The big news from Mack Trucks at this year’s World of Concrete is that the company will now offer it’s relatively new mDRIVE HD automated transmission in a Mack TerraPro cabover pumper truck configuration.
The mDRIVE features a split shaft transmission rather than taking auxiliary power off an engine- or transmission-mounted PTO. This produces more torque than conventional auxiliary drives, which, as you might guess, is just what a concrete pumper needs.
Introduced in 2014 for Mack highway trucks and last year in the Mack Granite line of trucks, the mDRIVE is mated to an 11-literMack MP7 engine. The engine tops out at 425 horsepower and 1,570 foot-pounds of torque.
The automatic’s low ratio creeper gears improve startablity and ultra-low speed maneuverability. To withstand the frequent gear shifts common in construction applications, hardened gears and reinforced synchros boost durability.
A side-mounted external oil cooler maintains optimal oil temperature. Service intervals are set at 500,000 miles and the mDRIVE also uses less transmission oil than a conventional automatic, says Tim Wrinkle, construction product manager.
To hit 60 miles per hour from a standing stop, the driver of a manual transmission may have to make 62 movements says Wrinkle. With the mDRIVE automatic, it takes just three driver movements to reach that same speed says Wrinkle. Over the course of a workday that reduces driver fatigue and allows them to focus on safe operations and the task at hand.
The mDRIVE equipped Mack Terra pro comes with either a 13 speed direct drive with overdrive or a 14 speed direct drive and will be available in February.
