Test Drives

Kenworth gives T680 an aero, tech makeover

Visually, the truck is striking and it’s a very un-Kenworth-like update in that there are very few little tweaks.

February 11, 2021

The T680 got its first significant update Thursday since it first rolled down the Chillicothe, Ohio, assembly line.

2020 in the rearview: A year of CCJ test drives

During a year of uncertainty, CCJ was fortunate to continue test drives. From electric models to Western Star's 49X, take a look back at 2020 test drives here.

December 21, 2020

Volvo’s electric VNR, two of which will be going to work for SoCal-based Dependable Highway Express, are listed in SoCal Edison’s EV Finder.

More safety features available on 2020 Ford Super Duty chassis cabs

Ford F-350, F-450 and F-550 chassis cabs now offer driver-assist with lane departure warnings, collision warnings, automatic braking, and more. Details on CCJ.

January 31, 2020

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Test drive: Freightliner’s autonomous-capable 2020 Cascadia

With the ability to accelerate, decelerate and steer independently, next generation Cascadia tractors will enable SAE Level 2 automated driving. Read more here.

February 18, 2019

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Test drive: Volvo’s new 14 speed I-Shift AMT with crawler gears

The company believes so heavily in the future of shiftless driving that it is targeting growth opportunity in heavy haul and vocational segments by including optional crawler gears in 13 and 14 speed I-Shifts.

June 28, 2016

Test drive: Isuzu’s Class 5 NRR marries brawn, clean design

If you’re looking for heavier haul capabilities but still need an urban traffic fighter, Isuzu’s NRR should be on your shopping list.

January 4, 2016

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Test drive: Isuzu’s NPR XD medium-duty workhorse

Test driving Isuzu’s 2016 NPR XD.

December 23, 2015

2016 Isuzu NPR XD

Test drive: 2016 Ford Transit commercial van

The commercial van Ford has tapped to replace E-Series got a few upgrades for the 2016 model year.

December 11, 2015

The standard 3.7-liter V6 engine provides 275 hp and 260 lb.-ft. of torque.

Test drive: Ram showcases power with Cummins-powered 3500 Series pickup

It wasn’t too long ago that if you needed to tow a 30,000 pound payload, you needed a Class 5 or 6 truck to get the job done. Today, all you need is a Ram 3500 pickup. CCJ took the 3500 for a test spin this week outside Detroit.

October 21, 2015

The 3500 driven by CCJ Equipment Editor Jack Roberts during his test drive.

Test drive: 2016 Mercedes Benz Metris midsize cargo van

Metris will be the lowest priced Mercedes in the U.S., but is still premium priced in the smaller commercial van segment.

September 25, 2015

First drive: Mercedes-Benz mid-size Metris commercial van

The engine specifically tuned for the rear-wheel drive Metris puts out 208 hp and 258 lb-ft of torque.

June 5, 2015

Pre-production Mercedes-Benz Metris

Test drive: Peterbilt unveils Model 567 Bridge Formula model

The Model 589 still retains the design cues and style accents Peterbilt pioneered with its highway/long-haul Model 579. The truck retains the 579’s aggressively sloped hood, although the primary benefit here is excellent forward visibility instead of aerodynamics.

June 4, 2015

Yokohama Tire to give away $5,000 vacation at MATS

Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) attendees will have a chance to win great prizes – including a $5,000 vacation giveaway and iPad Air tablets – at Yokohama Tire Corporation’s (YTC) newly designed booth (14124) at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Kentucky, March 26-28. In order to enter the vacation giveaway, MATS visitors must stop by YTC’s […]

March 23, 2015

Test drive: Freightliner smartly leaned on its highway tractors to develop severe-duty lineup

What do you do if you’re a truck maker and your over-the-road market share numbers are in the stratosphere? If you’re Freightliner, you turn your attention to the vocational truck market.

March 9, 2015

The SD’s hood pivots forward easily, with all inspection points on the Cummins and Detroit engines accessible from ground level.

Test driving Freightliner’s severe duty lineup

CCJ Equipment Editor Jack Roberts is outside of Austin, Texas, this week to test drive two trucks out of Freightliner’s SD line: The 114SD and the 108SD dump. Here are two short clips of Roberts’ time with the two trucks Jan. 28

January 28, 2015

freightliner 114sd

‘EPIQ’ fuel economy push: Peterbilt takes Model 579 to new heights

The Model 579 was a groundbreaking design for Peterbilt, seamlessly melding traditional Class 8 styling with highly efficient aerodynamics. The new EPIQ package takes this formula further, with more aggressive aerodynamics and a highly optimized and integrated drivetrain. The result is consistently high miles per gallon while allowing owners to bask in Peterbilt’s refined image.

November 18, 2014

Peterbilt 579 Epiq

CCJ test drive: 2015 Sprinter 4×4

Early next year, Mercedes-Benz will introduce the industry’s first 4×4 commercial van to the company’s wildly popular Sprinter line.

October 29, 2014

CCJ takes Peterbilt’s new 579 EPIQ for a test drive

CCJ Equipment Editor Jack Roberts is at Peterbilt headquarters in Denton, Texas, this week to get the details on Peterbilt’s new 579 EPIQ tractor and take it for a test drive. Here are live tweets and video coverage from today’s action.

October 23, 2014

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With serial production of its electric eCascadia and eM2 set for next year, DTNA earlier this month unveiled Detroit electric ePowertrain.

Daimler, Cummins partnership puts writing on the wall for DD5, DD8 engines

DTNA will wind down production of its DD5, DD8 engines through medium-duty partnership with Cummins.

With COVID vaccine ‘peak season’ nigh, can trucking keep up with looming load demand?

Locomation is planning to initially roll out autonomous vehicle technology using a convoy.

Floodgates wide open for investment in trucking and logistics

Lack of load availability last spring -- and the cheap rates on the loads that were available -- were the prime contributing factor in the spike in carrier failures last year, said Donald Broughton, principal and managing partner of Broughton Capital.

Carrier failures mounted in '20, but so did new entrant carriers

Goodyear Launches Fleet Central, an Interactive Portal that Revolutionizes

Goodyear Launches Fleet Central, an Interactive Portal that Revolutionizes

Get all the info on the top 250 trucking companies in America

View, sort and download the trucking industry’s most comprehensive ranking of for-hire carriers in North America, based on a blend of metrics including fleet size, annual revenue and number of drivers.

Download The Definitive Guide To Managing Preventable Risk

Nuclear verdicts, billboard attorneys, truck accident fraudsters. Trucking companies highest priority - Managing preventable risk. This Mitigation Playbook explains why, before it's too late.