Kenworth made a series of announcements about features and equipment changes for the company’s trucks and engines as well as other customer facing offerings aimed at improving ownership.

Each of these announcements was made at the North American Commercial Vehicle Show in Atlanta, Georgia.

Customer Experience

To start off, with an eye on maximizing uptime, while improving communications for fleet customers, Kenworth has announced plans for an all-encompassing program that includes personalized customer care, and a web portal with connectivity to their Kenworth support team, instant access to product information, truck performance data, service history, and maintenance information.

“We’re aiming to set a new industry standard for customer care and support,” said Kevin Baney, Kenworth general manager and Paccar vice president. “We have established the foundation and we’ll be building out a comprehensive program throughout the year.”

Kenworth started the journey by expanding the services offered by Paccar Parts’ 365 Center. Earlier this year, the 365 Customer Center, which provides 24/7 roadside assistance and service scheduling, began offering personalized service event monitoring to customers driving faster completion of repairs and improving visibility to repair status.

“Through the team’s dedication and diligence, we have reduced repair times and connected with our customers on a personal level,” said Baney. “We also added a Vehicle Support Center to our 365 Center suite of services giving the 365 Customer Center immediate access to mechanics with over 250 years of experience.  Access to these key technical resources expanded the support we provide drivers.”

The overall management of a Kenworth truck will take place through a centralized portal expanding upon current Paccar Solutions and Paccar Parts 365 Center Total Customer Care applications. The portal will also provide access to Kenworth engineers who can help dealers and customers optimize a truck’s spec for the customer’s specific business need.

“This will be a single portal to manage repairs, by truck, from cradle to grave, access vehicle performance analytics, and connect with a personalized support team,” said Baney. “Behind the scenes, an innovative use of technology will proactively alert the support team of customer needs before they contact us. This new technology enables us to quickly jump in and help our customers, reducing down time.”

“We envision our customers being able to access driver training to better utilize features on our trucks. And for technicians, there will be product specific tutorials, along with YouTube videos to visually aide in performing maintenance and completing repairs on their trucks.”

Over the Air Updates

Kenworth has introduced the Kenworth TruckTech+ Over-the-Air program, designed to improve uptime by making it more convenient for fleets to load Paccar MX engine and aftertreatment software updates.

The program allows Kenworth Class 8 trucks equipped with 2017 or later model year Paccar MX-13 and Paccar MX-11 engines can receive software updates remotely. Active Kenworth TruckTech+ customers can access these updates on the Paccar Solutions online portal, or through the Paccar Over-The-Air mobile app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

The feature will be available for select customers beginning in December with a full roll out by early 2020.

The Paccar Solutions portal provides customers with visibility to all their Kenworth trucks, truck performance data, and shows those trucks requiring updates. Once the customer approves the update, the vehicle’s software update package is automatically built and the customer receives an email when the download is ready for installation.

“The new Kenworth TruckTech+ Over-the-Air program is an excellent benefit to customers that will increase uptime,” said Baney. “It is very important for Kenworth to quickly provide our customers with the latest engine updates and calibrations that promote enhanced fuel economy and performance.”

T880 Transmission Option for Vocational Fleets

The Paccar 12-speed automated transmission will incorporate new Paccar MX engine-optimized shift calibrations to enhance performance, beginning in January 2020, the company announced. As a result, the Paccar transmission will become available in light vocational applications, including construction, mining, refuse, and agriculture for the vocational leader Kenworth T880.

The transmission’s new performance shift calibrations will provide higher full throttle upshift points to improve overall performance and acceleration, and higher power downshift points to prevent speed loss on grades and higher resistance surfaces. Faster, more aggressive ramp rates and quicker shifts on grades will improve acceleration. The transmission also offers faster full-throttle launches with quicker, more aggressive clutch engagement.

Designed for applications up to 110,000 pounds gross vehicle weight, the expanded Paccar transmission availability is intended for Kenworth T880s that travel mainly on paved roads and occasionally operate off highway on maintained dirt or gravel roads.

The Paccar transmission is the lightest heavy-duty transmission for on-highway commercial vehicles. The transmission is available with the Paccar MX-13 engine rated up to 510 hp and 1,850 lb.-ft. of torque, and Paccar MX-11 engine rated up to 430 hp and 1,650 lb.-ft. of torque.

Paccar 20K Front Axle for T880

The T880 will now feature the Paccar 20K front axle as standard equipment, aimed at vocational applications.The Paccar front axle enhances steering efficiency and load carrying capacity for customers.

 The Paccar 20K front axle is available with ratings of 20,000 or 22,000 pounds, and uses an innovative tapered kingpin roller bearing, which simplifies the design and delivers enhanced steering efficiency. The Paccar front axle offers steering angles up to 50 degrees and has a five-year or 750,000 mile warranty.

The new standard Kenworth T880 specification package also features Kenworth 20K taperleaf front springs with shock absorbers, Kenworth AG460 tandem rear suspension, Meritor 46K tandem rear axles, integral knuckle for air disc brakes, and Bendix 6S/6M anti-lock brake system with air.

Chrome Options for W990

Kenworth continues to increase available chrome options for the Kenworth W990 through the Paccar Parts line of Kenworth Accessories products.

Paccar Parts has added many new options including window accents featuring a Kenworth logo, a sun visor with pinhole style amber LEDs, and W990 day cab and 76-inch sleeper chrome kits. For customers who want to purchase a package of full menu chrome accessories, Paccar Parts offers chrome kits that include grille deflectors, intake accent light bars, window accent, among other items.

With new chrome options available, Kenworth customers can now customize a W990 from a selection of more than 80 chrome and lighting options as well as 430 bumper options that include items such as recessed license plate boxes and under glow lighting.

“The new chrome offerings from PACCAR Parts enables our customers to find new and creative ways to personalize their Kenworth W990s,” said Lisa Berreth, Kenworth marketing director. “There is no better way to enhance the traditional bold look our customers enjoy than by adding extra chrome.”

New Features for Bendix Wingman Fusion

Kenworth will make new features for Bendix Wingman Fusion advanced driver assistance system standard for its on-highway flagship Kenworth T680, and optional for the vocational T880 and the conventional medium-duty T270 and T370 models, beginning in the first quarter of 2020.

Kenworth customers will benefit from the new Highway Departure Braking and Multi-Lane Emergency Braking features available in the latest Bendix Wingman Fusion.

Highway Departure Braking builds upon Bendix Wingman Fusion’s existing lane-departure warning capability. HDB provides an auditory alert to the driver and, if necessary, applies the foundation brakes to reduce vehicle speed up to 20 m.p.h., if the system determines the vehicle has left the roadway unintentionally. 

Multi-Lane Emergency Braking can help the driver multiple potential collisions in situations when more than one highway lane is blocked. Once a collision-mitigation braking event begins and the driver steers into an adjacent lane to avoid the forward vehicle, Bendix Wingman Fusion’s new AEB feature continues to apply the brakes – if needed – when it detects another forward vehicle blocking the path in the new traffic lane.

“Kenworth continues to implement advanced driver assistance system technologies that benefit our customers and enhance driver safety,” said Baney.