WILMINGTON, N.C., – When Mike Ward bought a beer distributorship in Wilmington, N.C., in 1984, it came with $4 million in sales and what he called a Heinz 57 fleet of trucks. “Different makes, different capacities, different mechanical conditions,” he said. “Not very good.”

Today, the fleet and beer distributor has made a 180-degree turn when it comes to improving revenues and its fleet performance. Atlantic Shores Distributors topped $20 million in revenues last year with the assistance of a sharp looking fleet of 16 Kenworth medium duty trucks.

Distributing Coors, Heineken, Guinness, Pabst Blue Ribbon, and Red Bull, the distributor delivers to four counties surrounding Wilmington, all within a 65-mile radius. Through its 40,000 square-foot distribution center, pallets of beer go to grocery stores, and kegs of beer head to taverns on the backs of Class 7 Kenworth T370 tractors, mated to 28- to 42-foot dry vans.

The latest Kenworth T370 features the 2010 PACCAR PX-6 engine, rated at 325 hp with 725 ft-lbs of torque, driven through an Allison automatic. Completing the fleet are three Kenworth straight trucks with 24-foot, 8-bay bodies – delivering Red Bull. Two Class 6 Kenworth T270s, equipped with PACCAR PX-6 engines rated at 280 hp with 660 ft-lbs of torque and also driven through Allison automatics, make shorter hauls and deliver to convenience stores.

“When we got our first Kenworth many years ago, we put it in the fleet as a test,” recalled Ward. “The driver we had assigned absolutely loved the truck and he soon became the envy of all the other drivers. The truck just performed beautifully, had improved fuel economy over what we were driving, and we received excellent service from Cooper Kenworth, and their salesman, Dixon Baxter. It led us to standardize with Kenworth and the company’s medium duty product lineup.”

Ward said he’s been especially pleased with the 2011 Kenworth T370 with the PACCAR PX-6 engine optimizing selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology. “The truck isn’t even broken in yet and we’re seeing a 6 percent improvement in fuel economy,” he said. “We have the same driver, running the same route as he did before and he’s now getting 6.7 mpg as opposed to 6.3. He typically runs maxed out in weight and makes six- to eight stops to grocery stores per run. Doing the math, that equates to at least a $2,500 fuel savings we’ll see each year with that truck.” (On the designated route, the truck will average 65,000 miles per year.)

Across the board, Ward said the visibility and maneuverability of the Kenworths “are far superior to other trucks we’ve operated. That’s really critical to our operation and we love the fact that the new Kenworths we’ve been getting have the optional curved corner windows. Those, combined with the sloped hood and short turning radius of these trucks make them just outstanding for our operation,” he said. “With our convenience store business, our guys are getting in and out of tight spots – making up to 20 stops per day. Our tractors, used for our keg business, make about the same amount of drops.”

While maneuverability is a plus for Ward’s operation, so is flexibility, something that’s provided by the Class 6 Kenworth T270. “The truck is not only a workhorse, but it gives me versatility for my employees. Since you don’t have to have a CDL to operate the trucks, we can rotate different guys behind the wheel. I can even drive the truck. This gives us a lot of flexibility. Plus, it allows any of our warehouse people to give trucking a try. If they like being behind the wheel, and they want to do it full-time, they can go on and get a CDL and then move behind the wheel of our larger trucks.”

Source: http://www.kenworth.com/6100_pre_mor.asp?file=2579

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KIRKLAND, Wash.– Kenworth Truck Company announced it has received a major order for 500 aerodynamic Kenworth T700s from Stevens Transport, a leading North American refrigerated transport carrier based in Dallas, Texas.

“Stevens Transport is a premier carrier in the industry and we’re pleased they have chosen the new, fuel-efficient Kenworth T700 for its fleet. We appreciate Steven Transport’s strong commitment to the latest evolution of our industry-leading aerodynamic trucks. This order is a great way to help launch the T700 into the North American market,” said Bill Kozek, Kenworth general manager and PACCAR vice president.

“Aerodynamic trucks are an integral part of our business strategy and the Kenworth T700 will deliver enhanced fuel efficiency and lower emissions. We have a long relationship with Kenworth, and we’re especially excited to bring the Kenworth T700 into our operation,” said Stevens Transport Chairman and CEO Steven L. Aaron, who noted that the carrier is recognized as a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) SmartWay(SM) Partner for superior fuel efficiency and environmental performance.

The T700 targets over the road and team driver operations and offers a spacious cab and sleeper, best in class forward lighting, and excellent serviceability. Designed through the extensive use of computational fluid dynamics, Kenworth has optimized the aerodynamic integration of the Kenworth T700, while carefully sculpting a distinctive, eye-catching appearance.

“The new T700 has the lowest aerodynamic drag of any Kenworth truck in our history and has earned EPA SmartWay program certification,” said Preston Feight, Kenworth chief engineer. “Stevens Transport will also benefit from the T700’s excellent low cost operation, superior driver comfort and modern styling.”

Stevens Transport has specified the T700 with the Kenworth 75-inch AERODYNE® sleeper and the 400-hp Cummins ISX engine. The 500 Kenworth T700s were purchased through MHC Kenworth - Dallas.

