Autocar Trucks has launched two truck models designed for the concrete and construction industry.

The Autocar DC-64M is designed for concrete mixers and the DC-64P is made for concrete pump applications. The Autocar DC is a conventional truck engineered from the ground-up for severe-duty vocational applications.

“The new DC models are the result of extensive input we received from our advisory board of concrete professionals,” said Eric Schwartz, managing director of Autocar Trucks. “Every inch of these trucks has been reviewed and improved based on the decades of experience of people operating concrete mixer and boom pump trucks.”

The Autocar DC-64M and DC-64P bring several innovations that make them uniquely suited for their respective vocations, according to Autocar.

The Autocar DC’s cab was designed by Autocar for exceptional productivity, durability and safety in the concrete industry. The cab structure is built from a combination of steel, aluminum components and corner castings, to withstand years of abuse the concrete industry dishes out.

The workspace of the cab maximizes productivity for drivers with everything designed to be visible and within easy reach, while the wide, raked windshield provides better visibility for safety. The interior uses materials like polished aluminum bars for door pulls and steel sheets as dash panels along with a full steel structure inside the dashboard.

The Autocar DC-64M and DC-64P join the other DC models featuring ultra-high-strength 160,000 p.s.i. steel frame rails, which Autocar says are stronger and lighter than the rails on comparable trucks and eliminate the need for frame liners in nearly all mixer applications.

“We’ve routed air lines and self-cleaning electrical harnesses on separate sides of the frame rail to make service easier,” said Tom Harris, Autocar’s vice president for concrete mixer trucks. “But even more importantly, everything is mounted away from the frame rail channels where concrete and liquids accumulate, so that will avoid additional problems we’ve all had to deal with before.”

The DC also features Autocar’s new Always Up display, with prominent warnings and dynamic gauges that tell the operator or technician what fault has occurred and shows them how to fix it.

“The DC-64M incorporates a raft of improvements and features specific to concrete mixer trucks, such as rear-engine PTOs and asymmetrical self-leveling front suspensions,” said Schwartz. “Every DC-64P will be custom-engineered for the specific pump body the pumper selects. So suspensions and multiple steer, drive, and auxiliary axles will all be selected and placed for optimal weight distribution and Autocar’s industry-leading maneuverability.”

The Autocar DC powertrain initially includes Cummins X12 engines up to 500 hp and 1,700 lb.-ft. of torque, with additional engines and specs available in the future. Transmissions include the Allison RDS4500 and 4700 series for maximum torque at low speeds and easy drivability on the road and in construction sites.

The company has already accepted orders for production of the DC models at its Birmingham, Alabama factory, for delivery in the spring of 2020.