Effective next month, the 12-speed Paccar Automated Transmission and its right-hand column-mounted shifter will be standard on linehaul and regional haul applications of Kenworth’s T680.
The column-mounted shifter places gear selection and engine brake controls at the driver’s fingertips for better ergonomics, comfort and overall performance. This placement also frees up dash space by eliminating engine brake control switches.
Kenworth Marketing Director Kurt Swihart says the integration of the proprietary Paccar Transmission with the MX-13 engine and Paccar tandem rear axles provides new levels of fuel economy and weight savings performance.
“In 2017, approximately 70 percent of our linehaul customers purchased automated transmissions, up from about 30 percent in 2013. We’ve received a very positive response from fleets involved in the Paccar transmission’s testing and validation program,” he adds.
