Peterbilt has announced that its ergonomically designed column-mounted shifter will be standard equipment on Model 579 and 567 trucks equipped with the new Paccar Automated Transmission.

The column-mounted shifter will also be standard equipment on trucks equipped with the Eaton Advantage and Ultra Shift AMTs. The column-mounted shifter will be available on Model 579 and 567s ordered with automated transmissions beginning in Oct. 2017.

The new shifter, located on the right-hand side of the steering column, features a multi-mode design that allows for control of all transmission and engine brake functions, including gear selection, engine brake mode, and manual shifting.

The column-mounted shifter was designed to place controls in a more convenient location, to minimize distractions and allow for increased focus on the road. With the implementation of a column-mounted lever, a new design pinch valve located on the dash replaced the traditional lever for trailer brake activation, enhancing control during coupling and uncoupling maneuvers.

“The column-mounted shifter was designed based on in-depth studies of driver behavior and ergonomics,” said Scott Newhouse, Peterbilt chief engineer. “This new design also allowed us to improve on the usability of our dash by eliminating engine brake control switches.”

The new 12-speed automated transmission from Paccar is the latest addition to the proprietary Paccar Powertrain, designed for efficiency, drivability, and durability for Peterbilt on-highway models. The transmission was purpose-developed as an automated transmission for heavy-duty linehaul applications.

The Paccar Automated Transmission is available for order immediately on MX-13 equipped Model 579 and 567s scheduled for production after Oct. 16, 2017. Availability of the Paccar Transmission with the smaller Paccar MX-11 engine is scheduled for early 2018.