Get FinancingMack Expands mDRIVE HD AMT Availability
One specific component that’s important for vocational trucks more than any other type of vehicle is the power take off (PTO), which Mack Trucks is addressing specifically with its Mack mDRIVE HD automated manual transmission (AMT) with split-shaft functionality. The company announced this new capability at the World of Concrete 2018 event in Las Vegas last week.
The way this split-shaft configuration works is that it takes output right from the transmission rather than from the engine or from a PTO component attached to the transmission. The goal is to generate as much torque as possible for whatever is attached to the chassis of a truck, whether that’s a vacuum, concrete pump, or other body. If you plan on buying a Mack truck with a 12-speed, 13-speed, or 14-speed mDRIVE HD AMT, then it will come standard with the split-shaft PTO that a Mack dealer can activate for you. But if you opt for something with the GHG2017 F-Series mDRIVE HD AMT, then you’ll need to get help from the Mack Body Builder Support Group to reprogram it to support the split-shaft configuration.
About The mDRIVE HD
Mack Trucks introduced the mDRIVE HD AMT in 2015 and built it tough to stand up to the rigors of work in a variety of vocational applications. But even with all of its power, the transmission can be as much as 237 pounds (108 kilograms) lighter than the alternatives, which means you have more room for hauling. The Mack Granite series, for example, comes standard with the 13-speed version of the mDRIVE HD automated manual transmission.
In addition to what you get with a base mDRIVE HD AMT, Mack offers multiple optional configurations that make its trucks a better fit for specific applications. One example is the Enhanced Construction package, geared toward both on- and off-road applications so drivers have more control regardless of where they’re driving. Another example is the EZ Shift package, which is designed specifically for trucks carrying sensitive loads and offers smoother shifting between gears.
Mack GuardDog Connect
A big focus for Mack in the past few years has been on monitoring trucks as much as possible via its GuardDog Connect platform, and that also applies to mDRIVE HD AMTs. This telematics solution is designed to give operators and fleet managers as much information as possible on the health of the vehicle to make sure there are more instances of predictive maintenance rather than sudden repairs.
Source: Mack Trucks