In the News...

Lazer Logistics is expanding its EV terminal tractor fleet with a rather special truck from Autocar, featuring a celebratory plaque worth commemorating. Autocar's center of global terminal tractor operations is celebrating with Lazer Logistics, as it takes delivery of the 10,000th Autocar terminal tractor, an E-ACTT. 

Autocar has enhanced its manufacturing facility in Birmingham, Alabama, with an advanced EV assembly line, complementing the brand’s handmade heritage. Blackstone Construction shaped and installed the structure for Autocar’s new EV line, with industrial engineering and technical expertise provided by Triz Advanced Manufacturing. 

Autocar has partnered with Mitsubishi HC Capital America and ChargePoint to provide the Power Up Program, a bundled vehicle financing solution designed to help customers grow their electric fleets as well as build and install charging infrastructure.

The partnership will allow Autocar customers to finance through Mitsubishi Capital their E-ACTTs (electric terminal tractor heavy-use vehicles), along with integrated software, hardware charging solutions and installation services through ChargePoint, enabling them to rapidly deploy electric vehicles.

 

Autocar and Heil will electrify Waste Expo 2023 with the future of refuse truck technology. Their first fully integrated electric refuse truck will be proudly displayed at booth #4747.

Autocar announced it is supplying Walmart with a fleet of battery-electric terminal tractors (E-ACTT®). Walmart will receive the first of more than 20 E-ACTTs in May 2023, as the retailer continues to work toward achieving zero emissions across its operations by 2040.

Autocar has announced the delivery of its battery-electric terminal tractor, the E-ACTT, to supermarket chain Stater Bros. Markets. The California-based grocer has implemented its first all-electric terminal tractor into its distribution fleet to meet corporate environmental goals. Autocar delivered the E-ACTT to the Stater Bros. distribution center in San Bernardino, California, and provided operator and technician orientations before deploying it into the fleet.

Autocar now offers compressed natural gas (CNG) customers a new way to view crucial information about their fuel management module system. In partnership with Hexagon Agility, a leading global provider of (renewable) natural gas fuel systems, Autocar software engineers integrated the Blue iQ smart gauge into the Autocar Always Up Display.

Autocar is proud to enter its second season as a sponsor of the Birmingham Squadron basketball team. Birmingham’s newest professional sports team is part of the National Basketball Association (NBA) G-League and is one of 30 teams in the league.

Established in 2019, Birmingham Squadron is backed by a list of companies and organizations that support the Birmingham community through their involvement with the team. Autocar is proud to be the only five-year sponsor, with its first announcement of the partnership in March of 2022.

North America’s oldest truck brand is commemorated for representing 125 years of custom engineering and innovation in the vocational trucking industry. Autocar, LLC, manufacturer of premium, severe-duty, custom-engineered vocational trucks, recognizes the impact the Autocar brand has had throughout North America and is grateful for the tremendous support of the company’s longstanding customers. Since the brand’s creation in 1897, trucks carrying the Autocar name have been custom engineered to unique customer specifications. This ethos remains the core of the brand today: a direct relationship with customers to exceed their expectations.

Autocar has delivered its first battery-electric terminal tractor, the E-ACTT, to its customer, Old Dominion Freight Line, one of the largest North American less-than-truckload (LTL)  motor carriers. Autocar delivered the electric terminal tractor to Old Dominion Freight Line’s facility in Rialto, California for driver orientation before the international freight line deploys the truck into the field. 

Autocar is proud to lead the refuse and recycling industry in operator safety with its Advanced Driver Assist System package (ADAS). Autocar began the technology's research, development and testing stages four years ago with the goal of safety and performance as a top priority. As the release of the technology approaches its second anniversary, Autocar is proud to highlight its top features and role in helping refuse operators improve their safety on the roads.  

North America’s oldest truck brand celebrates 124 years of the proud Autocar name. Autocar, LLC, manufacturer of specialized severe-duty, custom-engineered Class 7 and Class 8 vocational trucks, today marks the 124th year of the Autocar truck brand. Headquartered in Birmingham, Ala., the company manufactures its vocational trucks in Hagerstown, Ind., and its $120 million, 1-million-square-foot heavy-duty work truck plant in Birmingham, Ala. With deep American roots.

