With the announcement of a new set of models from Western Star, Diesel looks at the X-factor which is now part of a new Star rising. Read more
A Trend Across the Trucking Industry
If anything, the introduction of the Western Star 5800FE is an indication of a trend across the trucking industry. Truck operators are, finally, starting to really care about fuel consumption and will buy trucks accordingly. In the past some were fuel oriented and others paid lip service to lower fuel use, without wanting to compromise on truck styling and driver acceptance.
A Much Smoother Star
The Western Star 5800 doesn’t quite fit with the narrative, this is a much smoother Star with a good aerodynamic shape and modern styling. Normally, the Western Star brand is well known for its rugged no nonsense truck styling with traditional radiator, air cleaners and stacks, plus plenty of bling.
Conventional Contenders
The short BBC conventional B-double prime mover market is dominated by Kenworth, especially with the T610 arriving, but there are other conventional contenders in this segment. Diesel looks at two of these, the International ProStar and the Western Star 5800FE, to see what they have to offer.
The Conventional Contenders
The short BBC conventional B-double prime mover market is dominated by Kenworth, especially with the T610 arriving, but, what about the conventional contenders in this segment? In the next issue of Diesel Magazine, we look at two of these, the International ProStar and the Western Star 5800SS, to see what they have to offer.
Bigger 6×2 Choice
Truck buyers at the lighter end of the heavy duty market now have a bigger 6×2 choice, with the soft introduction of the Western Star 2800SS. These trucks are up against still competition from the four Japanese brands, who all offer an array of choices at 6×2. None of them have a bonnet, though. This distinguishing feature has a lot of history in Australia and is attractive to many truck buyers. Read more
Bringing a Truck in Through the Back Door
In a soft sell approach, by bringing a truck in through the back door, the Western Star 2800SS model’s entry into the Australian truck market through Penske’s-house rental fleet, is a softly, softly approach. The trucks may be on our streets with Penske blue stripes on the body, but they are available to the average truck buyer through Penske dealerships. Read more
Soft Sell Truck
After a big presentation in 2015, the Western Star 2800 seems to have become a soft sell truck. It had disappeared from the radar, before reappearing last year, in the Penske Truck Rental colours. Diesel News puts the conventional light heavy rigid through its paces. Read more
Eaton and Cummins Getting Closer
This video from the US shows us Eaton and Cummins getting closer as they offer a more integrated driveline to US truck buyers. This particular AMT has just gone on sale in the US and is not destined to appear here for some time.
The gearbox is part of a comprehensive program where Eaton and Cummins are working very closely together to come up with a fully integrated package. The engine and transmission communicate seamlessly with each other and with whichever truck they are fitted into. Read more
Keeping Track of Tippers
In a busy operations office, it’s difficult keeping track of tippers. Tippers run grain from the farmer’s paddock into grain storage at harvest time, and haul grain out of storage facilities to the ports, or wherever it is bound, for the rest of the year.
“We started in trucks back in 1998,” says Peter Parslow, Castlemac Traders (CMT) Operations Manager and Freight Coordinator. “CMT was formed as the transport division of Agrigrain. They are a seed business and grain trader, so we needed trucks to cart our own seed. We had had some people cart some seed for us and it had got contaminated. Read more