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Scania Group Press Release / August 27, 2016 For field test drivers like ­Steve Pope, dealing with ­secrecy and spies is a part of everyday life. The field tests for the new generation Scania truck represented a major challenge. Advanced masking techniques and far-reaching organisational preparations were required to keep the vehicle’s identity, styling and new features under wraps. “We have used more heavy duty masking than with previous launches,” says Anders Karlqvist, who is responsible for Scania’s extensive field testing activities. “It should be possible to drive past one of our field-test trucks and, maybe, wonder what kind of truck it was. But it shouldn’t immediately draw attention to itself.” For Steve Pope, security around the vehicle was one of his most important day-to-day issues. The assignment was particularly sensitive, due to the United Kingdom’s large population, heavy traffic and numerous truck spotters constantly on the look-out for new trucks. “I have to plan all my runs very thoroughly,” says Pope. “When I park for the night, the first thing I do is draw black curtains around the entire cab so that no-one can see in or take pictures of the new interior. The same applies when I stop to fill up or to eat. I can’t stop all the curious people, but then the truck is quite ingeniously masked.” Occasionally Pope got questions from other drivers about the strange truck he is driving. The masking have given some people an impression of heavy ”armour”. “I tell some of them that I’m driving a special vehicle for the Royal Mint,” Pope says. “Others have been told that the truck is equipped with radiation protection or that it’s equipped with sensors for filming and digitising footage for use within different TV and computer games…” .

Cummins' New Little Brother: X12 Today’s Trucking / August 26, 2016 Are smaller displacements the engine trend of the future? Cummins seems to be hedging its bets on that question. The Columbus, Ind.-based global engine manufacturer now has very capable product at both ends of the spectrum: the 14.9-liter X15, and this new engine the 11.8-liter X12. Recent engine introductions from other engine makers suggest there's an appetite for smaller block engines that can deliver Class 8 power for regional and urban applications as well as the vocational market. With ratings up to 475 horsepower and 1,700 lb-ft of torque, the X12 will be running with the big boys. The X12 is also nearly 1,000 lb lighter than the X15, so weight sensitive fleets will be looking very closely at this engine. The X12 is derived from the ISG platform first introduced in 2013 as global engine platform. It made its first appearance a year later in a joint venture with the world’s largest independent engine maker, Beiqi Foton Motor Co. Ltd. of China. Foton now uses the ISG diesel in a new truck series developed with Daimler of Germany. Cummins says the engine in ISG trim already has more than 1 billion miles under its belt, and is ready to take on North American truck fleets. The X12 will be ready for market here in 2018. We got a close look at it and brief test drive in July when Cummins launched it 2017 X15 lineup. From what we saw, it looks like Cummins will have a full slate of orders for the X12 in no time at all. .

Head to the IAA show in September and see for yourself. You'll look back on the trip as perhaps the most eye-opening in memory.

When you called Watt's Mack (provider of the BMT website) toll-free at 1-888-304-6225, what did they say about E9 remack water pump availability ? The part number should be 316GC274DX. http://www.wattsmack.com/parts-department/