Autocar is named in Equipment Today’s 2021 Contractors’ Top 50 New Products for its severe-duty Class 8  DC-64D Dump Truck. Trademarked as BADASS, the DC-64D lives up to its name. The 2021 Contractors’ Top 50 New Products is the construction industry’s only award program based on end-user input. 

Autocar has built its first two alpha units that feature a zero emissions, all-electric powertrain. The two E-ACX electric cabover refuse trucks, also known as battery-powered electric vehicles (BEVs), are going through a strict validation testing process to ensure the trucks are built to handle the same challenges and requirements as its diesel and CNG counterparts.

Autocar is proud to support the White House since the signing of the Made in America Executive Order 14005 and President Joe Biden’s proclamation of July 26-30 as “Made in America Week.” 

Autocar is proud to be an American-owned and operated company. On this Made in the USA Day, we celebrate that the Autocar brand has been the Western Hemisphere’s oldest motor vehicle brand, first used on trucks in 1897. What started in the heart of the country’s industrial revolution has long symbolized a patriotic and long-lasting example of American values and dedication. 

Autocar honors the life and legacy of Charles “Mickey” Flood by donating a custom engineered, full-bodied severe-duty class 8 DC-64R to the 2021 Environmental Research and Education Foundation (EREF) Annual Charitable Auction. Proceeds from the auction will support the EREF’s scientific and educational initiatives for waste management practices. The winning bidder will work with Autocar’s engineers to design their new DC-64R Refuse Truck to their specifications.

Big Truck Rental, North America’s leading essential services vehicle rental provider, introduced today the first and only national terminal tractor rental program for fleets across North America. This formal strategic alliance fills a much-needed gap in the underserved terminal tractor rental market. The program will launch in Q3 this year.

 

When you trademark “BADASS” to describe your line of trucks, you better be able to back it up. Autocar, LLC, the manufacturer of North America’s oldest line of specialized severe-duty vocational trucks, upholds the 120-year tradition with its latest offering – the Autocar DC-64D Dump Truck, the fourth iteration of Autocar’s DC-64 severe-duty Class 8 line.

Autocar, LLC, manufacturer of North America’s oldest brand of specialized severe-duty vocational trucks, has introduced an emissions-free, all-electric version of its Autocar ACTT terminal tractor, the E-ACTT. The E-ACTT will be available in late 2021.

Change can be incremental when it comes to waste collection vehicles. While these workhorses of the road aren’t adorned with near the bells and whistles that come standard on many late-model passenger vehicles, some manufacturers are starting to equip trucks with new safety features to better protect drivers.

Waste Pro, Longwood, Florida, announced on July 27 that it had become the first waste company to purchase Autocar ACX severe-duty cabover vehicles outfitted with Advanced Driver Assist System (ADAS) technology designed by Paris-based WABCO. 

Autocar debuted its first work-truck, the Autocar No. 1, which was a tricycle powered by a one-cylinder gasoline engine, in 1897. Now, with renewed focus as it heads into its second century of production, Autocar is introducing the new DC series, ACX XPEDITOR, and ACMD XPERT models.

Autocar says its new DC™ series, ACX, Xpeditor and ACMD Xpert truck models have been designed to fit the needs of construction body requirements while improving job performance, adding safety measures and maximizing uptime.

Since the release of Autocar’s DC-64R—a completely reinvented truck for severe-duty refuse applications—in May 2019, the company says waste haulers and municipalities across the U.S. are experiencing firsthand how switching to a custom-built DC-64R is saving them time and money across the board.

Autocar Trucks announced today the launch of two truck models purpose-built to serve the concrete and construction industry: the Autocar DC-64M, for concrete mixers, and the DC-64P for concrete pump applications. The Autocar DC is a completely new conventional truck engineered from the ground-up for severe-duty vocational applications.

Tri State Concrete Pumping out of Belpre, Ohio, runs a 20-unit fleet ranging from compact trailer-mounted concrete pumps to a giant multi-axle Class 8 truck weighing 52.5 tons. Greg Windland, who runs the outfit, says the business requires him to work long hours, and he expects the trucks and their operators to do the same. And when some recently purchased trucks began falling down on the job, he went to another truck brand: Autocar.

