Maverick Transportation will begin taking delivery of 350 new 2012 and 2013 trucks in the first quarter of 2012. It's also spec'ing automatic tire inflation on all new trailers purchased in 2012.


The new Freightliner Cascadias will be equipped with electronic onboard recorders, auxiliary power units, and the latest in safety technology, including collision avoidance and roll stability control. The trucks will also contain the latest Daimler engine technology and Eaton electronic-shift transmissions.

Among the new trucks, 190 units will be replacements to help reduce maintenance costs and lower the average age of the fleet. The remaining 160 units will represent growth as the company continues to expand its service offering and provide additional capacity to its customer base.

Maverick took delivery of 500 new trucks throughout 2011.

"Maverick's latest truck order means the vast majority of our fleet will be 2010 year models or newer," said Vice President of Maintenance Mike Jeffress. "We want our professional drivers and customers alike to enjoy the best equipment in the transportation industry."

In related news, Maverick recently spec'd the Meritor Tire Inflation System by PSI as standard equipment on its new trailers.

In addition to benefits in tire wear and fuel economy, Dean Newell, vice president of safety for Maverick, explained that the tire inflation system is part of the company's strategy to meet the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's new Compliance, Safety and Accountability initiative.

"We're serious about safety at Maverick, and always have been," Newell said. "With the CSA scoring and enforcement criteria, points assessed for under-inflated and flat tires can easily impact the safety score of any fleet operating in the U.S. If you can avoid those instances by having your tires properly inflated all the time, it eliminates that worry."