Weighing in on 13-Liter Engines

In a drive of the then-new International Prostar, I thought I’d push the envelope on fuel economy and slide the trailer up tighter to the tractor, just to see what sort of fuel numbers I could get.That was a big mistake. First scale I crossed I got the opportunity to slide it back out again to get some of the excess weight off the front axle!

That particular truck had an axle rated at 12,000 pounds, pretty commonplace. But more recently, doing a story that included Hendrickson and its work on steer axles – especially 13,200-pound rated axles – it became apparent that all truck OEMs are battling with increasing weight, especially on the front axle.

Options Boost Pete 382 Performance and Versatility

Additional options have been released by Peterbilt for its Model 382. Included are higher axle ratings and more horsepower and torque configurations to appeal to a wider market. Already accepted in regional and short-haul applications as a truck or tractor, the 382 has broader appeal in municipal specifications and a variety of construction, refuse, fire service and emergency applications.

New options on the 382 include:
• Cummins ISL9 engine with REPTO functionality
• Front axles rated to 20,000 pounds
• Rear axles rated to 46,000 pounds
• Frame rail options to 11-5/8 inches
• Bendix ESP Stability system for truck applications
• Hendrickson, Reyco and Chalmers rear suspension choices.