The newly introduced DC-64R severe-duty conventional truck has achieved a new breakthrough in chassis-body integration. Autocar has announced that it is mounting roll-off hoist bodies directly on the Autocar DC truck production line. This is an unprecedented change to the model of refuse truck production, bringing together the two main components -- the chassis and the body -- and treating the truck as one complete tool. Autocar calls this process the Ultimate Power of One™ and says refuse truck operators will experience several significant benefits from this innovation.

James Johnston, President of Autocar, said "We've always known that improving the integration of our refuse truck chassis and refuse bodies is essential to reducing our customers' downtime. So flawless integration is a key aspect of our Always Up® mission. We decided to take responsibility for building the truck as one compete tool. When we engineer the truck as a complete tool and mount body components right on the Autocar production line we call that ‘Power of One'."

Autocar introduced Power of One integration on the ACX™ cabover truck recently and data reported by truck operators for the first 90 days in service shows a substantial improvement in uptime and reliability. The Power of One trucks also demonstrated cost savings not only from avoided repairs but also from the other downtime-related costs such as lost driver hours and towing that were eliminated. Autocar will offer Power of One integration with all refuse body manufacturers.

 

Enhanced safety is another benefit of Autocar's Power of One integration. Since the whole system - chassis plus body - is pre-engineered and then assembled as one complete tool, Autocar's finished trucks comply with all FMVSS and EPA regulations. This is one more aspect of Autocar's Always Up model that differentiates it from other truck brands which, many times, are modified after they are built, substantially increasing the risk of noncompliance with safety standards and other government regulations.

Johnson continued, "With the new DC we take that vision to its ultimate conclusion: Mounting the entire refuse body at the same time and in the very same way we build the truck. That's Ultimate Power of One."

Autocar explains the Ultimate Power of One process starts with engineering each truck based on that specific customer's needs and working closely with the selected body company's engineers. All the body components are then installed during Autocar's production process, with full Autocar OEM quality. So, all the electrical harnesses are installed together, eliminating the risk of splices, loose connectors, or drilled access holes. Body components are huck-bolted onto the frame rails in the precisely correct locations, not welded, avoiding misplacement and damage to the rails. Autocar will also fully mount tarper systems and lighting kits, so when the truck rolls out of the Autocar factory it "Driver Ready" and can go to work immediately.

Eric Schwartz, Managing Director of Autocar Trucks, said "Building trucks with the Power of One process is a game-changer for our customers. They tell us they have experienced a significant improvement in uptime for the Power of One trucks already in service. There's another benefit that the Ultimate Power of One takes ever further: We are able to deliver ready-to-work truck months faster than ever before. In fact, for trucks ordered now we are committing to deliver completed trucks in calendar 2019. That's critical for our customers who have commitments to provide service for their customers."

Autocar offers the DC-64R with a wide range of Ultimate Power of One specifications. Roll-off hoists are available with 60,000 and 75,000 lb. capacities for 22- and 24-foot long dumpsters. Telescopic, single-forward, and single-rearward-mounted cylinder configurations are also available. The DC-64R can be engineered with a rear-cab guard and with or without pusher axles, as the customer's needs require. All installed on Autocar's production line.

Schwartz added, "We've done everything possible to make the DC-64R The Refuse Truck to help our customers be more successful than ever. The Ultimate Power of One is a big part of achieving that goal. People interested in seeing how the DC-64R can help them should visit www.autocartruck.com/my-new-truck."

The new Autocar DC-64R severe-duty vocational truck brings to market game-changing features and capabilities. One of the most exciting features is the completely new and exclusive Autocar DC™ cab designed and tested from the ground up with the active participation of many experienced waste haulers across the industry.

Autocar® Trucks announced yesterday the launch of the Autocar DC-64R, a completely new conventional truck purpose-built from the ground-up for severe-duty refuse applications. Autocar’s guiding mission is to build trucks to be “Always Up”, that is, to stay in service despite the challenges of severe-duty applications. The Autocar DC-64R (the R stands for refuse) brings several notable innovations that make it uniquely suited to refuse-hauling.
James Johnston, the president of Autocar, said “The DC-64R is the direct result of the requests, insights, data, and guidance we received from many waste haulers across the industry. We could not have engineered a truck this good without all their feedback that resulted in innumerable improvements. We’re grateful for their help and proud to bring to this market a truck that is honestly customer-built.”