Source: http://www.kenworth.com/6100_pre_mor.asp?file=2578

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ISSAQUAH, Wash. – Costco Wholesale Corp., the nation’s leading wholesale club operator, has become both the first Kenworth Truck Company and PacLease customer to receive a 2011 Kenworth production truck equipped with the new PACCAR MX engine.

During a special ceremony recently at Costco headquarters in Issaquah, Wash., Costco Executive Vice President Tom Walker, Senior Vice President of Depots and Traffic John Thelan, and Vice President of Depot Operations Sarah Mogk received the keys to a new, aerodynamic Kenworth T660 from Bill Kozek, Kenworth Truck Company general manager and PACCAR vice president, and Olen Hunter, PACCAR Leasing director of sales.

“We’re honored to be selected to receive the first PACCAR MX engine installed in a 2011 Kenworth production truck,” said Walker, who oversees Costco’s transportation, supply chain and facility operations worldwide.

“We already operate 150 Kenworth T660s in our fleet. Teaming the fuel-efficient PACCAR MX engine with the aerodynamic T660 will help Costco attain additional fuel efficiency gains while also reducing emissions,” said Mogk, who is responsible for Costco’s private fleet operations.

“Kenworth is proud to make a special presentation of this new Kenworth T660 with the PACCAR MX engine to Costco,” said Kozek. “Costco is an industry leader in seeking ways to enhance fuel efficiency and will certainly benefit from the PACCAR MX engine’s industry-leading fuel efficiency and reliability.”

Bill Kozek, Kenworth Truck Company general manager and PACCAR vice president; hands the keys to Tom Walker, Costco executive vice president, who is seated inside the new Kenworth T660 equipped with the PACCAR MX engine.

Costco’s all-Kenworth fleet of 300 trucks in North America are all covered under a full-service lease provided by PacLease, which provides maintenance, administrative support and other services to Costco’s fleet operation.

“PacLease continues to partner with Costco to deliver innovative transportation solutions that enhance efficiency and productivity,” said Hunter. “Costco’s introduction of 150 T660s last year helped increase fuel efficiency by nearly 1 mile per gallon and provide decreased emissions. We’re pleased that Costco is the first PacLease customer to take delivery of the PACCAR MX engine in a 2011 production truck.”

The PACCAR MX 12.9-liter diesel engine is designed to deliver outstanding performance in a wide range of applications. The PACCAR MX engine, which has received Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California Air Resources Board (CARB) certification, meets the stringent 2010, low-emission standards of 0.2 grams per brake horsepower hour of NOx and 0.01 grams per brake horsepower hour of particulate matter.

The PACCAR MX engine is available with a horsepower range of 380 hp to 485 hp and torque outputs up to 1,750 lb-ft. This power range, combined with excellent fuel efficiency, high reliability, durability, lightweight design and low cost of ownership makes it an ideal choice for both over-the-road line-haul and vocational applications.

Costco currently operates 567 warehouses, including 414 in the United States and Puerto Rico, 77 in Canada, 21 in the United Kingdom, seven in Korea, six in Taiwan, nine in Japan, one in Australia and 32 in Mexico.

Source: http://www.kenworth.com/6100_pre_mor.asp?file=2577

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WILLIAMSBURG, Va.– Kenworth Truck Company announcedthat it will offer factory-installed, front drive axles for the Kenworth T270 Class 6 and T370 Class 7 models. The new Kenworth front drive axle was introduced this week at the 57th annual Electric Utility Fleet Managers Conference (EUFMC) in Williamsburg, Va.

“This is Kenworth’s first factory-installed, front drive axle on our medium duty product line,” said Judy McTigue, Kenworth director of marketing planning and research. “We’re targeting utility service, construction vehicles, oilfield service and boom trucks, in addition to municipal applications, such as fire and emergency vehicles.”

The new front drive axle, is available for order today in ratings ranging from 10,000 lbs. to 14,000 lbs. on Kenworth T270s and T370s equipped with a PACCAR PX-6 engine. This fall, Kenworth will expand front drive axle ratings to 16,000 lbs. equipped with PACCAR PX-8 engines.

Source: http://www.kenworth.com/6100_pre_mor.asp?file=2576

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ARLINGTON, VA — The American Trucking Associations’ advance seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index decreased 0.6 percent in May, which was the first month-to-month drop since February of this year. This followed an upwardly revised 1 percent increase in April. The latest reduction put the SA index at 109.6 (2000=100).

The not seasonally adjusted index, which represents the change in tonnage actually hauled by the fleets before any seasonal adjustment, equaled 108.3 in May, down 2.8 percent from the previous month.
Compared with May 2009, SA tonnage increased 7.2 percent, which was the sixth consecutive year-over-year gain. In April, the year-over-year increase was 9.5 percent. Year-to-date, tonnage is up 6.2 percent compared with the same period in 2009.

ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello said that truck freight tonnage is going to have ups and downs, but the trend continues in the right direction. “Despite the month-to-month drop in May, the trend line is still solid. There is no way that freight can increase every month, and we should expect periodic decreases. This doesn’t take away from the fact that freight volumes are quite good, especially considering the reduction in truck supply over the last couple of years.”

Source: http://www.truckline.com/pages/article.aspx?id=753/{8E1C7279-ED27-4C03-B189-CEEEE26BBB12}

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