“Mack is proud to have earned the trust of customers who chose the Granite model more than any other heavy-duty straight truck in 2016,” said Jonathan Randall, senior vice president of sales for Mack Trucks North America. “We look forward to continuing to meet the needs of our customers’ applications.”
Available in axle forward or axle back configurations, the versatile Mack Granite model can be spec’d for a wide variety of construction tasks, including dump and concrete mixer applications. The Granite model can also be found in the refuse segment as a rear-loader or roll off, while municipal customers depend on Granite models for plow applications. For heavy-haul or logging applications, the Granite model can be spec’d as a tractor with heavy-duty upgrades.
Mack Granite models are available with the lightweight, yet powerful 11-liter Mack MP®7 engine or the Mack MP8 engine for those requiring additional power. With up to 425 horsepower and 1,560 lb.-ft. or torque, the MP7 is ideal for weigh-conscious applications such as concrete mixers. The 13-liter MP8 engine delivers up to 505 horsepower and 1,860 lb.-ft. of torque.
Both engines are optimally paired with the Mack mDRIVE™ HD 13-speed automated manual transmission, which is standard on all Granite models. The mDRIVE HD 13-speed includes one low-ratio creeper gear enabling excellent jobsite startability, while maintaining on-road fuel efficiency. A 14-speed mDRIVE HD with two low-ratio creeper gears is also available and is ideal for low-speed maneuvers such as curb pouring.
All Granite models are built on Mack’s robust Cornerstone™ chassis, which is available in a range of frame rail thicknesses to meet any application. Several suspension choices are available, including Mack’s Camelback suspension, an industry standard for more than 50 years, and the Mack mRIDE™ suspension, which combines outstanding ground clearance with extreme articulation.
Granite models are also available with Mack proprietary axles. The unique top-loaded design of Mack axles helps reduce vibration and offers a quieter ride. Mack axles also feature spiral bevel gears, which reduce friction to improve efficiency.
“With its powerful MP engines, mDRIVE HD AMTs and proven Cornerstone chassis, it’s clear to see why customers depend on the Mack Granite,” said Tim Wrinkle, Mack construction product manager. “But we also back them with our industry-leading uptime solutions to help ensure our customers’ Granites stay on the job.”
All Granite models come standard with GuardDog® Connect, Mack’s fully integrated, factory-installed telematics solution. If an issue is detected, GuardDog Connect through Mack ASIST and Mack OneCall™, offers an initial diagnosis, schedules repairs and confirms that needed parts are in stock and ready to install, all while the truck is still on the job. GuardDog Connect also helps maximize uptime by proactively communicating critical information to a customer’s predetermined contact, helping speed the decision-making process.
In addition to proactively monitoring the truck for potential issues, data from GuardDog Connect also powers Mack Fleet Management Services, giving customers fully integrated fleet management options with no need for additional hardware.
Mack Fleet Management Services includes WheresMyConcrete, a cloud-based and telematics-connected dispatching, analytics and customer service tool. WheresMyConcrete is ideal for Mack ready-mix customers seeking improved asset visibility, dispatch efficiency and real-time data identifying exactly where a concrete load is in the delivery process.
Mack recently introduced the next step in its uptime strategy with Mack Over The Air (OTA), Mack OTA is built on GuardDog Connect telematics hardware to deliver software updates directly to customers with minimal interruption to their operations. Two categories of software updates are available via Mack OTA, one for powertrain components, and the other for vehicle parameters like road speed limits.
Mack OTA will be available on all model year 2018 Mack models equipped with GuardDog Connect and Mack’s greenhouse gas 2017 engines.
*Based on IHS Markit U.S. Class 8 VIN defined conventional straight truck new vehicle registrations for 10 liters and larger engines, January-December 2016
For more information about Mack, visit our website at www.macktrucks.com