Eric Schwartz, Managing Director of Autocar Trucks, said “The DC’s cab is totally new and was designed by Autocar from the beginning for exceptional productivity, durability -- and especially safety -- in the refuse industry. The workspace of the cab maximizes productivity for drivers from the biggest guys to petite women, with everything visible and within easy reach. The cab also easily fits three, so work crews can get to and from their routes comfortably. Our unique raked windshield provides exceptional visibility for safety. And, true to our Always Up mission and Autocar’s legendary toughness, the interior uses authentic materials like a full steel structure inside the dashboard and aluminum sheets as dash panels. Even the interior door handles are aluminum tubes, not plastic. The totally new cab structure is built from a combination of steel, judiciously chosen aluminum components, and corner castings to withstand years of refuse abuse.”

The Autocar DC-64R is the first truck ever built to feature ultra-high-strength 160,000 PSI steel frame rails, 24% stronger and lighter than the rails on other trucks on the market, completely eliminating the need for frame liners in nearly all refuse applications. The primary benefit for the waste hauler is a significant weight savings that directly increases effective payload – and therefore, profitability.

Johnston continued, “One of the things we’re most proud of – because it will make a big difference in our customers’ business – is our totally upgraded electric system to resist the worst the garbage business can dish out. The DC also brings our customers the Autocar Always Up® display, with game-changing ‘one-touch diagnostics’. It actually tells the operator or technician what fault has occurred and shows them how to fix it. It gets trucks back into service and making money faster than anything anyone has had before.”

Schwartz added, “Everything about this truck is designed to solve problems our customers have with other trucks and achieve our goal of Always Up. There are so many other innovations, from the engines up to 500 HP that are hundreds of pounds lighter, to a real breakthrough in body integration. This truck is just revolutionary in the ways it will help waste haulers serve their customers and create ROI.”

The company revealed it has already accepted firm orders for production of the DC-64R at its Birmingham, Alabama factory, starting at the end of this summer.

The DC-64R is the first new conventional truck for the Autocar brand in 31 years and joins the ACX® and ACMD® cabover trucks and the ACTT® terminal tractor, as Autocar’s fourth line. The new truck also represents the rebirth of Autocar’s DC, first introduced by The Autocar Company in 1939 as its premier severe-duty and, revolutionary for the time, diesel-powered work truck.

The DC is also the first of Autocar’s lines to carry the recently announced Autocar bowtie logo, reborn on its 100th birthday.

James Johnston commented, “We’ve gone back to Autocar’s roots with the logo to symbolize that we are staying true to all the things that made Autocar the gold standard for customer-focused, purpose-built, severe-duty vocational trucks. That will never change. It’s the perfect time to show that we are inspired by the best of our history to build something fantastic for the future.”
Fitting inspiration indeed. As the Autocar slogan says, Always Up!
 

When the City of Kissimmee, Florida needed a severe-duty chassis crucial to the success of their innovative underground waste technology, they turned to Autocar Trucks to custom-engineer a truck for their application.

Autocar and its customer, Athens Services, presented the first truck featuring Cummins Westport's Near-Zero NOx engine at the 2017 ACT Expo. Now Athens is expanding their CNG-fueled operations.

Burgess Concrete joins hundreds of Autocar clients in using the most versatile and hardworking concrete pump truck on the planet.

Autocar Trucks is the world’s first truck manufacturer to provide a new technology from Allison Transmission proven to reduce fuel consumption up to 6%.

Whether adding to your existing truck-mounted concrete boom pump fleet, replacing old rigs, remounting pumps on new trucks, or just getting started with a new business, there are some significant decisions to make. One of the most important is choosing the truck chassis to work with your pump. Read more from Modern WorkTruck Solutions....

Autocar Trucks today announced it has been awarded a contract by the National Joint Powers Alliance® to offer Class 7 and 8 chassis to the more than 50,000 NJPA members.

