The Freightliner Columbia is a medium duty truck designed for short or regional transportation. The vehicle has a highly versatile character and can cope with various medium duty jobs. At the moment the truck is sold in South Africa, New Zeeland and Australia.
Designed to for construction or short haul applications, the Freightliner Columbia offers a light tare weight and ideal axle positioning, being available in 6x4, 8x4 and 10x4 configurations for construction work, and 4x2 or 6x4 for distribution jobs. Furthermore there is also the option of a Day Cab or a 34” Mid-Roof Sleeper.
Under the hood, the Freightliner Columbia is equipped with a Cummins ISLe5 engine which delivers a maximum output of up to 400 hp and 1,254 lb-ft of torque. Thanks to its powerful engine and the solid chassis the Freightliner Columbia can be rated to 40,000 kg Gross Combination Mass.
The Freightliner Century Class is around from some time now and was designed especially for long haul operations. The truck features a conventional cab configuration with an aerodynamic design which gives it a low drag coefficient.
Moreover, the Freightliner Century Class uses strong, lightweight components in the hood and fenders to reduce the overall weight thus allowing for increased payload. The truck has a gross vehicle mass (GVM) of 26000 kg for the 6x4 model and 30800 kg for the 8x4 version. There are also available both day and sleeper cabs and the truck is powered by a Detroit Diesel engine which develops between 470 hp - 525 hp.
In the world of trucking there are a few brands which are instantly put into the “not good” category and don’t even get the chance to prove themselves. Of course that everyone loves the well known and proven European models from DAF, Mercedes, MAN and so on, but what about the less known trucks? Are those trucks that bad to deserve to be treated with ignorance?
Let’s take a closer look at Tata’s Novus model, which is part of the heavy duty league and it’s the first Indian truck that passed the 300 hp barrier and went against the legendary European giants.
After has acquired the truck section from Daewoo, the first model launched by Tata was the Novus. The new truck is based on the Daewoo Novus model which is sold in South Korea.
The Tata Novus features a cab over engine configuration and is available in a wide range of version being able to suit various heavy duty applications. The truck is powered by a Cummins C8 engine which develops between 320 and 420 hp.
Foden has started to build trucks back in 1856 but after a history of 150 years the production was halted.
A significant milestone in the company history was the year 1980 when it became a division of Paccar Inc and has started to build models with its new partner. The last truck built by Foden and Paccar was named the Alpha and it was a cabover engine model powered by Cummins engines. The truck was sold in UK and New Zeeland until July 2006 when the company retired from truck production.
The Foden Alpha had a pretty versatile nature and thanks to its flexible chassis and the wide range of axle configurations it was suited for various heavy duty applications.
At the moment, the company continues to supply spare parts and service for its old trucks throughout the UK.
Dennis Eagle is a British manufacturer of medium duty commercial vehicles specialized in refuse trucks chassis and bodies. The company uses a single type of steel cabin which is combined with different bodies. The company uses the Elite 2 chassis which is a highly versatile product that is able to cope with a wide range of operations. The Elite 2 chassis is compatible with both Dennis Eagle body range and those manufactured by other refuse collection vehicle body suppliers.
The main advantage of the Elite 2 chassis is that it offers the lowest cab entry from the market. The Dennis Eagle trucks are available with 4x2, 6x2 and 8x4 configurations and are equipped with Euro 5 diesel engines supplied by Volvo and Cummins.
Tata decided to take a stab at the heavy duty segment and has come up with the Prima truck which will compete in the 40 tonnes segment with famous names like Scania, Volvo, Iveco and even Mercedes.
Tata plans to sell its heavy duty truck globally and not only in India and this is why it paid maximum attention in the developing process. The Tata Prima’s main objective is to combine strong performances with lower prices featuring strong engines and a generous load capacity. Tata claims that the Prima can cover 600 km with a single driver and 900 km with two drivers in a day.
The Chinese manufacturers are starting to conquer more and more markets and their vehicles have finally begun to offer satisfactory performances and prove that these guys are fast learners. However, some faults regarding the build quality and reliability still remain, but some sacrifices had to be done to keep the price as cheap as possible.
