The Autocar DC-64R severe duty conventional truck has achieved a breakthrough in chassis-body integration: Autocar has revealed it is mounting roll-off hoist bodies directly on the Autocar DC truck production line. This is a change to the model of refuse truck production, bringing together the two main components, the chassis and the body, and treating the truck as one complete tool. Autocar calls this process the Ultimate Power of One and says refuse truck operators will experience several significant benefits from this innovation.
James Johnston, president of Autocar, said “We’ve always known that improving the integration of our refuse truck chassis and refuse bodies is essential to reducing our customers’ downtime. So flawless integration is a key aspect of our Always Up mission. We decided to take responsibility for building the truck as one complete tool. When we engineer the truck as a complete tool and mount body components right on the Autocar production line we call that ‘Power of One’.”
Autocar introduced Power of One integration on the ACX cabover truck recently and data reported by truck operators for the first 90 days in service shows an improvement in uptime and reliability, according to the company. The Power of One trucks also demonstrated cost savings not only from avoided repairs but also from the other downtime-related costs, such as lost driver hours and towing, that were eliminated. Autocar will offer Power of One integration with all refuse body manufacturers.
Enhanced safety is another benefit of Autocar’s Power of One integration. Since the whole system, chassis plus body, is pre-engineered and then assembled as one complete tool, Autocar’s finished trucks comply with all FMVSS and EPA regulations. This is one more aspect of Autocar’s Always Up.
Johnson continued, “With the new DC we take that vision to its conclusion: Mounting the entire refuse body at the same time and in the very same way we build the truck. That’s Ultimate Power of One.”
Autocar explains the Ultimate Power of One process starts with engineering each truck based on that specific customer’s needs and working closely with the selected body company’s engineers. All the body components are then installed during Autocar’s production process, with full Autocar OEM quality. So, all the electrical harnesses are installed together, eliminating the risk of splices, loose connectors, or drilled access holes. Body components are huck-bolted onto the frame rails in the precisely correct locations, not welded, avoiding misplacement and damage to the rails. Autocar will also fully mount tarper systems and lighting kits, so when the truck rolls out of the Autocar factory it is “Driver Ready” and can go to work immediately.
Eric Schwartz, managing director of Autocar Trucks, said “Building trucks with the Power of One process is a game-changer for our customers. They tell us they have experienced a significant improvement in uptime for the Power of One trucks already in service. There’s another benefit that the Ultimate Power of One takes ever further: We are able to deliver ready-to-work truck months faster than ever before. In fact, for trucks ordered now we are committing to deliver completed trucks in calendar 2019. That’s critical for our customers who have commitments to provide service for their customers.”
Autocar offers the DC-64R with a wide range of Ultimate Power of One specifications. Roll-off hoists are available with 60,000 and 75,000 lb. capacities for 22’ and 24’ long dumpsters. Telescopic, single-forward, and single-rearward-mounted cylinder configurations are also available. The DC-64R can be engineered with a rear-cab guard and with or without pusher axles, as the customer’s needs require, all installed on Autocar’s production line.
Schwartz added, “We’ve done everything possible to make the DC-64R the refuse truck to help our customers be more successful than ever. The Ultimate Power of One is a big part of achieving that goal. People interested in seeing how the DC-64R can help them should visit www.autocartruck.com/my-new-truck.”