Suggesting 60-68 mph, FMCSA, NHTSA propose truck speed limiters Fleet Owner / August 26, 2016 A long-awaited, much-debated proposal for requiring speed limiters on heavy trucks was released today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). While the 118-page proposal suggests that speed limits of 60, 65 or 68 mph would be beneficial, the agencies will get public input before setting the actual number, according to U.S. Transportation Sec. Anthony Foxx. The speed limit would be a physical one accomplished by a speed-governing device and would apply to all newly-manufactured vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating more than 26,000 lbs. (11,793.4 kg). The rule comes from both NHTSA and FMCSA to broaden its applicability. According to the proposed rule, NHTSA would require speed limiters for multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, buses and school buses, while FMCSA would require them for commercial motor vehicles. "Based on the agencies' review of the available data, limiting the speed of these heavy vehicles would reduce the severity of crashes involving these vehicles and reduce the resulting fatalities and injuries. We expect that, as a result of this joint rulemaking, virtually all of these vehicles would be limited to that speed," the proposal reads, with "that speed" yet to be determined. In a release, Foxx argues that the proposed rule would save lives and more than $1 billion in fuel costs annually, making it "a win for safety, energy conservation and our environment." Foxx has referred to this rulemaking as a top priority for the Department of Transportation, and the proposed rule originally was due to be published in March 2014; the idea behind it dates back nearly a decade. NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind calls the proposal "basic physics" in the same release. "Even small increases in speed have large effects on the force of impact," he states. "Setting the speed limit on heavy vehicles makes sense for safety and the environment." And FMCSA Administrator Scott Darling contends that the proposal "will save lives while ensuring our nation's fleet of large commercial vehicles operates efficiently." The proposed rule has been submitted for publication in the Federal Register, and once that happens there will be a 60-day period for public comment. One group that's sure to have something to say will be the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA), which has long been opposed to truck speed limiters and makes almost a polar opposite argument regarding the devices as the government does. On the heels of the proposed rule's release, OOIDA issued a statement calling it "dangerous" not only for truck drivers but for passenger vehicle drivers as well. "The government's proposal to mandate speed limiting devices on large trucks would be dangerous for all highway users," OOIDA states. "Such devices create speed differentials that lead to more crashes and promote road rage among other motorists." Todd Spencer, executive vice president of OOIDA, further states that "highways are safest when all vehicles travel at the same relative speed."

DOT Finally Proposes Truck Speed-Limiter Rule Heavy Duty Trucking / August 26, 2016 Federal safety regulators are proposing that heavy-duty vehicles be equipped with speed-limiting devices set to a specific maximum speed. A notice of proposed rulemaking was issued jointly on Aug. 26 by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The NPRM comes after a decade-long push by trucking and safety advocates to put such a requirement in place for trucks and other commercial vehicles. For its part, NHTSA is calling for establishing a new Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard. This FMVSS would require that each new “multipurpose” vehicle with a GVWR over 26,000 pounds be equipped with a speed limiting device. The proposed standard would also require each vehicle, as manufactured and sold, to have its device set to a speed not greater than a specified speed and to be equipped with means of reading the vehicle’s current speed setting and the two previous speed settings (including the time and date the settings were changed) through its onboard diagnostic connection. FMCSA is proposing a complementary Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation that would require each commercial motor vehicle with a GVWR of more than 26,000 pounds be equipped with a speed limiting device meeting the requirements of the proposed FMVSS applicable to the vehicle at the time of manufacture, including the requirement that the device be set to a speed not greater than a specified speed. In addition, carriers operating such vehicles in interstate commerce would be required to maintain the speed limiting devices for the service life of the vehicle. However, no speed limit has been proposed yet for the proposed limiters. The Department of Transportation said only that the proposal “discusses the benefits of setting the maximum speed at 60, 65, and 68 miles per hour, but the agencies will consider other speeds based on public input.” “This is basic physics,” said NHTSA Administrator Mark Rosekind. “Even small increases in speed have large effects on the force of impact. Setting the speed limit on heavy vehicles makes sense for safety and the environment.” The speed-limiter NPRM was initiated way back in May of 2013. Seven years before that, the American Trucking Associations petitioned the two agencies to require speed limiters on all large trucks that would be set in order to electronically limit top speed to no more than 65 mph. According to DOT, the two agencies’ review of the available data indicates that limiting the speed of heavy vehicles would reduce the severity of crashes involving these vehicles and reduce the resulting fatalities and injuries. “We expect that, as a result of this joint rulemaking, virtually all of these vehicles would be limited to that speed,” stated DOT in its notice. DOT said that implementing the proposal safety “could save lives and more than $1 billion in fuel costs each year.” “There are significant safety benefits to this proposed rulemaking,” said Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx. “In addition to saving lives, the projected fuel and emissions savings make this proposal a win for safety, energy conservation, and our environment.” The American Trucking Associations “hailed” the NPRM “as a potential step forward for safety.” ATA President and CEO Chris Spear said the lobby was “pleased NHTSA and FMCSA have, almost 10 years after we first petitioned them, released this proposal to mandate the electronic limiting of commercial vehicle speeds. Speed is a major contributor to truck accidents and by reducing speeds, we believe we can contribute to a reduction in accidents and fatalities on our highways.” Spear added that carriers that are already using speed limiters voluntarily “have found significant safety, as well as fuel efficiency and equipment lifespan benefits with little to no negative impact on productivity. We will be carefully reviewing and commenting upon today’s proposal.” Among those comments will be ATA’s position on the maximum speed setting and tamper-proofing of the devices. ATA said its 2006 petition seeking this rulemaking sought a maximum speed of 68 mph and that the association’s safety agenda calls for a national speed limit for all vehicles of 65 mph. “In their proposal, the agencies say setting the speed at 68 could save 27 to 96 lives per year; setting it at 65 could save 63 to 214 lives annually and at 60 could save 162 to 498 lives,” ATA said in a statement, “but notes that they do not have the same confidence about the data for the 60 mph alternative as the other two options.” The association also said the proposed rule “despite ATA’s initial request does not mandate the limiters be tamper-proof, instead it proposes requiring motor carriers to maintain the speed limiting devices at a set speed within the range permitted by the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.” While ATA has long been a proponent of speed limiters, the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association responded to the NPRM by calling it a “dangerous mandate.” OOIDA contends that use of “such devices create speed differentials that lead to more crashes and promote road rage among other motorists.” OOID also argues that speed limiters “actually take control out of the hands of drivers in that there are a number of scenarios that require drivers to accelerate in order to avoid danger.” “Highways are safest when all vehicles travel at the same relative speed,” said OOIDA Executive Vice President Todd Spencer. “This wisdom has always been true and has not ever changed. “No technology can replace the safest thing to put in a truck, which is a well-trained driver." DOT will seek public comment on the proposed rule for 60 days after it is published in the Federal Register, which is likely to occur during the week of Aug. 29. Comments should be addressed to these DOT docket numbers: NHTSA-2016-0087 and FMCSA-2014-008. Once the comment period opens, comments may be submitted by any of the following methods: Federal eRulemaking Portal. Follow the online instructions for submitting comments Mail. Docket Management Facility. U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue S.E., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, D.C. 20590-0001 Hand Delivery or Courier. 1200 New Jersey Avenue S.E., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays Fax. 202-493-2251