Midland, Michigan’s fleet manager, in charge of vehicles used for city operations, contacted multiple refuse collection organizations to determine the best brand of truck to replace the city’s older models with. Eight out of nine recommended the Autocar cab and chassis. More from The Midland Daily News....

"Fleet owners should be taking a serious look at what natural gas vehicles have to offer now. Here’s why."

We operate today in a competitive market where, at present, oil prices are low and greenhouse gas regulations for vehicles are limited. However, this will change soon, so savvy fleet owners should be taking a serious look at what natural gas vehicles have to offer now. Here’s why.

To date, the economic argument for NGVs has been fundamentally tied to the price of oil. When conventional fuel prices are high, switching to stable, low-cost natural gas is very compelling. But when the cost of conventional fuels is low, this immediate economic argument fades.

Fleet owners who are only looking at the short-term economics forget that the oil market is highly volatile and prone to sudden price shifts.

Even now we are seeing oil prices starting to rise off their recent lows. Experts believe this trend will continue. In a recent Wall Street Journal survey, investment banks raised their future oil price estimates to $55 a barrel in 2017 — the third consecutive monthly increase. The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s recent Annual Energy Outlook foresees crude oil nearing $85 in 2020 and topping $100 in 2023.

That’s why running an average fuel price differential between conventional fuels and natural gas at current prices will underestimate the cost benefit of natural gas over the life of the vehicle, potentially significantly.

The long-term view is behind the decision by shipping giant UPS to invest in 12 additional compressed natural gas fueling stations and 380 CNG heavy-duty trucks.

“We own our fleet and our infrastructure. That allows us to invest for the long-term, rather than planning around near-term fluctuations in fuel pricing,” UPS explained when announcing its investment earlier this year.

When major shipping companies such as UPS switch significant portions of their fleets to alternative fuel vehicles, those who don’t will miss the savings and fall behind their competition. From 2011 through 2014, fleets averaged a $2-per-gallon savings with natural gas compared with diesel fuel. For a heavy-duty pickup truck consuming 2,000 gallons per year, this equated to a $4,000 savings. For a Class 8 weight segment, or heavy-duty truck, consuming 20,000 gallons, the savings reached $40,000.

There’s more to this than just the fuel-cost savings. The 2016 Paris Agreement on climate change and the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed Phase 2 GHG Standards for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles will force the trucking industry to reduce carbon emissions. Vehicles will need to change in order to comply, and NGVs will have an advantage.

We saw this in 2010 when regulations limiting emissions of particulate matter and oxides of nitrogen were introduced for medium- and heavy-duty trucks. Manufacturers were forced to add expensive exhaust after-treatments to diesel engines, but there were no changes for NGVs because they were cleaner. 

As regulations become more stringent, the engine technology offering the lowest possible carbon emissions at the lowest possible price will ultimately win.

The technology to meet the proposed EPA Phase 2 GHG regulations already exists for natural gas engines and can offer long-term benefits across a broad range of heavy-duty vehicles. The new ISL G Near Zero 8.9-liter natural gas engine from Cummins-Westport — a joint venture between Westport and engine manufacturer Cummins — already meets these proposed standards through 2027. Moreover, the technology can exploit the ultra-high octane properties of natural gas to create advanced, high-efficiency powertrains that match, or even exceed, diesel engine performance.

The cost advantage of natural gas will increase. According to industry estimates, full compliance with the proposed EPA regulations will add several thousand dollars to the cost of vehicles running on conventional fuels — as much as $11,000 extra for a tractor trailer in 2024. As GHG rules tighten, NGVs will cost less than compliant conventional fuel vehicles, creating a compelling economic argument even without factoring in fuel savings. Fleet owners should focus on the environmental benefits of NGVs now and reap the economic benefits in the future.

Federal and state governments are on board with NGVs and are offering the trucking industry incentives to adopt natural gas in recognition of the environmental benefits. In December, Congress passed the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, which offers weight exemptions to heavy-duty natural gas trucks. The California Air Resources Board also plans to make it easier for fleets to adopt more sustainable solutions. Its 2016-17 Low Carbon Transportation and Fuels Investments budget proposes allocating $175 million for zero- and near-zero-emission heavy-duty vehicle projects, including incentives for new low-NOx natural gas trucks.

