Hands-on Trucking

Hands-On Trucking
International’s LoneStar Has a Retro-Happy Face
Radical styling catches eyes, but there’s much more to this latest model from Navistar
5/1/2009
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
Volvo I-Shift Has Indiana Fans
Volvo's self-shifting electro-mechanical transmission works quickly and smoothly for this loyal fleet
4/1/2009
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
Fitzgerald Glider Runs Like a New Truck
Rebuilt engine and remanufactured transmission cut substantial cost from the price, and there's no federal excise tax, either
3/1/2009
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
Eaton Hybrid Drive Applied to a Dump Truck
With Eaton's electric system, Peterbilt's latest Model 335 works best in stop-and-go operations
2/1/2009
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
SCR Diesel Engine Delivers Good Fuel Economy
Selective catalytic reduction, to be used by Mack and others for 2010 diesel engines, has worked well so far in fleet testing
1/1/2009
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
Two-Mode Hybrid: Smooth and Quiet
Advanced gasoline-electric system from GM and Chrysler saves fuel and is intriguing to operate; next year it'll be available in pickups
11/1/2008
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
International PayStar 5900i SBA Expands Capabilities
New axle setting shoulders more weight and aids maneuverability,while the truck lives up to its “premium” billing
9/1/2008
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
Freightliner FLD-SD Has Old-School Style, Modern Mechanicals
The last of Freightliner's long running FLD series proves as pleasant to drive as anything our editor has handled
8/1/2008
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
Kenworth T170 Is The Real Deal
Kenworth's Class 5 truck shows "premium" build quality, though its stout cab could use some stretching
7/1/2008
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
Addi-Drive Delivers Enhanced Traction On- or Off-Road
Hydrostatic front-wheel drive turns a 4x2 or 6x4 truck into a 4x4 or 6x6, while Creep-Drive allows very low speeds for specialty work
6/1/2008
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
Sterling 360 Medium Duty Truck Scoots Along
Driving the Sterling 360 Class 4 truck was outright fun. It is a slick, quick and nimble truck that deserves more sales than it gets.
5/1/2008
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
Berg Humbled by Mack Challenge
Competing in Mack's driving contest wasn't entirely foolish, but "winner" he wasn't
4/1/2008
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
MaxxForce Heavy Diesels... Smooth, Quiet, Gutsy
International's upcoming 'big-bore' engines have interesting features, and test fleets offer positive reviews
3/1/2008
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
Dodge Ram 5500HD Shows Serious Midrange Abilities
New commercial truck has a beefy chassis and the premium Cummins turbo diesel
2/1/2008
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
Kenworth-Eaton Hybrid Makes Clean Deliveries
"Diesel-electric" truck saves about 35 percent in fuel for its owner, a building supply chain located in hilly Seattle, Washington
1/1/2008
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
Volvo Sleeper Cab Means Off-Road Rest
Decent power from a new EPA '07 diesel and notable gearshift improvement make the 430 a nice place to work
11/1/2007
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
Component Integration in Heavy Trucks
Vertical integration as practiced in Europe and Asia gains ground here, for better or worse
10/1/2007
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
Multiplexed Wiring Aids Truck-Equipment Integration
10/1/2007
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
Mack Pinnacle is Solid and Satisfying
This new model has much more than a new name — a bigger, stronger engine, for instance
9/1/2007
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
General Motor’s Heavy Duty Pickups Come Work Ready
Most people expect a firm ride in 3/4- and 1-ton pickups,and they'll get it in the new Heavy Duty models
8/1/2007
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
Big, Bold Nose Among WorkStar's Features
The taller hood houses a bigger radiator for '07-spec diesels, which at this event were all yellow
7/1/2007
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
Trio of Ts: Show Basic Strengths
Kenworth's versatile T800 can be fitted for many on/off-road duties. But wait — what model is that mixer?
6/1/2007
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
SuperDuties Provide Super Ride, Traction
Ice storm complicates logistics of press event, but doesn't stop Ford's redesigned-for-2008 heavy pickup trucks
4/1/2007
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
Volvo, Mack Diesel-Electric Hybrids Work for Air Force
Prototype diesel-electric truck for the U.S. Air Force is easy to drive, and it could lead to commercial production in 2009
3/1/2007
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
'Driving Experience' Key to GM's New Pickups
The half-ton Silverado and Sierraalso show new emphasis on design,inside and out, for better and for worse
2/1/2007
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
Spicer Deflation Device Gives Trucks Go-Ability
Bleeding air from tires eases travel over deep sand, and some customers now ask for delivery by "tire truck"
1/1/2007
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
Ram 3500 HD Adds Beef, Power
Dodge is getting serious about medium-duty trucks, and has a real contender with the latest model and its '07-spec Cummins Turbo Diesel
12/1/2006
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
Peterbilt 365's Newness Is Mostly Under Its Hood
One of the builder's renamed models looks and drives like a 357, but without the diesel exhaust odor
11/1/2006
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
Are You Ready For January '07 Engines?
New 2007 diesels will burn much cleaner, will run hotter, cost more, and need special fuel, motor oil and servicing
10/1/2006
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
New Engines, New Looks Included in '07 Trucks
10/1/2006
by Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
Monster Pickups Are More Than Toys
Accubuilt's rendition of the really-big-pickup theme is capable of some serious hauling and towing
9/1/2006
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
Tundra Double Cab: Not Big Enough?
Drive one and you'd probably say it's fine, but a larger one's on the way
9/1/2006
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
Terex Mixer Shows Concept's Advantages
Good visibility, decent maneuverability, and an Allison automatic make this front-discharge chassis easy to drive, but are also important to its delivery role
8/1/2006
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
Roomy Yukon XL Now E85 Capable
GM includes full-size SUVs in its boosting use of corn-derived ethanol to get us away from imported oil
7/1/2006
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
Unimog Goes Anywhere, Almost Automatically
An automated mechanical transmission is Mercedes-Benz's clever answer to the Allison question, and it might well be sufficient
6/1/2006
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
Paystar Mixer Truck Offers Weight-Loss Lessons
International's 5600i truck is as nice to drive as it is lean at the scales, which bodes well for driver and owner
5/1/2006
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
Basic Ford F-350 Truck Offers Deluxe Performance
Plain-Jane trim is only skin deep, as Ford's F-350 Super Duty truck comes with comfort, performance and a high capacity for work
4/1/2006
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
Volvo's VT 800 Heads Right Down Your Alley
This gleaming heavy hauler is big on style, power and comfort
3/1/2006
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
Chrome Glints from Mack's Rawhide Tractor
Attention-grabbing trim boosts egos but doesn't tarnish this rig's basic toughness
1/1/2006
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
T800's Short, but Long On Comfort
The latest version of Kenworth's 'T8' is set up for snow plowing, but not on this 100-degree day in Texas
11/1/2005
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
Deere CNG Engine Runs Clean and Quiet
A prototype natural-gas-powered M2 was costly, but makes business, strategic and clean-air sense, says PG&E
9/1/2005