U.S. Proposes Device to Force Trucks, Buses to Travel at Lower Speeds The Wall Street Journal / August 26, 2016 The U.S. is seeking to forcibly limit how fast trucks, buses and other large vehicles can travel on the nation’s highways. A new proposal Friday would impose a nationwide limit by electronically capping speeds with a device on newly made U.S. vehicles that weigh more than 26,000 pounds. Regulators are considering a cap of 60, 65 or 68 miles per hour, though that could change. Whatever the speed limit, drivers would be physically prevented from exceeding it. The proposal, which comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, doesn’t force older heavy vehicles to add the speed-limiting technology, but the regulators are still considering it. The government said capping speeds for new large vehicles would reduce the 1,115 fatal crashes involving heavy trucks that occur each year and save $1 billion in fuel costs. While the news is being welcomed by some safety advocates and nonprofessional drivers, many truckers said such changes could lead to dangerous scenarios where they are traveling at much lower speeds than everyone else. The rule has been ensnared in a regulatory maze in the decade since the nonprofit group Roadsafe America issued its first petition in 2006. The group was founded by Atlanta financial adviser Steve Owings and his wife Susan, whose son Cullum was killed by a speeding tractor-trailer during a trip back to school in Virginia after Thanksgiving in 2002. The nonprofit was later joined by the American Trucking Associations, the nation’s largest trucking industry group. Mr. Owings said he would continue to push the NHTSA to force older heavy vehicles to limit their speeds. “We are dismayed and outraged to learn the proposed rule will be for newly manufactured trucks and will not apply to the millions of trucks with which we continue to share the roads today,” he said. The NHTSA said retrofitting vehicles made after 1990 with the speed-limiting technology could be too costly, and it is still seeking comments and additional information. The NHTSA said it could cost anywhere from $100 to $2,000 per vehicle, depending on when the vehicle was made. Changes to some engines could also be required, increasing the costs, the NHTSA said. Heavy vehicles made before 1990 don’t have the capacity to add the technology. The government agencies involved will take public comment for 60 days, then determine the final limit and decide if the regulation should be put in place. To James Chapman, a big-rig driver from Spartanburg, S.C., 68 mph would be the best option and he’d accept 65. But 60 mph would be too big of a difference from cars that are traveling at 75 mph or more. “To me it would be a safety hazard unless it slowed everybody else down,” he said while refueling his truck Friday along Interstate 75 near Findlay, Ohio. The agencies said that limiting the speed of heavy vehicles to 60 mph could save as many as 498 lives annually. Limiting it to 65 mph could save as many as 214 lives, and limiting it to 68 mph could save as many as 96 lives. There are 3.6 million big rigs on U.S. roads. The agencies said the proposal is based on available safety data and the additional benefit of better fuel economy.