With the real long-term cost differentials, inherently low carbon emissions and technology that complies with upcoming GHG regulations, NGVs are a smart choice. The trucking industry needs to look to the future — which is really just around the corner — and decide where it wants to be. Heavy-duty fleet owners have a choice: They can either start planning for a move to alternative fuels now or face a costly future when the inevitable happens.

Article originally appears in Trucks.com

The City of Houston is expected to order 18 new Autocar E3™ refuse trucks with the RunWise series hydraulic hybrid driveline from Parker Hannifin. Houston is to place an order for 13 trucks in June and another five in July, says Cliff Buck of Autocar.

The order follows a comparison of Autocar hybrid and compressed natural gas-fueled trucks, Buck says. Houston opted for the hybrid, which uses conventional diesel fuel, in part due to concerns about fuel availability in the case of a hurricane, he told F&F. Advantages of the RunWise-drive trucks include diesel better fuel economy – “RunWise typically reduces fuel consumption 35%-50%,” says Parker Hannifin – and reduced brake wear.

Brakes? ‘Once in Six Years’

“Your don’t have to do the brakes but once in six years,” Buck says.

The City of New Braunfels, northwest of San Antonio, operates ten of the RunWise hybrid trucks.

The City of Austin operates four RunWise hydraulic hybrid and 48 CNG-fueled Autocar trucks.

WCA Waste in the Houston Area Too

According to Buck, “68% of our production right now is CNG.”

WCA Waste, which operates more than 100 CNG-fueled Autocar trucks, recently received 12 more for Missouri City, southwest of Houston.

Switching to Heil

The City of El Paso, which already operates 15 CNG-fueled Autocar trucks with McNeilus bodies, has ordered eight trucks with Heil bodies and Type III CNG fuel tanks from Worthington.

Autocar’s CNG trucks have 8.9-liter ISL G engines from Cummins Westport. The E3 hydraulic hybrids have a Cummins ISL H variant – “H is for hybrid,” Buck says – to accommodate the lower torque requirements of the Parker Hannifin hydrostatic drive.

Originally appeared: http://www.fleetsandfuels.com/fuels/cng/2016/04/autocar-parker-runwise-hybrids-for-houston/

A family-owned concrete pump operator in Texas has found a secret new weapon to improve their productivity, build their customer satisfaction and competitive advantage: Instead of following the crowd they made a change and purchased a new pump and Autocar chassis to transform their business.

Unruh Concrete Pumping, in Blossom, Texas, knew they needed to minimize downtime with the purchase of a new custom chassis and 60-meter pump to operate in the Dallas area. Pumpers often focus mainly on the pump itself when purchasing a new pump truck, with few options considered when it comes to the truck or chassis underneath.  But Earl and Chris Unruh, father and son owners of Unruh Concrete Pumping, learned through hard experience if the truck chassis is down with issues, the pump can’t get where it needs to be and it’s worthless to both the company and customer.  So the Unruhs decided to make a change. With support from Irving Equipment along the way, they had a custom Autocar 12x6 chassis built to perfectly integrate with Irving’s 60-meter KCP pump.

Now Earl and Chris’s secret is out – there’s more than one player in the concrete pump chassis industry. Unruh Concrete Pumping is thrilled to gain the personal attention and direct relationship with Autocar. The Unruhs contacted Irving Equipment to purchase a new pump and got a big surprise when President Joe Irving recommended an Autocar chassis with Cummins ISX12 power, and Allison automatic transmission. Chris explains, “Joe flew me up to Irving Equipment in Ohio to test out the truck for myself.  I already have six other pumps running on another common brand truck. I know what I do and don’t like and what we struggle with.  Autocar pretty much addressed all our concerns.  After a full inspection, numerous discussions, and a test ride, making the switch was easy”. 

