The Kenworth T700 with Paccar MX engine (heavy-duty) and the 2012 Hino model 338 (medium-duty) were named the winners of the American Truck Dealers Commercial Truck of the Year for 2011. The top commercial trucks – selected by a panel of journalists from leading truck publications – were announced Sunday, April 17, at the 48th annual ATD Convention and Expo, which runs through Monday, April 18, at the Phoenix Convention Center.
Bill Kozek, general manager of Kenworth and vice president of Paccar, accepted the award on behalf of the company’s more than 300 dealers across the country. Kozek said the T700 was designed with improved aerodynamics, cost of operation and first-class styling in mind. The T700 also provides outstanding driver comfort, advanced technology and excellent residual value, he said.
Sumio Fukaya, president and chief executive officer of Hino Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc., and chairman of Hino Motors Manufacturing U.S.A. Inc., said winning the award will help Hino achieve its corporate mission “to make the world a better place to live by helping people and goods get where they need to go – safely, economically and with environmental responsibility.”
The other nominees in the heavy-duty category were the International ProStar+ with MF 13 engine and Peterbilt Model 386 lightweight sleeper-cab tractor. Other medium-duty truck nominees were the Ford F-650/F-750 Super Duty, International TerraStar, Isuzu NPR Eco-Max, Kenworth T370 4×4 and Peterbilt Model 337 4×4.
The ATD Commercial Truck of the Year recognizes one winner from the medium-duty truck category (Class 3-7) and another from the heavy-duty truck category (Class 8). The trucks were judged on innovation, design, driver and owner satisfaction, ease of maintenance and safety. The 2011 Hino 268 (medium-duty) and Peterbilt Model 384 (heavy-duty) were last year’s winners.