ENDT865 14.19L 325hp @ 2,100 1,491 N.m @ 1,350 Maxidyne (5 or 6-speed Maxitorque) ENDT866 14.19L 375hp @ 2,200 1,410 N.m @ 1,600 Conventional torque-rise for multi-speed transmission ETAZ1000 16.36L 400hp @ 1,900 2,060 N.m @ 1,230 Conventional torque-rise for multi-speed transmission ETAZ1005A 16.36L 400hp @ 2,100 2,060 N.m @ 1,230 Maxidyne (5 or 6-speed Maxitorque) EM9-400 16.36L 400hp @ 2,100 2,061 N.m @ 1,230 (55% torque rise) Maxidyne (5 or 6-speed Maxitorque) EM9-400R 16.36L 400hp @ 1,700 2,061 N.m @ 1,230 (23% torque rise) Eco-spec conventional torque-rise for multi-speed tranny E9-440 16.36L 440hp @ 1,800 2,027 N.M @ 1,300 (16% torque rise) Conventional torque-rise for multi-speed transmission E9-400 16.36L 400hp @ 1,900 1,796 N.m @ 1,300 (20% torque rise) Conventional torque-rise for multi-speed transmission E9-450 16.36L 450hp @ 1,900 2,027 N.m @ 1,300 (20% torque rise) Conventional torque-rise for multi-speed transmission E9-500 16.36L 500hp @ 1,900 2,251 N.m @ 1,300 (20% torque rise) Conventional torque-rise for multi-speed transmission The 865 was a high torque-rise Maxidyne spec V-8, and the 866 was set up for multi-speed transmissions. When the E9 first came out in the early 1980s (evolved from the ENDT1000/1005) at the same time Cruise-Liner production shifted from Hayward, California to Macungie, you had the EM9-400 Maxidyne V-8 governed at 2,100rpm (55% torque rise), the "Econodyne" spec EM9-400R for multi-speed transmissions governed at 1,700 rpm (23% torque rise), and the E9-440 V-8 for multi-speed transmissions governed at 1,800rpm (16% torque rise). The EM9-400R offered maximum fuel economy in a V-8, while the E9-440 was aimed at the owner-operator segment. Then in the mid-eighties, the Maxidyne spec V-8 was dropped, and the product range became the E9-400, E9-450 and E9-500 (US market) which all had a 20% torque rise.

The former superb Mack Trucks Remanufacturing Center outside of MIddletown, Pennsylvania, established by the legendary Ross Rhodes, is now a Volvo branded facility. http://www.volvotrucks.us/about-volvo/facilities/reman-center/

In the old days, if they wanted to block off the puff limiter altogether, or install a 691GC218CP6 puff limiter (the version with the least affect....there's a Service Bulletin), I had no problem with that. But I never encountered a good customer experience from turning up the fuel.