The Unruhs took delivery of their new pump Thursday, Thanksgiving Day.  They had a job scheduled the next day for another pump, but decided to test out the new Autocar with the KCP pump instead. The truck and pump ran great, no issues – one day after delivery.  This was a new experience for the Unruhs, as they were unfortunately accustomed to often having start-up issues taking weeks to correct before placing other new chassis and pumps into service. They drove the new pump truck the following day in their home town’s Christmas parade, where they discovered another benefit of their custom Autocar ACX™ chassis.  The enormous 12x6 vehicle managed a turn through a small intersection in the parade without having to stop, backup, and perform a three point turn - a practice that was the norm even with their other smaller 6x4 and 8x4 concrete pumps.

The Unruhs are impressed with the performance of their Autocar 12x6 chassis, with the smoothness of the ride much better than they ever anticipated. The pump weighs just under 100,000 lbs., several thousand pounds lighter than most competitive models the same size, mainly due to the Autocar’s stronger, weight-optimized design. They were pleasantly surprised when the Autocar demonstrated an average of 3.72 MPG over the course of several thousand miles, while their other smaller and comparably sized pump trucks averaged less than 2 MPG over the same highways. 

Chris Unruh added, “This truck was built for me and the needs of my business. It’s a comfort knowing Joe Irving, of Irving Equipment and Glenn Pochocki, of Autocar, are personally committed to our business together and both are literally a phone call away.  And they know me on a first name basis.”  Autocar also provides free factory-direct lifetime technical service support 24/7 through their Autocar Solutions® service command center.

Glenn Pochocki, Autocar’s Director of Vocational Sales, works closely with Joe Irving.  Said Glenn, “Autocar is a major player in Class 8 vocational COE chassis, yet we’re still unique as a truck OEM where we work hard for, and appreciate, every single concrete pump truck sale. We custom engineer each chassis based on the requirements of the specific pump, so it’s built right the first time, every time.”
Concrete pumpers looking for alternative chassis options from a more personal truck company can visit Autocar at the World of Concrete show in Las Vegas, February 2-5, 2016. Visitors can also talk to Chris Unruh, along with other Autocar pump chassis customers, at Autocar booth C6412, where Autocar trucks will also be displayed for a hands-on experience.

About Unruh
Unruh Concrete Pumping is family-owned and has been in the concrete business over 35 years.  The company operates seven concrete pump trucks ranging from 36 to 60 meters. Unruh serves customers in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana from their two locations in Blossom and Texarkana, Texas.  www.justpumpit.net

About Irving Equipment
Irving Equipment is a family-owned & operated dealer, distributor & service center for KCP and CIFA concrete boom pumps as well as Loop Belt material conveyors, knuckle boom cranes, and other truck-related equipment.  Based in Tiffin, OH, Irving Equipment is expanding their foot print with new production, service and office facilities to be opened spring, 2016. www.irvingequipment.net

About Autocar
Autocar® is the oldest motor vehicle make in the United States and built America’s first truck, in 1899. Focused on purpose-built trucks from the very beginning, today Autocar is the leading American manufacturer dedicated to severe-duty cab-over trucks. Autocar has strong and growing positions in the markets for the biggest, baddest trucks on the road, such as Class 8 concrete pump trucks, refuse and recycling trucks, terminal tractors, and other severe-duty vocational applications. www.autocartruck.com
A proudly American-owned company, Autocar is headquartered in Hagerstown, Indiana and is affiliated with GVW Group, based in Highland Park, Illinois.

In a survey of over 450 waste haulers, Autocar’s signature service program, Autocar Solutions®, was recognized as significantly superior to the service programs of its competitors, and, indeed, of all other heavy truck OEMs named in the study. Autocar Solutions® is unique in the industry for providing factory-direct support to Autocar customers.

The City of Orlando expanded its fleet of clean-running hydraulic hybrid Autocar E3™ refuse trucks to 18 recently. With their low fuel consumption and increased productivity, Orlando officials estimated the move would save the city more than $300,000 per truck over each of their 10-year lives – that’s $5.4 million in operational savings for the current fleet.
 

Edmunds.com recently chose Aculocity from a field of over 100 applicants to participate in its annual Hackomotive competition to improve the retail car buying experience. Aculocity was a finalist in the event where teams from around the world presented innovative business ideas to a panel of judges from the automotive and technology industries.