Navistar partners with fleet to develop 'ultra-lightweight' tractor

www.chinatrucks.com: Navistar has presented a Strategic Partnership Award to customer Perdue Farms for collaborating in the development of an "ultra-lightweight tractor specification” and “state-of-the-art tractor-trailer electronics integration.”

The developments, Navistar announced, have reduced fuel consumption, increased payload and improved reliability.

"We’re proud to present Perdue Farms with our Strategic Partnership Award,” said Jim Hebe, Navistar senior vice-president, North American sales operations. “We view Perdue as more than just a great customer - we see them as a true, collaborative business partner where we both push each other to bring new thinking and create a higher level of efficiency and productivity through integration.”

Perdue was seeking an International ProStar+ tractor capable of hauling 49,000 lbs of dressed poultry to market, and along with Navistar and a local dealer launched the Project 49er intiative.

Over a nine-month period, the companies developed a lightweight tractor with 56-inch sleeper weighing just 15,920 lbs when filled with 150 gallons of fuel. The weight savings amount to about 1,000 lbs compared to a similarly spec’d competitive model, Navistar claims.

The companies also leveraged Navistar’s Diamond Logic electrical system for the ProStar+ to better integrate tractor-trailer driver controls from the cab. Engineers were able to design a control system built onto the truck dash controls to perform all trailer functions as well as PTO needs for the hydraulic system for Perdue’s feed trucks.

For instance, drivers could control lights, top door openings, boom positioning and augers from inside the cab via a fully-integrated wiring system with fewer electrical connections.

This allowed Perdue to reduce new equipment installation time from five days to less than three while providing a cleaner control appearance and easier access for drivers, the company says. It also reduced electrical problems.

 

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