Truck Reviews

Western Star mashes up the off-highway ruggedness of its X-series with loads of luxury appointments on the on-highway 57X.

There are so many new features on the New Cascadia that it would take a book to explore them all. Suffice to say this very driver-centric truck is also a maintenance manager’s delight and a business owner’s best investment.

FreightWaves’ Chief Analytics Officer Dean Croke (who also has been a professional truck driver), reviews the newest Freightliner Cascadia.

Partially synthetic lower viscosity 10W-30 and 5W-30 oils are supplanting the industry standard 15W-40 heavy-duty oil. The new formulas cost more but can bring up to 2 percent better fuel economy with longer intervals between changes.

FreightWaves chief analytics officer Dean Croke – who has also driven more than 2 million miles behind the wheel of heavy-duty trucks – previews Copilot by Pronto.

Already the undisputed Class 8 sales leader, the 2020 Freightliner Cascadia arriving this fall is a technological tour de force that allows the truck to do most of the work of driving.

When Mack Trucks set out to design the Anthem, it turned to drivers for input. The result is a Class 8 tractor that is both comfortable and functional, providing all the benefits of an aerodynamic over-the-road tractor in a Classic Mack.

Theresa De Santis had to be talked into entering trucking competitions with her witch-themed 1985 Kenworth 589. She has collected a lot of hardware and prize money since.

When it comes to heavy-duty, long-haul trucks, the kings of the road are long-hood conventional big rigs with the latest comforts of home behind the cab. And chrome. Lots of chrome.