The new generation of Heavy Duty trucks from JAC is a major improvement over the previous models, but while we appreciated the technical upgrade and the more comfortable cabin, we’ll have to criticize the exterior design. There isn’t anything inherently wrong with it, but it’s almost identical with Scania’s trucks and you won’t need to be an expert to spot the resemblance.
Not many of you heard about JAC, mostly because it’s a Chinese manufacturer which until recently didn’t managed to catch much attention. The company however, has recently made a joint venture with Navistar and started to use Cummins engines for its lineup of trucks.
At the moment, JAC is also in full expansion and plans to conquer new markets. Its lineup of vehicles includes light, medium and heavy duty models and all of them are fairly versatile.
The Heavy duty range of trucks is offered in tractor, mixer, dump and lorry configurations with gross vehicle weights ranging from 13000 kg to 50000 kg.
Mitsubishi’s range of heavy duty trucks received recently a host of upgrades which make it able to deal better with the competition. The truck received new engines, new transmissions and a host of useful features, most of them being based on Daimler’s products.
Thanks to the new upgrades, the Mitsubishi Fuso Heavy has made an important step forward, being closer to the requirements of today’s transport industry.
Mitsubishi’s Fuso Heavy range includes two models namely the FP and FV models. The trucks come with a choice of three diesel engines and with GCM (Gross Combination Mass) ratings between 40.000 – 58.000 kg.
The Freightliner Argosy received a major upgrade in 2011 and features a new exterior style and a host of technical modifications. A few years ago, Freightliner decided to withdraw the truck from the US market, and focus especially on the Australian and South African markets.
Compared to the old generation the latest model is a major evolution, as besides the exterior and interior upgrades it also comes with a wider range of engines and transmissions which make it more versatile. Moreover, the truck is also fitted with a improved air management system along with a much larger radiator.
There are two engine options available for the Freightliner Argosy, namely the Detroit Diesel DD15 and Cummins ISX. The engines offer maximum outputs that can go up to 600 hp with 2050 lb-ft of torque.
Available in 90”, 101”, 110” midroof and 110” raised roof variants, the Argosy’s cabins offer a high level of versatility and are designed to cope with a wide range of road missions. The new generation Freightliner Argosy is also available in 6x4 and 8x4 versions and can be rated up to 140 tonnes GCM (gross combination mass).
The ACCO is a medium duty truck build by Iveco. The vehicle was designed for the Australian market and is available in a wide range of versions with 4x2, 6x4 and 8x4 axle configurations. Thanks to its versatile character, the truck can be used for waste, distribution and construction applications.
The Iveco ACCO has a long history behind and was launched for first time in 1972. Since then, the truck was continuously improved and the latest major upgrade was made in 2007 when the truck received a new exterior design together with improved comfort and efficiency.
The Iveco Acco is powered by a 2010 Cummins ISL-E5 engine which is available with three power ratings, ranging from 260 hp to 315 hp.
Heavy duty trucks are the strongest “weapons” of any truck manufacturer and they are usually equipped with powerful engines and an ultra resistant frame which serves as a reliable base for the arduous jobs of the vehicle.
In Hyundai’s lineup, the heavy duty league is represented by the HD range of trucks which are available with a plethora of engines, suspensions and wheelbase lengths. All models share the same exterior design and the same interiors.
Thanks to its flexible character, Hyundai’s heavy duty HD series can take many forms and can be used as a Tractor, Dump, Concrete Mixer or Cargo. The Hyundai HD range is offered with a choice of 4x2, 6x2 or 8x4 axle configurations.
The Isuzu Gigamax is the biggest truck built by the Japanese manufacturer and was designed for heavy duty applications. The Gigamax has a cab over engine configuration which is usually typical for the European trucks and comes with a gross combination mass (GCM) of up to 70 tones.
The truck is sold globally and incorporates Isuzu’s latest technologies being equipped with strong and torquey Euro V diesel engines which develop between 415 and 510 hp. Isuzu was always appreciated for its proven reliability and the Gigamax makes no exception offering a standard 3 years or 500.000 kilometer warranty.