http://www.bigmacktrucks.com/topic/43658-21977-over-drive-cruiseliner-report/#comment-321468 The Cruise-Liner was a big step forward for Mack Western. It was the result of west coast truck engineers that Mack had hired. In theory, they could give us a leap forward with a true west coast design. In the eyes of many in headquarters, the original Hayward designed/produced Cruise-Liner was an engineering disaster. The freedom given the west coast engineers was revoked, and the 2nd gen Cruise-Liner was created in Allentown (fixing many of the shortcomings). The MH Ultra-Liner restored Mack's reputation as a designer of well-engineered COEs. The axle-mounted steering arrangement was a huge mistake. The telescoping steering shaft wore out prematurely (we sold thousands of replacements, averaging 2-3 over the life of a truck), as did the steering gears and pitman arms, becoming strong sellers in the parts department. (the output shaft splines and pitman arm splines were constantly wallowed out owing to the nature of the stupid design). The disconnecting (ball and socket) shift linkage, specifically the gears, rails, bushings and seals in the tower, also had unacceptably short life (the average truck's shift tower was rebuilt at least 3 times over its life). It was a terrible design, whereas the shift linkage on the MH Ultra-Liner was superb. I did prefer the original first generation Cruise-Liner instrument panel over the simplified second generation, however the center console had all the aesthetics of a plastic box. It was excessively large and the top (with the vents) frequently cracked and required replacement, a problem resolved with the second generation (It's pretty embarrassing when west coast Mack dealers have console covers hanging in their show room because they're such strong sellers). And then you had those expensive rubber riv-nuts that retained the grille constantly falling out. Here it is year 2016 and I couldn't possibly forget the part number, 68RU29301P5, because it was a hot issue. The Trico pantograph windshield wiper arms and their transmissions didn't hold up. All of these issues were covered in Mack Service Bulletins.............there were more service bulletins on the WS/WL Cruise-Liner than any other single model in the history of Mack Trucks. I found the cab was "beat" less with the 10,500lb front suspension. But dealers were accustomed to ordering the 12,000 front suspension, as they had for years with the heavier steel-cabbed F-model. The work ethic of the employees at the Hayward plant was terrible. They were "California casual" about showing up for work......one never knew how many people were coming in. The Allentown people sent out there were in constant frustration. The workers would install cab screws with their power tools until the threads were stripped. They didn't care. The idea of setting up a west coast plant for west coast truck production was logical. However, there was a people problem. This is all why the plant was closed, and the 2nd gen Cruise-Liner was built at Macungie.......with significantly better quality. I believe Peterbilt closed its plant at nearby Newark, California plant in 1986 for the same reason, issues with assembly quality. Caterpillar, Ford, GM and International Harvester abandoned the Bay Area as well.

Any time one "turns up the fuel", they're simultaneously asking for trouble. If I had a dime for every time I've heard a version of this story.......

I'm pressed for time just now, but I'm going to quickly tell you, the first generation frame that, yes, shared with the RWL/RWS and WL/WS, was NOT a good design. I've mentioned before, the axle-mounted steering gear was a disaster, as was the disconnect shift linkage design (WL/WS). And, it didn't use Mack's superb "body-bound bolts" which led to the same fastener headaches of the "assembled trucks". We gave the west coast engineers some leeway......and it didn't work out. When we fired many of them and brought the Cruise-Liner to Macungie, we "fixed it" as much as we could, to get by until the MH was launched. It still had those flaws, but it was a much better truck. On the other hand, the state-of-the-art Allentown-designed frame used on the MH and RWI, and the cutting edge break-away shifter design (MH), were as advanced as any truck today. And of course, the frame-mounted steering was trouble-free. Frankly speaking, the MH Ultra-Liner was the "best" truck we ever designed.

Relax.......it's all just a show. Seriously, do you honestly believe that either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump would actually be allowed to run America Inc. ?

I've always liked that cab. I don't dislike the CAT instrument panel, but I do like the old instrument panel. I'd like to see NAV offer both, which would please almost everyone.

