AUSTRALIA’S #1 TRUCK MARKETPLACE TradeTrucks.com.au 181
was absolutely nothing from Tesla about electric
trucks, and likewise zilch from Cummins about its
similarly fast-paced push into electric propulsion.
I didn’t see it, but an Australian product
manager wandering around MATS told me the
only electric vehicle he saw was a battery-driven
go-kart tucked away on the small nondescript
stand of a research outfit.
By comparison, the Tokyo Motor Show late last
year was awash with electric technology, led by
Daimler’s Fuso with the launch of its dedicated
electric brand, E-Fuso, and a highly advanced
prototype model called Vision One.
Still, truckin’ in America isn’t all about new-
fangled gadgets and gizmos. Never has been,
and while MATS lacked plenty in big brand
presentation, it at least had enough of the new
and the novel, the old and the bold, the long
and the lavish, to satisfy lovers of classic Yank
trucks and keep the good ol’ guys ‘n’ gals mildly
entertained.
Anyway, here’s a pictorial summary of Mid-
America 2018, a show with a touch of everything
but on the other hand, not much of anything.
ABSENT FRIENDS
Other than Mack and Paccar though, Louisville
was slim pickings indeed for new trucks from the
big boys of the business.
No Freightliner, or its corporate cousins Detroit
and Western Star.
No International, other than a very lonely
Lonestar, courtesy of the local Louisville dealer.
No Volvo, highlighting the fact that in the US,
Mack and Volvo definitely go their separate ways.
No Japanese truck brands despite an ever-
increasing presence in the US.
And of course, no Cat.
As for new technology, only the Shell ‘Starship’
truck and trailer concept went some way towards
showcasing the efficiency merits of advanced
aerodynamic design.
What’s more, and despite the fact that most
major US truck brands are now digging deep into
advanced technologies such as autonomous
trucks, the only indication of autonomous
behaviour at Mid-America appeared to be the
public rush to anything labelled ‘free’.
Unfortunately, and perhaps unsurprisingly, there
TRUCK SHOWS
1.It represents a new era for the
bulldog where the ultimate goal
is to rebuild Mack’s presence in
North American linehaul. The
big news is a stand-up cab and
70-inch sleeper, and yep, the
cab is headed our way but only
after a prolonged Australian test
program.
2.Lookin’ good but it’s a fair bet
US build quality wouldn’t do in
our part of the world.
3.Kenworth and Peterbilt were
pushing the Paccar barrow but
it’s a marketing mirage. The
engine is Paccar’s MX but make
no mistake, the automated
transmission comes from Eaton
and the drive tandem from
Meritor.
4&5.Peterbilt’s pride-of-place
went to a 579 model with the
new Ultra-Loft 80-inch sleeper.
The real star, however, was the
567 model, the one-millionth
Peterbilt ever built and given
away to the person judged the
brand’s greatest fan. How they
came to a decision is beyond
me, but a bloke named Rick
McClerkin from California got
the gong. Nice win, mate!
3
5
2
4