Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/923471
20 commercial carrier journal | january 2018 Mack discusses large fleet prospects, Western market push, e-mobility's future W ith total North American Class 8 truck orders expected to eclipse 235,000 units in 2017 and 260,000 in 2018, Mack Trucks is con- fident in its prospects to grow market share. Bolstered by the introduction of the new Anthem launched last fall, the truck maker believes it is better positioned than ever to earn business from mid- to large-size fleets in the long-haul and regional-haul markets not currently part of the company's traditional customer base. "We've been happy with volumes and general interest from customers not in our normal wheelhouse," said Jonathan Randall, Mack's senior vice president of North American sales, adding its core clientele historically has been owner-operators and small and mid-size fleets in linehaul applica- tions. "e Anthem has opened doors for us, and you'll see these trucks run- ning in colors with badges on the side that you haven't seen in a lot of years." Mack expects the long-haul segment of the total NAFTA Class 8 market to grow from 41 percent last year to 43 percent in 2018. With the growth in e-commerce and final-mile delivery affecting freight patterns, Randall expects the regional-haul total NAFTA Class 8 market to continue its gains. Class 8 orders in the construction segment, currently 16 percent of total NAFTA Class 8 orders, are expected to remain consistent. "e construction segment, in general numbers, will re- main fairly flat in a very good market, but as a percentage of the total market, it may come down a little." Mack expects to maintain its construction segment market share with its Granite. Mack also is emphasizing growth opportunities west of the Mississippi River. e company currently has a 5 percent market share in the Western region, and it plans to double that with its current product mix that it believes now provides an advantage by suiting a wider variety of applications across both flat and mountainous terrains. "We are all about application ex- pertise," said Randall. "Our [Western market share] has fallen off a little bit. We will focus on this region as an opportunity, because we have the right trucks and right technology to drive growth." Referring to the MP8 13-liter engine with 505 hp and up to 1,860 lb.-. of torque, "We can pull 80,000 pounds on any grade without a prob- lem, and our 13-liter is a very good alternative to a 15-liter engine." Electrification on the horizon With the recent concept launches of the Nikola One and Tesla Semi electric and hybrid-electric tractors, as well as traditional truck makers beginning to roll out their own electric-drivetrain models, Mack also is investigating diesel alternatives. "Electromobility is on the bubble and something everyone is looking at," said Roy Horton, Mack's director of product strategy. "It definitely will be part of our future, but how that takes shape is the big question." Horton said e-mobility's initial growth will be in segments with home-based charging and not depen- dent on infrastructure, citing current uses in the public transportation and refuse markets. He said from there, it will expand to applications with fixed routes where charging infrastructure is secure and range requirements are less, including local distribution and select regional-haul and vocational niches. "Last to emerge will be long-dis- tance applications in corridors with secured infrastructure," said Horton. "ere will be pressure for alterna- tive drivelines and fuels, but diesel is cleaner than it has ever been and is doing an incredible job across our in- dustry and across the world. As these new technologies emerge, it will be an uphill battle and will take time to fill all the areas the diesel engine does today." – Jeff Crissey Bolstered by the introduction of the new Anthem launched last fall, Mack Trucks believes it is better positioned than ever to earn business from mid- to large-sized fleets in the long-haul and regional-haul markets.