The Daily Mail (Hagerstown, Maryland) / October 12, 1970 ALLENTOWN, Pa. -- Mack Trucks, Inc., has added another chapter to the success story of its revolutionary "constant horsepower" Maxidyne engine with the production of an even more powerful model, a V-8 Maxidyne delivering 325 horsepower. Announcement of production of this newest turbocharged Maxidyne, which is coupled with the proven five-speed Maxitorque transmission, was made today by Walter M. May, executive vice-president of engineering and product, and Gerald F. Jones, executive vice-president of marketing. May and Winton J. Pelizzoni, chief engineer of power trains, developed the basic Maxidyne principle. Although production of the original 237-horsepower Maxidyne, a six-cylinder in-line engine, began only three years ago, it already accounts for more than 60 per cent of all Mack engines sold. May and Jones stressed that the V-8 Maxidyne, designated ENDT865, is designed to supplement, not replace, the original Maxidyne. "Mack's new V-8," they said, "is the perfect answer for the truck fleets and owner operators in need of an engine in the 325-horsepower range which provides all the advantages of the original Maxidyne, a drastic reduction in the shifting of gears, better operating efficiency, less driver fatigue and a reduction in maintenance costs." Zenon C. R. Hansen, Mack chairman of the board and president, said the newest Mack engine "will further entrench Mack in the Number One spot among all manufacturers of diesel-powered trucks. "Reports on the 23 prototypes we've had running in all sections of the nation for the last two years prove there is nothing else like the Maxidyne V-8. It's another 'first' for Mack, another quality power train from a company known around the world for the durability of its products," said Hansen. Development of the V-8 Maxidyne was under way when Mack introduced the in-line Maxidyne in 1966 and started production of that six-cylinder model the following year. A number of the V-8 prototypes, pulling up to 160,000 pounds gross combination weight, individually have logged more than 200,000 miles. Results showed the Maxidyne made the run with up to 83 percent less shifting of gears and finished about 11 hours ahead of one truck and close to six hours ahead of the other, and provided a substantial fuel economy advantage. The Maxidyne concept of constant horsepower over a broad working range of 1,400 to 2,400 revolutions per minute and a 56 percent torque rise in that range, make the difference. May and Pelizzoni slated: "Through most of its speed range, the Maxidyne actually puts out more power than higher rated engines, which exceed it for only the top 200 rpm. With a Maxidyne, the horsepower increases as rpm drop. Since the engine runs at lower rpm most of the time, it also consumes less fuel.

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International Trucks Press Release / August 25, 2016 Best-in-Class Integrated Powertrain Warranty Package Now Available on New Orders of International DuraStar International Truck announced today the availability of the International DuraStar Integrated Powertrain Warranty Package, an exclusive, best-in-class, 4-year/unlimited miles and hours integrated powertrain warranty on new orders of its Cummins ISB-powered DuraStar model configured with Eaton’s “Procision” 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, Dana Spiceraxles and driveshafts. International is offering this program to businesses in the pick-up and delivery segments as a testament of its confidence in the quality and performance of their medium-duty product. "The International DuraStar is one of the most reliable trucks in the medium-duty market," said Carl Webb, vice president and general manager, Medium-Duty Truck, International Trucks. "This new warranty is both a testament to the outstanding uptime this product delivers and also an example of our commitment to standing behind our products." The 4-year/unlimited miles and hours integrated powertrain warranty on the DuraStar features the most efficient engine ratings offered in the Cummins ISB6.7 diesel powered engine. The addition of the Eaton Procision dual-clutch transmission allows for safe, easy and fuel efficient operation of the truck for any driver. The DuraStar is the first truck in the industry to offer a powertrain that delivers outstanding drivability and high power density through high capacity gearing with the Dana E Series Steer and S140 Drive axle bundle. "Customers in need of a dependable truck that can handle the rigor of stop and go operation and withstand long idle times should strongly consider this specification of the DuraStar," said Webb. "It will deliver the efficiency they need with the peace of mind they require." To qualify for the DuraStar Integrated Powertrain Warranty Package, customers must either order or purchase a DuraStar from an International dealer between Aug. 22, 2016 and Dec. 31, 2016. Eligible truck applications include Dry Van, Refrigerated Van, Roll Back Recovery, Attic Van, Beverage (not tractor), Expedited Freight or Stake Flat with a max GVWR of 33,000 lbs. For more information, go to: www.InternationalTrucks.com.

