ATD Commercial Truck of the Year Award

In 2013, the American Truck Dealers (ATD) will again proudly honor two new commercial trucks representing both the heavy-duty (class 8) and medium-duty (classes 3-7) weight classes.

Winners will be announced on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2013, during a special presentation at the ATD Convention & Expo in Orlando, Fla. Immediately following the trophy presentation, a press event will be arranged in the exhibit hall. The ATD convention will once again run concurrently with the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) Convention and Expo in Orlando from Feb. 8-11.

To determine the winners, a five-member panel of journalists test drove and evaluated the trucks at ADESA Las Vegas on Oct. 5. The judges are Tom Berg, chief judge, Heavy Duty Trucking; Paul Hartley, writer and owner of AddMedia; David Kolman, Fleet Maintenance Magazine; Jim Park, Heavy Duty Trucking; and Jack Roberts, Commercial Carrier Journal. The judging criteria includes innovation and design, safety and driver satisfaction. 

2013 Nominees

MEDIUM DUTY:
Ford F-650 Ford is now offering the F-650 with a powerful 6.8-liter V10 gasoline engine, an exclusive in the medium-duty truck segment. The three-valve gas engine produces 362 horsepower and 457 lb.-ft. of torque coupled with a Ford 6R410 six-speed transmission with double overdrive gears for improved fuel economy. The gar variant costs thousands less than diesel trucks of its size. The truck is available with a gaseous fuel preparation package for conversion to compressed natural gas (CNG) or propane (LPG) fuels to help fleets lower their operating costs. The Ford F-650 is also available with SYNC technology to keep drivers connected while keeping their eyes on the road.
Hino 195h Hino makes the Diesel-Electric Hybrid a viable option in the U.S. commercial truck industry for the first time with the completely redesigned 195h, a 19,500 GVW cab-over truck powered by Hino’s proprietary J06 diesel-electric hybrid powertrain. This is Hino’s sixth generation hybrid system and the first to be designed for all world markets. In the design concept, North American “must haves” such as 210 HP, 33” frame rails and a cab that could accommodate a person that is 6’6” with a size 13 shoe were incorporated. Their two COE models stack-up from both an environmental and a financial standpoint – the only commercial Hybrid in the market to do so.
Isuzu Reach The Reach commercial van, with a body designed by Utilimaster Corporation atop a rugged Isuzu NPR ECO-MAX chassis and powered by Isuzu’s legendary 3.0-liter diesel engine, will achieve 35 percent better fuel economy than a traditional commercial van while still offering the functionality of a custom-built work truck along with the styling and ergonomics of a cargo van. The Reach offers exceptional fuel mileage and meets the latest EPA emission standards while still providing true commercial truck capability and delivering a dramatically lower cost of ownership than traditional walk-in vans. Powering the Reach is Isuzu’s state-of-the-art, biodiesel fuel compatible 4JJ1-TC 3.0-liter turbocharged engine that generates 150 horsepower, mated to an Aisin medium-duty six-speed automatic transmission with double overdrive, lock-up torque converter and power take-off (PTO) function.
Kenworth K370 Cabover The Kenworth K370 Cabover provides customers in urban operations with high Kenworth quality, exceptional styling, dependable durability, excellent visibility and outstanding ease of service. The 63.4-inch BBC and 55-degree wheel cut gives the K370 nimble maneuverability to help negotiate the unexpected and get in and out of tight spots. The K370’s standard equipment features the proven, reliable and fuel-efficient PACCAR PX-6 6.7-liter engine with a 220 hp rating and 520 lb.-ft of maximum torque. The PX-6 engine is paired with either an Allison 2500 HS or RDS 5-speed transmission for plenty of power, acceleration and torque.
Peterbilt 337 Extended Day Cab Peterbilt’s Model 337 features the new Extended Day Cab feature that expands the length of the standard day cab by an additional 10 inches and provides nearly 6 inches of added head room. The new Extended Day Cab is available with a large standard rear window to provide superb visibility making it optimal for pickup, delivery and vocational applications. The truck is designed to increase comfort as both the driver and passenger seat recline is doubled to 23 degrees and there are 4 inches of added space between the steering wheel and the seat. In addition, 4 cubic feet of built-in rear wall storage compartments have been added for equipment or paperwork.
HEAVY DUTY:
Freightliner Cascadia Evolution Powered by Detroit and featuring some of the most advanced aerodynamic enhancement in the industry, the Cascadia Evolution delivers up to an additional 7 percent improvement in fuel economy over an EPA 2010 compliant. Cascadia is equipped with a first generation aerodynamic package with up to a 5 percent improvement compared to its current model year and is equipped with the latest aerodynamic upgrades. The optimized aerodynamic features on the new Cascadia Evolution were developed using Daimler Trucks North America’s proprietary, state-of-the-art wind tunnel – the only full-scale, OEM owned and operated wind tunnel for big rigs in North America.
Kenworth T680 The sleek T680, Kenworth’s most aerodynamic truck ever, has received U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) SmartWay Designation. The truck is available as a new 76-inch sleeper or as a day cab, was engineered with 65 percent more storage capacity, a 50 percent larger windshield, 40 percent less interior noise, 30 percent larger door openings and best-in-class forward lighting. The T680 is standard with the fuel-efficient, 12.9-liter, PACCAR MX engine and optional with the Cummins ISX15 engine. The PACCAR MX engine that has a range of 380-hp to 485-hp and torque up to 1.750 lb-ft., offers excellent fuel efficiency, high reliability and durability, lightweight design and low cost of ownership.
Peterbilt Model 579 The Model 579 features all-new innovations, from a head-turning style that is optimized for superior fuel efficiency to an interior that down to its last detail facilitates operator comfort and productivity. The cab structure is a new design that features greater strength and enhanced safety. The 2.1 meter-wide, aluminum cab is strong, solid and lightweight. Both cab and sleeper are tested to the stringent SAE and ECE crashworthiness standards. Aerodynamic performance is enhanced through modular aero packages that meet the EPA’s SmartWay designation.
Western Star 4700 Aimed toward construction and municipal customers, the 4700 offers a midrange size powertrain solution at a lower cost. Western Star designed the 4700 with premium components, rugged styling, and design elements to create a “work horse” truck that makes a statement on and off the job site. With engine options like the 260 hp, Cummins ISC or the powerful 470hp Detroit DD13 engine, the 4700 offers one of the widest powertrain ranges in the industry. The 4700 is a world-class, premium model that combines real trucking intelligence with innovative engineering, for a lightweight yet robust truck that is cost-effective for both short- and long-term.

More information:

• 2013 Nomination Letter
• 2013 Nomination Form

Archive:

2012 Award

2011 Award

2010 Award

2009 Award