The Western Star 4900 and 4800 were designed with power and versatility in mind. The trucks come with various options available which made them perfectly suited for a wide range of applications, starting with long hauls missions and finishing with vocational jobs.
The trucks are available in five configurations with both Day and Sleeper cabs and also with either set forward or set back axles and conventional or double steer configurations. Under the hood, the Western Star 4900 can be equipped with a choice of Detroit Diesel or Cummins engines which can develop up to 600 hp.
One of the toughest trucks built by Western Star is the 6900 model which can haul loads of up to 500.000 pounds. Designed as a severe duty vehicle the Western Star 6900 has a strong build quality and an imposing character.
The truck is also highly versatile and comes with a wide range of options which permit you to customize it according to specific needs. Thanks to its flexible character the Western Star 6900 is also available with twin steer configuration and can be use for long haul, construction, mining, logging, oil or gas and towing or recovery applications.
To be able to get its heavy duty tasks without thinking twice the 6900 is offered with a choice of Detroit diesel engines which can develop up to 600 hp and 2050 lb ft of torque.
The Kenworth C500 is the biggest and the strongest truck build by Kenworth. The truck was designed as a heavy duty vehicle for severe duty activities and features a bullet proof build quality and the character of a true tank on wheels.
The Kenworth C500 has a GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) of up to 150,000 lbs. and is available with heavy duty axles and suspensions which can deal with massive payloads without breaking a sweat. The Kenworth C500 can be equipped with strong engines which develop up to 600 hp and features manual or automatic transmissions, with either front or rear PTOs (power take-off).
The Kenworth T800 is among the toughest trucks built by the company. The T800 has a highly versatile character and is comes in both Day and Sleeper cabs. To be able to deal with its heavy duty missions the truck is equipped with a bunch of strong Paccar engines and features a generous radiator sized from 1,440-1780 square inches. The engines can be mated on automated transmissions which are combined with either rear or front engine PTOs.
Thanks to a solid construction, the front axles can take up to 22,000 pounds, while the twin steer front axles can deal with up to 37,500 pounds. For an enhanced versatility the Kenworth T800 is also available with front drive axles, pusher axles and tags, single, tandem and tridem drives.
The vocational truck market is highly competitive as the manufacturers try to continuously improve their models in order to keep the truckers satisfied. But apart from the engines, chassis and payloads which play a major role in the trucking industry, there is one thing that is more important than anything else. And that’s the vehicle’s reliability.
Volvo was always appreciated for two things, namely the safety and reliability of its vehicles. This is why the company continues to play a major role on the vocational market as its VHD model is one of the most appreciated and strong built trucks in its segment.
The truck is available in two versions including the VHD Standard and the VHD 430 which is available with both Day and Sleeper cab configurations.
Introduced in 2007 the 365 vocational model completes the company’s lineup of medium duty applications for refuse and construction industries. The truck is highly versatile and is available with two axle configurations - set forward and set back. The set-back front axle configurations are available with FEPTO and all set-forward front axle configurations are available with REPTO for versatility with job specific applications. The Peterbilt 365 is available with both Day and Sleeper cab configuration.
Besides the different axle and cab configurations, the truck can be also ordered with a wide variety of other different heavy duty components for increased payloads and optimized weight distribution.
The truck is priced around $140.000 and features a conventional cab configuration. Under the hood the Peterbilt 365 is equipped with a wide range of engine options including Paccar MX, Cummins ISL-G, Cummins ISX and Cummins ISL9 units with maximum outputs between 320 and 480 hp.
The Western Star 4700 vocational model was engineered to meet the highest standards for construction and municipal applications. Western Star was already known for its reliable trucks and the 4700 makes no exception, being hand built with maximum attention to every detail. The truck is available in both SF (set forward axle) and SB (set BACK axle) configurations, and was designed especially for snow plow, dump, mixer, roll-off, crane and sewer vacuum applications.
The Western Star 4700 is offered with a choice of Detroit and Cummins engines with maximum outputs between 260-350 hp. The 4700 is priced around $110.000 and has a maximum gross vehicle weight rating of up to 64,000 pounds.