Commercial Motor TV - sponsored by DAF Trucks / August 25, 2016 .

There's no doubt that Scania man Martin Lundstedt is feeling torn this week.

Key word: “athletic” Scania Group Press Release / August 25, 2016 One of the guiding principles in the development of ­Scania’s new generation of trucks was to create work vehicles for ­professionals, featuring the world’s best driver environment. The result, after a more than a decade of work, shows all the signs of setting a completely new industry standard. As Scania prepared to launch its R-Series in 2004, work had already begun on the next generation of trucks. Working within a number of new projects, the company’s designers sought a deeper understanding of the qualities that distinguished Scania as a brand and characterised its products. Customers and drivers in different segments and markets around the world were interviewed about what Scania meant for them. “We also looked at what assets from our own history could be developed and we studied how society might look over the coming the 5, 10, 20 or 50 years,” says Kristofer Hansén, Head of Scania’s Styling and Industrial Design division. Driver safety, vision, and interior space In parallel with these more theoretical studies, Scania’s designers conducted a number of projects involving experimenting with the layout and functionality of the cab. Based on in-depth studies from ergonomists, different conceptual ideas, and personas (imaginary typical customers), a number of proposals were developed for possible solutions for how the driver environment, sleeping area, storage and other features could take shape, design-wise, in the future. One particular important decision in terms of the design that was made very early on was to move the front axle 50 mm further forward in the next generation of trucks. This has allowed the driver’s basic position to be moved 65 mm closer to the windscreen and 20 mm out towards the side compared to earlier cab generations. “Above all, this allows for major improvements in terms of driver safety, vision, and interior space,” says Hansén. “We also got more space for seat adjustment, storage and the bed. Overall, it helped produce a truck that’s even easier to manoeuvre and has a whole new field of vision from the driver’s position.” The starting point for work on the next generation was that Scania is one of the best trucks to drive and use – and that is should become even better. A big part of the development work, therefore, involved creating an absolutely world-class driver environment. “With our work we aimed for what we sometimes called “masterful control of majestic power,” says Hansén. “It was a description of an outstanding driver environment. It’s what you, as a driver, feel when you have climbed up into the cab and have all that power under you. It communicates directly with you through the wheel, the interior, the sound, colours and functionality.” Hansén continues, “So, the new interior and the driver’s position don’t try to hide that this is a working environment for professionals. The feeling behind the wheel should be like steering a big, powerful premium car, while also simplifying and strengthening functionality through the new digital interface integrated into the driver’s position.” Well-crafted design Field test drivers, customers and other test personnel have, during development work, experienced a level of quality and design in Scania’s new truck cab that is completely new for the industry. Repeatedly heard comments include that the design is well crafted and well thought out, and that it gives the driver a strong sense of being well looked after. Hansén explains, ”Every part and every feature has been exposed to an intense process of questioning and evaluation, and we haven’t taken the easy option of using solutions that after a short period of use will be perceived as meaningless and irritating. When it comes to the new truck’s exterior, Scania has placed the greatest emphasis on aspects related to aerodynamics and, as a result, fuel consumption. All surfaces, including the front, the sides and even the underside, are optimised for the lowest conceivable drag. A powerful interior The exterior design of the new generation of trucks is also built on an approach of asking the question what the product stands for and what Scania wants to convey. But what can designers do with the square box that a truck cab literally is? ”Early on in the project, we determined that we were more agile in our expression than our competitors, and also in our way of looking at what we offer as a brand,” says Hansén. “It’s not just a truck, but rather a whole transport service. Hansén continues, “‘Athletic’ was another word that resonated early on, sometime around 2007. We shouldn’t be some big, strong lump – like a sumo wrestler – but rather a first-class race horse – a thoroughbred – without an ounce of extra fat around its muscles. This, of course, all corresponds with the fantastic engine that we’re known for.” The guidelines for Scania’s new trucks were, thus, to continue to emphasise the existence of the powertrain, with a clear, big front cover and the surfaces around the truck serving as