DISCUSSING THE ROLE OF TRANSMISSION INNOVATION IN THE EVER-EVOLVING WORK TRUCK INDUSTRY
From CGI engine blocks to the new CK-4 and FA-4 oils, the work truck industry is executing changes for increased safety, productivity, and payload. Transmission manufacturers are in a position to address some of these necessary changes. Transmission manufacturers offer companies a way to retain workers through the use of fatigue-reducing features, while also providing cost savings and customization. Larry Love, executive director of global marketing for Allison Transmission, discusses the company’s dedication to meeting—and exceeding—customer needs.
MWS: Have you noticed changes in demand—whether due to regulatory compliance, increased safety, fatigue reduction, etc.—in the vocational market over the past two years? If so, how is Allison Transmission working to meet these new industry demands?
LOVE:
The vocational market— particularly rear discharge mixers, dumps, and material handling trucks—is rapidly moving away from manual transmissions. Allison has been positioned to address this industry transition with a range of fully automatic transmissions, which not only improves the work environment for the driver, but also increases productivity, reduces maintenance, and delivers a lower total cost of ownership.
MWS: There’s a continuous drive for increased fuel economy and better performance. How does Allison Transmission prepare to meet these needs with each new product?
LOVE:
FuelSense® is an innovative set of packages of software and controls, available from Allison, to maximize fuel economy while maintaining productivity. This technology includes several features, which allow fuel savings across the duty cycle. Acceleration Rate Management mitigates aggressive driving, EcoCal lowers shift points while maintaining vehicle performance, Dynamic Shift Sensing chooses the best shift schedule based on operating mode to maximize fuel savings, and Neutral at Stop eliminates the load on the engine when a vehicle is stopped. The fuel savings can be significant, up to 20% when compared with vehicles not using FuelSense.
MWS: Within the vocational industry, from municipal and refuse to defense and emergency, have you noticed any sector in particular being underdeveloped, as far as having application-specific powertrain components available?
LOVE:
Each industry has its own requirements. Emergency focuses on performance, while refuse is more about productivity. Everyone expects reliability—and that’s what Allison is most recognized for. It’s critical to understand the customer requirements and desires for each individual vocation. We’ve been able to adapt our automatic transmission technology, FuelSense packages, controls, and PTOs to deliver the best comprehensive solution for each vocation.
MWS: As far as sales trends, have you noticed an upswing in specific product needs, whether in a specific sector of the industry or in specific weight ranges?
LOVE:
There is significant change in transmission technology for Class 8 construction vehicles, and a move away from manuals. Demand for Allison automatic transmissions for this segment continues to grow.
MWS: What new products can we expect to see from Allison Transmission for 2017?
LOVE:
We have some exciting and innovative things to be announced in 2017, which support our focus on increasing value for our customers.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Find out more about Allison Transmission’s products and services, visit www.allisontransmission.com.
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MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS: OCTOBER 2016 ISSUE
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