Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/388078
40 COMMERCIAL CARRIER JOURNAL | OCTOBER 2014 F orget what you think you know about Western Star. Last month, the proud niche player that made its name with tough long- nosed conventional designs intro- duced its new aerodynamic 5700XE highway tractor at a Las Vegas press launch. The new truck features a sculpted and sleek design that retains the bold styling and robust stance of years past while delivering fuel economy numbers that place the truck firmly in today's most aggressive greenhouse gas emissions regulation category. Accord- ing to Western Star design engineers, the new truck already is earning the company U.S. Environmental Protec- tion Agency emissions credits with its fuel efficiency performance – a feat unprecedented in the company's 47- year history. XE – which stands for extreme efficiency – summarizes exactly what Western Star wants the new truck to be about, said Michael Jackson, the company's general manager. "By blending legendary Western Star rug- gedness with aerodynamic innovations and the most fuel-efficient powertrain available, we have built a powerful solution that is the best of both worlds – and unlike anything else on the road today," Jackson said. The Class 8 on-highway truck is suited for owner-operators and small- to medium-sized fleets in truckload, less-than-truckload, bulk, refrigerated, long-haul and manufacturing applica- tions. The 5700XE features a 126-inch BBC with a set-back axle; a daycab version also is available. Sleeper configurations include 34-, 40-, 54-, 68- and 82-inch heights in low-roof, high-roof Stratosphere and ultra-high-roof Stratosphere. Wheel- bases up to 250 inches are standard, with longer wheelbases available. "Some people say we're late to the aerodynamic trend in trucking, but we think our timing is perfect," Jackson said. "We're now seeing smaller fleets and owner-operators starting to get back into the industry now that the economy is improving, and the 5700XE is perfectly positioned to help them make money while owning a dis- tinctive truck that fits their image and sets them apart from the competition." Many features In developing the 5700XE, Western Star opted to leverage the full techno- logical resources of Daimler Trucks North America, Jackson said. The truck will be produced at Daimler's plant in Cleveland, N.C.; Western Star is based in Fort Mill, S.C. Dealers will start accepting orders later this year. Ann Demitruk, director of mar- keting for Western Star, highlighted a multitude of design features that AERODYNAMIC HEAVY HAULER Western Star's new 5700XE unites its past, future BY JACK ROBERTS C C J T E S T D R I V E : W E S T E R N S T A R 5 7 0 0 X E A multitude of features define the new truck, including an aerodynamic hood, roof, chassis and cab fairings designed to reduce drag and increase efficiency. JACK ROBERTS