the aerodynamic coverings to a powerful interior. “For this reason, the design language is now more controlled, with sharper lines but at the same time a more accommodating roundness, instead of extreme angularity or simpler, trendier, round areas, which it would have been significantly simpler to build up a design around.” Another goal for Scania’s designers was for the new truck to be a market leader in terms of aerodynamics while at the same time incorporating features that were previously applied separately, such as the sun visor or extra wheel trim. Avoiding huge dash units As part of the basic configuration, position lights and extra lights are now located within the chassis, without negatively impacting aerodynamics. This opened the way for using specific form elements that allowed for the integration of new types of lamps in the cab and chassis, something that heavily contributed to how the new trucks is perceived as a whole. The design of the new dashboard is also built on a desire to avoid the clumsy and huge dash units that are often found in trucks. “We have also tried to express a sense of ‘Agile Strength’ and ‘Flexible Power’,” says Hansén. “Seen from above, the instrument panel has a wing profile that clearly delineates the driver side from the passenger side, or living room if you like.” Hansén concludes, “The panel that the controls sit on is divided up into two segments, an upper and a lower part with an elegant horizontal step in the middle. This makes it easier to find what you’re looking for, you can support your fingers on it, and it makes selection easier and clearer than if we had used a big flat surface with the controls placed wherever.” No unnecessary fat Scania’s new generation of trucks has been designed and developed by the company’s own designers. The guidelines for the design of Scania’s new trucks were to continue to emphasise the powerful engines, but within a slimmer and more athletic form. “The new trucks communicate a sense of power, but in a new, more efficient and more flexible way than the previous generations,” says Anders Lundgren (left), Team Leader for Exterior Styling on the new generation of trucks. “There’s no unnecessary fat around the muscles – these are thoroughbreds.” Human touch Anna Selmarker leads Scania’s efforts in the field of Human Machine Interface (HMI) – the digital interaction between human beings and machines. One of Selmarker’s most important tools is a driver simulator that can simulate virtually any environment or situation that a driver might be exposed to. A good example of the results is the new dashboard, where drivers can simply and intuitively find the information they require. “Our vision is for Scania drivers to always be able to say that they perform best, because they have vehicles that support them in the best and most efficient ways,” she says. “That’s been the guiding principle in our work with the new generation of trucks.” Passenger car feel Christina Isomaa is Team Leader for Colour and Trim for the new truck generation. She and her team work on the colours, textures, and materials of a variety of different details, both within the cab’s interior and on its exterior. “There have been lots of changes in terms of colours and material choices in the new generation of trucks,” says Isomaa. “We have textiles and other materials that can withstand dirt and heavy wear, leathers with fantastic qualities, and small details that create that little bit extra like wood and metal. These are things normally only seen in exclusive passenger cars, so we’re really pleased and proud of these new features.” Passion for details Håkan Kåreby and the Appearance Approval team literally put on white gloves to examine Scania’s new trucks in detail. The team is responsible for the final quality check on all incoming articles. “We thoroughly investigate all parts to check that they are consistent with the idea and the vision that we have for the next generation of Scania trucks,” says Kåreby. “In practice, this means that we examine every visible item, about 2,600 parts. We work with our eyes, which are our primary work tool. We have digital verification tools, we use CAD and other support systems, but our eyes are always superior when it comes to judging colour and shape.” Driver’s best friend Scania’s Styling department has spent a lot of time improving ergonomics and the user-friendliness of the driver environment in every conceivable way. “We work with biomechanical ergonomics, adapting the driver environment to the driver’s bodily requirements and limits,” says Fredrik Pehrson at Scania’s Physical Vehicle Ergonomics division. “Typical questions were how the driver’s seat should be designed. But we also work with macro-ergonomics, adapting the entire cab environment to the drivers’ overall needs in terms of living in and moving about the cab.” “Over the years, we have met and interviewed many drivers to identify their needs in all aspects: direct and indirect sight, space within the cab, the work involved in getting in and out of the cab, the ability to sleep well and store their things, and so on.” Photo gallery - https://www.scania.com/group/en/key-word-athletic/