New models are joined by a remanufactured Phoenix...
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• The big news from the major Stateside truck manufacturers is waiting in the wings, with new Peterbilt and Mack models scheduled for later this year. The Peterbilt is a re-badged Kenworth T2000, featuring much of the space-age composites of its Paccar sibling, but with a new bonnet to give it a different identity. Mack's new model is expected to be an extensive makeover of the CH/CL conventional with a longer cab for more leg and arm room, and an integrated sleeper to bring it in line with the other manufacturers' road-going accommodation.
Freightliner's Argosy cabover (CM 26 March-1 April) is stimulating renewed interest in forward-control trucks—Paccar subsidiaries Kenworth and Peterbilt both showed Daf cabovers at Las Vegas.
New models would have been exciting, but a fascinating innovation was found at Freightliner's used truck display. With little fanfare, the Phoenix rose as the first "recycled" heavy truck from a major manufacturer.
The Phoenix may have ecological benefits, but they were not the driving force. The new Argosy cabover is making inroads into the huge fleets run by Schneider National and JB Hunt. These coast-to-coast hauliers run more than 10,000 vehicles apiece and they have historically run cabovers, predominantly International 9800 models. This means that Freightliner has many of them coming back as trade-ins, and there's little demand for used cabovers. So the Firm has set up a remanufacturing facility to refurbish the 11.7-litre Detroit Diesel Series 60 engines, Eaton transmissions and axles and even fifth wheels. Further along in the programme, front axles, steering and suspensions will also be recycled on to a Freightliner chassis with the steel FLS cab (derived from Mercedes' forwardcontrol LK cab with an American nose stuck on the front). It's not the world's most attractive truck, but it should fill a useful niche in the market. The Phoenix looks rugged, comes with a full factory warranty—and costs just $50,000.
Innovations on the smaller stands included a new independent trailer suspension by Boydstun Metal Works, designed for car transporters or other low-floor trailers. The suspension unit comprises a wide-based trailing arm, air spring and shock absorber set up for a single wheel application. Modular units can be arranged in groups according to axle weight ratings. Outside the show Mentor was offering demo drives of its new SureShift automated transmission. SureShift retains a clutch pedal for starting off, much like Scania's Opticruise or Eaton's AutoShift, but its features won a lot of praise.