Luggers or Skip Loaders?

Most of us are probably familiar with roll-off trucks that deliver and haul large dumpsters. For reference check out this old Autocar roll-off still in service today. Less popular, at least around my part of the world, is the skip loader, or lugger. I’m unsure of what term to use. In the U.S. it looks like the term lugger applies, in Europe they refer to them as skip loaders. But what is in a name? A dumpster by any other name would still smell like a dumpster. Anyway, unlike a roll-off truck that pulls a container on to the truck using a PTO powered winch, the skip loader gently lifts the container off the ground and onto the truck. Skip loaders tend to be popular with the scrap metal crowd, as evidenced by the two Macks below, both belong to a local metal recycler.

Mack Skip Loader – Click to Enlarge

Mack Lugger Truck – Click to Enlarge

1991 MACK RD688S Skip Loader – Click to Enlarge

1991 MACK RD688S Skip Loader – Click to Enlarge

From the video below you can see one clear advantages of the lugger setup, ease of bin placement in tight spots.

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A Glimpse of Things to Come

Is the future of truck design upon us?  What is the mystery product below?  Will it truly revolutionize the industry as Freightliner claims?  The answer to these questions and more will be answered in a less than a month’s time at the Mid American Truck Show.  Maybe this concept truck will resemble the entries seen here at the Freightliner Facebook page.

From the photo below there is not much to see.  The hood looks to be massive and the top of the cab appears to have rabbit ears.  The mirrors resemble those on a passenger car.  LED lighting, so popular on luxury cars, also has big role in this concept vehicle.  As to the technology we can’t see, I’m guessing it is hover related.  That’s right, wheels will be a thing of the past.  No matter, wheels or no wheels, it will be covered by Daily Diesel Dose when I attend MATS next month.

Future Freightliner to appear at MATS 2012

Source: Freightliner Revolution

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Award Season – Peterbilt 587 and 210

The Grammys, the Oscars, the Emmys, big whoop is what I say.  Let’s start talking about real awards.  Awards like the American Truck Dealers Commercial Truck of the Year.  It’s one thing to beat your chest when you win an prize but when you take home awards in two different classes, well, you just might have a decent product.

For the heavy duty class the Peterbilt 587 won for its smooth performance, distinctive styling and driver friendly environment.  Claiming the award in the medium duty category was the Peterbilt 210, a truck based on the DAF LF model.  With the LF you see an example of a global vehicle platform, a strategy strongly embraced by car manufacturers for some time.  One product, many markets.  Does this mean we will see cabovers off the European variety on the interstates in the near future?  I doubt it.  But you can be sure we will see engines, transmissions and certain design ques that are shared among various trucks, both foreign and domestic.

Peterbilt 587 ATD Truck of the Year

Source: Bradenton.com Photo: Peterbilt.com

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Still Working – Ford N600 and International Transtar

This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending a wine tour through the beautiful country surrounding Cayuga and Seneca lakes.  Nestled between the rolling hills that open to expansive lakeside views I spotted plenty of old iron in the form of trucks and tractors still used to support the agriculture of the area.  I wasn’t able to grab a photo of everything I saw but why rush?  Saving a few treasures for later leaves more reasons to make another “wine” trip.  😉

Both trucks were located at active wineries and actually appeared to be used to help move the grapes from the field.  I’m glad they see actual use and are not used as some kind of hipster lawn ornamentation.

Ford N-600 - Click to Enlarge

International Transtar - Click to Enlarge

International Transtar - Click to Enlarge

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Freightliner 114SD

I don’t have much to say about this Freightliner 114SD, it speaks for itself, tough.

Freightliner 114SD - Click to Enlarge

Freightliner 114SD - Click to Enlarge

Freightliner 114SD - Click to Enlarge

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World’s Toughest Trucker – Some Thoughts

*Beware Possible Spoilers Below*

Ice Road Truckers may be done for the season but never fear a new reality tv based truck show has hit the airwaves.  World’s Toughest Trucker hit the airwaves in the U.S. this past Monday on Discovery Channel.  The basic premise for the show is simple.  Eight truckers from around the globe compete in various locales to see who can deliver the loads in the least amount of time.  The truckers are paired in random teams that will change (maybe?) as the episodes progress.  The winning team will be awarded 150,000 dollars, the native currency is unclear.

Of the eight truckers, three hail from the United States and one each from England, Scotland, Australia and Sri Lanka.  So far I have been pleasantly surprised with the show.  The fake drama appears to be reduced to a minimum.  The random pairing of partners has lead to some genuine tension.  But perhaps the greatest surprise was the actual attention paid to the trucks themselves.  Unlike most other shows where the truck is just a simple prop WTR actually tells us the specific model in use.  It even goes so far to inform of us engine, transmission, and axle setups.  Major plus in my book.  I hope this attention to truck detail means poor scene editing and unnecessary truck sounds will be avoid.  IRT producers please take note of this fact.

Based on some reviews I was hesitant about this show.  I really did not want to see another slapped together show that used trucks and truckers as props for random reality TV show drama but I was pleasantly surprised that this was not the case.

Final verdict, I will watch a second episode.

Photo Credit: Discovery.com

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Still Working – Oshkosh Plow Truck

In years past this truck would have been used to push snow, lots of snow. That is not the case this year. Now it sits patiently, waiting for that end of year blizzard that becomes more and more remote with each passing day. I’m guessing this was a former airport truck based on the large numbers painted on the door but I was unable to find any clues to which one.  No longer does this Oshkosh have to dodge landing airplanes but soccer moms in minivans at the local Target.

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70 Years of Freightliner

Freightliner Trucks added a new page to their website the other day titled 70 Years of Innovation. There is a mysterious countdown to February 21st, 2012. At the time the trumpets will sound and the gates will be thrown open for access to the treasures held within. Check out the video below from the site. It features some nice footage of Freightliner models through the ages and promises some “big” news at MATS 2012. By the way, I plan on attending MATS this year so expect full coverage!

Freightliner, 70 Years of Innovation

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The Look of CNG

There has been much noise recently about alternative fuel sources for trucks.  Last year it was all about electric vehicles.  This year, it’s all about another fossil fuel taking the stage, natural gas.  I will spare you the mumbo jumbo about what fuel is better and why as we’ve been over that more than a few times.  However, I would like to highlight some of the equipment necessary when running a liquefied or compressed natural gas vehicle.

Below is National Grid Freightliner M112 dump truck with a compressed natural gas setup.  How can you tell?  The large square box behind the cab is a dead give away of CNG system.  A setup of this kind is the equivalent of 75 diesel gallons.  If you don’t like the equipment mounted behind the cab you can opt for a LNG (liquefied) setup which  provides you with the more traditional saddle tanks typically used with diesel fuel.  LNG tanks offer the equivalent of 86 diesel gallons (dge).

Freightliner M112 CNG - Click to Enlarge

Past Diesel Dose Articles about Natural Gas

Natural Gas – Fuel of the Future?

A Green Milestone

Peterbilt 386 LNG – One Smart Truck

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Top Gear (USA Edition)

Just a quick FYI, tonight is the season premier of Top Gear (US Edition), on the History Channel.  I found the episode description to be of interest…

Rutledge, Adam and Tanner decide that driving Big Rigs can’t be as difficult as everyone says, and to prove it, set themselves the challenge of delivering tons of precious (and explosive) cargo across Michigan after only a few hours practice. What could possibly go wrong?

Sounds like fun to me.  History Channel, 9PM EST

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