Your Next Vocational Truck?

October 10, 2019 Volume 1, Number 11

At a recent gathering of the press by Daimler Trucks North America, we journalists were treated to some very interesting visions of tomorrow by students at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, CA.  Samantha Parlier, Western Star’s vice president of marketing and product strategy, led us through four of the most interesting of those visions from a six-month process called the Vocational Truck of the Future Challenge.

Students had only “light guidance” from Western Star people, she said, and by all accounts they didn’t need more.

“Right off the bat, I can tell you that the students approached things differently than what we traditionally do at Western Star,” said Parlier. “The first thing almost every single one of them did was jump on social media. They went in chat rooms and made friends online. They started asking questions. And immediately they had a huge population of vocational customers that they targeted with their questions.”

Some went out in the field and talked to drivers.

“It was exciting to see,” Parlier added, “and exciting to see how accurate was the feedback they got.”

The four models on hand included a very unique snow plow that doesn’t require a loader or an accompanying dump truck, rather it ‘vacuums’ the white stuff up and into an incinerator-like device on behind the cab that simply evaporates it. Plus a dump truck with a very high ride height and no A-pillars to make it easier for the driver to see other workers, obstacles, and rough ground. A skid plate runs its full length. A wild cement mixer concept aims to increase driver comfort and safety, partly by having all controls for both truck and mixer inside the cab. The driver can perform all cleaning tasks without leaving the cab, and a front-loading retractable chute is easier to control, which can also be done from inside the cab.

My favorite was the crane truck shown here, designed for safety, easier service, and better outward vision. There’s a protective ‘exoskeletal’ frame around the driver’s cockpit, and he can operate the crane from in there. Translucent materials are used in key blind-spot areas, the A-pillars are clear, and the roof goes from solid to clear with the push of a button. Sliding doors minimize compromised vision and – get this – the engine slides in and out for easier access and faster service.

HYUNDAI AND CUMMINS PARTNER UP

The two companies have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to “jointly evaluate opportunities” regarding the development and commercialization of fuel cell electric powertrains.

The two companies will presumably marry Hyundai’s fuel cell systems with Cummins’ electric powertrain, battery, and control technologies. The initial development will be focused on the North American commercial vehicle market, including working with North American OEMs on the integration of these systems into their vehicles. The companies will also explore ways they can work together to develop next-generation fuel cell systems, and have each committed to assign a team of individuals to investigate and pursue other areas of collaboration.

“This partnership is a terrific opportunity for both companies to leverage our respective strengths and create new opportunities to grow and broaden the product portfolio we bring to our customers,” said Thad Ewald, vice president, Corporate Strategy, at Cummins. “We’ve made significant investments over the past year to accelerate our fuel cell capabilities including our acquisition of Hydrogenics and this partnership is another step forward.”