Freightliner Trucks is displaying the new Detroit DD8 diesel in a vocational model at the World of Concrete show in Las Vegas this week. The midrange-size engine is an alternative to the Cummins L9 and will be offered in the 108SD, such as the one at the show, as well as the 106SD and 114SD.

The DD8, with ratings of 260 to 350 hp and 660 to 1,050 pound-feet, will be an alternative to Cummins’ L9, representatives said. The 7.7L DD8 is a larger, six-cylinder version of the four-cylinder DD5 introduced in 2016.

Cummins’ L9 is an 8.9L diesel that has long been popular with weight-sensitive applications, especially concrete mixer chassis.

“The DD8 engine combines the durability and efficiency expected from Detroit with the features best suited for vocational applications,” said Kelly Gedert, director of product marketing for Freightliner Trucks and Detroit Components. “As highlighted in our World of Concrete booth, the DD8 is part of our overall strategy for having the right solution for any job.”

The DD8 claims best-in-class maintenance intervals and is available with the engine and transmission power-take-off options needed for vocational applications, according to Gedert. The DD8 display at World of Concrete includes Detroit’s variable cam-phasing for efficient aftertreatment performance.

The engine is installed in the Freightliner 108SD set-back axle chassis with a ProAll volumetric mixer truck. Like the L9, the DD8 weighs hundreds of pounds less than larger-bore diesels, adding to a truck’s payload. The DD8 will be priced similar to the L9, representatives said. The display truck’s transmission is an Allison 3000 RDS automatic, a midrange series unit that costs considerably less than 4000 series Allisons required for larger, higher-output engines.