Hands-On Trucking
Looks Brutish, But It Behaves
Peterbilt's 357HH shrugs off Houston's heat and humidity as it smoothly cruises the concrete
8/1/2005
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
Condor Chassis Is Strong but Lovable
Freightliner's low COE is built primarily for trash hauling, but works great as a concrete pumper truck, too
7/1/2005
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
CX Automatic: A Smooth Operator
Caterpillar's vocational truck transmission will offer new competition in a growing market segment
6/1/2005
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
Mack's Axle Back Takes Turns Tightly
The third in the Granite series is made for heavy axle loads in many eastern/central states
5/1/2005
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
Volvo's VT880 Has Big Features
The new model's prime reason for being is a Big Power 16-liter diesel, which needs a huge hood to house it
4/1/2005
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
International 7700 Offers More Capacity and a Smooth Ride
The new model is designed for bridge-formula states, and it features a forward-set steer axle and lightweight frame
3/1/2005
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
M2Vs Mean Business in Snow and on the Go
Vocational variants of Freightliner's Business Class Series show exceptional maneuverability and a good ride on and off road
2/1/2005
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
Cat's C15 Easily Handles This Job
Heavy specs for heavy hauling include the most powerful truck diesel on the market - the 625-horsepower C15
1/1/2005
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

Hands-On Trucking
Factory Made 4×4s Go Almost Anywhere
Medium-duty Chevy Kodiak and GMC TopKick are nimble and quick - both on-and off-road
11/1/2004
By Tom Berg, Truck Editor

New Products

Continental
A wider deep rib design provides Continental's new HSU2 heavy-truck steer tire with increased tread life. 8/1/2009

Bore Repair
The patent-pending Bore Repair Groover snap-ring groove cutting tool will fit inside and machine bores as small as 2.5 inches in diameter. 8/1/2009

Construction Employment Shrinks Again
7/2/2009 8:25:00 AM

Online News and Multimedia on Construction Equipment

7/2/2009

Worker, Lowered by Crane, Pulls Woman from River
7/1/2009 11:26:00 AM

Low-Priced Caterpillar Equipment Sold at Auction
7/1/2009 9:00:00 AM

May Construction Spending Lowest in 5 Years
7/1/2009 8:57:00 AM

Bri-Mar
Bri-Mar says it adapted its dump-trailer design for strictly off-road applications by trimming the lights, brakes, on-board hydraulics and pricing. The new AG-510 Series is currently available with 5- by 10-foot bed and a choice of either a single axle rated at 5,000 pounds gross vehicle weight or dual walking-beam suspension rated at 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight. 7/1/2009

AIM
AIM’s new GPL line of heavy-duty loader grapple buckets, for wheel loaders of all sizes, are made with AR400 steel cutting edges and reinforced corners and gussets. Thick wear straps build abrasion resistance into the bucket bottom. 7/1/2009

AIM
The new HDT48 universal mechanical bucket thumb from AIM Attachments, designed to fit 12,000 to 20,000-pound excavators, is 12 inches wide and 48 inches long. 7/1/2009

Hands-on Trucking

New Products

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