Replace — Wednesday, March 19, 10 a.m. Japanese: Kenworth formally confirmed the information reported right here by Overdrive. “We all know these legacy Kenworth fashions are an integral a part of our historical past right here at Kenworth, which makes this resolution a tough however obligatory one as we enter the following period of trucking,” mentioned Kevin Haygood, Kenworth’s assistant basic supervisor for gross sales and advertising and marketing, including that the corporate can be issuing a closing name for construct orders for all impacted fashions later within the yr. The corporate suggested sellers and prospects to position closing orders as quickly as attainable.
Haygood known as the owner-operator-favorite W900 mannequin “actually historic in that it’s helped form North American trucking tradition and custom as we all know it at this time. … We stay up for seeing them on our roads and at truck exhibits for a few years to come.”
Unique story follows:
A supply with information in regards to the producer’s plans confirmed Tuesday that Kenworth would part out the W900L, W900B, T800W and C500 fashions because of tightening emissions rules and different points. Kenworth is predicted to formally announce the sundown of the W900 within the coming days, with additional info on the long run manufacturing line popping out at or prematurely of the Mid America Trucking Present.
Kenworth first debuted the W900 in 1961, making it the longest-running manufacturing semi-truck mannequin.
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A supply cited „more and more stringent emissions necessities and limitations on availability starting in 2026“ as causes for discontinuing the truck strains. Rumblings of the W900’s demise have been round for a while.
In late January, Chuck Peterman, Vice President of Gross sales at Inland Kenworth seller community, launched a video addressing the way forward for the W900 and handbook transmissions.
„The W900 has been Kenworth’s flagship mannequin for many years,“ mentioned Peterman. „Lately, the W900 has seen a preciptious drop in construct volumes as many small operators who most well-liked the truck sadly have left the trade. Fleets have demanded extra aerodynamic choices and the federal government has made it more and more tough for Kenworth to fulfill their regulatory mandates.“
Present W900 house owners, directly, stand to learn, he added. The looming finish of the W900 line serves to make „present vans much more precious from a picture, satisfaction and resale standpoint,“ he mentioned.
Peterman famous Inland Kenworth „can for now meet your entire W900 demand,“ however that might change sooner or later „for certain.“
This 2022 Kenworth W900L, nicknamed „Mojito,“ is owned by Cokeville, Wyoming-based Cody Davis. The rig has been featured twice in Overdrive — as soon as following the 2023 Shell Rotella SuperRigs working truck present in Gillette, Wyoming, and once more later that yr when the truck was voted by Overdrive readers because the winner within the Satisfaction & Polish Inside and Working Combo classes.Matt Cole
Peterman addressed rumors that the provision of handbook transmissions could be restricted, too.
„Each truck that is produced by Kenworth has a greenhouse fuel rating. Improved scores come from the aerodynamic T680 with full fairings, and any truck geared up with choices akin to low rolling resistance tires, idle shutdown timers, max pace limiters, idle discount gadgets akin to battery and fuel-fired APUs, decrease horsepower engines, sure rear axles and automatic transmissions,“ he mentioned, including that Inland would take steps to make sure handbook transmission parts „stay accessible so long as attainable.“
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