Mack Trucks aims to increase Class 8 market share in western U.S.

Mack Trucks has a long history in the western U.S. The company offered trucks such as the LTLSW in the 1940s, the Great Western B series and G series in the 1950s, the FL model in the 1960s and the WS-WL and RW-RWL models in the 1970s.

These trucks were designed with aluminum components to make them lighter, and larger engines to make them more powerful, factors that made them better suited to handle high altitudes, long grades and extreme desert temperatures. Those models gave Mack an advantage in the western U.S. at the time, but the company has since struggled to compete without trucks designed specifically for the region. Mack wants to make a comeback in the Class 8 market in the western U.S. with the introduction of its new model, the Anthem.

Updated product offering

Unveiled in September, the Mack Anthem builds on the legacy of lightweight high-power trucks and also adds improved fuel economy, comfort and technology. It uses Mack’s integrated powertrain, which offers multiple engine and transmission options. Available engines include Mack’s latest offerings: the lighterweight MP7 (11L engine producing up to 425hp and 1,560 lb-ft), the powerhouse MP8 (13L engine producing up to 505hp and 1,860 lb-ft) and the more efficient MP8-TC (13L turbocompounding engine producing up to 455hp and 1,860 lb-ft). The transmission lineup includes two manual transmissions, two mDRIVE automated manuals and the fully automatic Allison 4000 series.

“The MP8 … [is] able to pull 80,000 lbs up Baker grade,” said Roy Horton, director of product strategy at Mack Trucks. Baker grade refers to the stretch of Interstate 15 between Baker, California en route to Las Vegas, known for its steep 5 to 7 percent grade and exceptionally hot weather. “If you’ve ever experienced Baker grade in the summertime, temperatures are 110-plus degrees F and it’s a constant 6 percent grade for 20 miles,” Traversing a stretch of highway that long and that steep can also be extremely taxing on a vehicle, so an engine that can power through and still provide optimal fuel economy would be considered advantageous.

Stu Russoli, Mack Trucks highway product manager, spoke more to Anthem’s fuel economy, saying the new MP7 and MP8 engines introduced earlier this year improved fuel economy by 2.5 to 3 percent. “We’re now again improving on top of that with 3 percent [fuel economy gained] through aerodynamics,” he said. These increases in fuel economy add up to less money spent on fuel and more time spent on the road.

Interior improvements

The Anthem’s interior is a considerable upgrade to the Mack lineup as well. An optional custom designed seat, manufactured by Sears, offers enhanced comfort and durability, air suspension, optional swivel base and 30+ feature and fabric combinations, according to Russoli.

The dash layout has been reconfigured to be more intuitive for drivers, with cruise control now on the steering wheel and more controls on the left and right stalks.

Mack’s Co-Pilot system resides on a 5” screen directly in front of the driver, and can be configured to display warnings and additional gauges. A 7” touchscreen to the right of the driver houses Mack’s new infotainment system. The optional system will be available later next year, said Russoli. “It has TomTom navigation, it has Apple CarPlay, it also has a backup camera built into it,” he said. “You put it in reverse and it will automatically show up on this 7” screen so you can see what’s behind you.” Additional cameras can be added to the sides of the truck or trailer and be displayed on the infotainment screen as well.

In addition to being available on Anthem, this interior configuration is also available on Mack Granite and Pinnacle models as well.

Additional technology has been applied to Anthem in the form of driver assist technologies. According to Russoli, Anthem models come standard with Bendix Wingman Fusion, a camera- and radar-based system that can read speed limit signs, alert the driver if there is a vehicle on the right side of the truck, warn the driver when he or she is getting too close to another vehicle and even slow the truck down and brake if the driver fails to do so.

Conclusion

With the number of upgrades and improvements introduced on the Anthem, Mac Trucks intends to increase its western U.S. Class 8 market share.

Jonathan Randall, senior vice president of North American sales noted, “The response has been outstanding, the order intake has been robust and we are extremely happy with the quote volumes since we launched the truck.”

Randall confirms the response so far has been positive among fleets. “We do very well in the small-to-mid-sized fleets, the owner-operator segments, the small operators, particularly in the line-haul business. But now we’ve got fleets coming to us saying ‘We really like what you guys are offering, we’d really like to test them, we’d really like to get our drivers in them,’ and it’s really opened some doors for us.”