational trucks and Volvo highway trucks. But the VHD, positioned as a premium vocational truck, will continue.
Cummins' ISX is an option in the VN but Volvo's VED12 is standard, and the D12 is the only engine available in the VHD. Sometime between now and 2007, a new high-horsepower 16-liter Volvo diesel will be offered in one or both series.
Mack
The medium-nose Vision highway tractor is Mack's premier over-the-road vehicle, and now there's a Vision daycab. Visions are based on the CH, which now is sold mostly as a regional tractor. All come only with 12-liter Mack ASET (application-specific engine technology) diesels, and Mack continues its own line of axles, suspensions and triple-countershaft transmissions.
The long-nose CL is primarily a premium vocational truck and tractor that now comes only with the 15-liter Cummins ISX. Cummins' 8.8-liter ISL is offered as a lightweight option in the Granite and Granite Bridge Formula, Mack's modern and comfortable vocational trucks.
Orders for the old RD are fading, and it will cease production in December, but will go out in style with a fancy Legend commemorative version.
Mack's heavy LCOEs, the MR and LE, are popular for curbside pick up of trash, and the MR often serves as a chassis for concrete pumpers.
