Autocar LLC, manufacturer of severe-duty trucks carrying North America’s oldest truck brand, announced its record-breaking 2021. In addition to marking the brand’s 124th year, the company’s achievements include unprecedented sales, as well as new and innovative product offerings such as the launch of its DC-64 BADASS dump truck and its all-electric E-ACTT terminal tractor. Additionally, the company leveraged new partnership opportunities and maintained its manufacturing throughout this challenging year. The manufacturer of specialized severe-duty, custom-engineered Class 7 and Class 8 vocational trucks continues to focus on its customers’ needs and vocations and is poised to reach new heights in 2022.
The original equipment manufacturer, Autocar, exclusively focuses on building the best trucks for the vocational truck market and is the only 100% American-owned company that assembles all of its trucks in the U.S., according to the company. Autocar-brand trucks support critical American infrastructure sectors such as refuse, material handling, concrete, and logistics.
Among many, some of Autocar’s 2021 highlights include:
- Introduced advanced driver assist system (ADAS) technology in its ACX severe-duty cabover refuse vehicles
- Brought to market the E-ACTT, Autocar’s first emissions-free, all-electric terminal tractor—and OEM terminal tractor with an OEM-developed electric vehicle system
- Launched the nation's first BADASS dump truck, the DC-64D
- Established a national terminal tractor rental program for fleets with America Big Truck Rental
- Donated a custom-engineered DC-64R refuse truck to the Environmental Research and Education Foundation in honor of industry leader, the late Mickey Flood
- The DC-64D was named 2021 Contractors’ Top 50 New Products by Equipment Today
- Appointed a Chief Experience Officer, Craig Antonucci
- Received a trademark from the United States Patent and Trademark Office for BADASS
- The DC-64D was named one of the top 2021 introductions by Heavy Equipment Guide
“There is no other way to describe 2021 for Autocar other than BADASS. Our success is fueled by our efforts to provide our customers the very best vocational truck designed to do the jobs they need it to do,” said Andrew Taitz, chairman of Autocar, LLC. “However, what I am most proud of is our team’s tenacity and dedication. Even though we were hit with supply chain issues, we were one of the few OEMs that never stopped manufacturing and kept its entire team employed.”
The BADASS dump truck
The Autocar DC-64D dump truck is the fourth Autocar DC-64 in the severe-duty Class 8 line. Autocar focuses on building the best trucks for the vocational truck market, which is why Autocar collaborated with key industry experts with more than 200 years of severe-duty truck experience to guide the DC-64D dump truck design. Configured with more than 100 improvements, the DC-64D is the company’s latest in designed dump trucks. Autocar’s trucks are engineered with high levels of integration and can handle challenging jobs. Autocar’s DC-64D dump truck’s features include:
- Pre-engineered for seamless body integration to avoid significant structural modifications
- Multiple Cummins engine options
- Provides performance, fuel economy, and lower operating costs per mile backed by 24/7 direct factory support
- Custom-built for the customer’s vocational and site-specific needs
Autocar’s E-ACTT
The purpose-built E-ACTT is an emissions-free, all-electric terminal tractor which is designed to help meet regulatory mandates for the vocational truck industry to reduce fuel consumption and to transition diesel trucks to zero-emission trucks in California. Autocar’s E-ACTT is an OEM terminal tractor with an OEM-developed electric vehicle system. It is designed for spotting trailers and containers at distribution centers, warehouse/trucking yards, industrial operations, intermodal/rail terminals, and port terminals. Autocar’s all-electric E-ACTT terminal tractor’s features include:
- Temperature-controlled lithium-ion battery technology and onboard charging system
- An electric powertrain with telemetry/diagnostic systems designed specifically for severe-duty application by Vorza
- Advanced monitoring systems and innovative telematics in every environmentally friendly unit
- Custom-built for the customer’s vocational and site-specific needs
The fleet of refuse cab over engine trucks featuring ADAS
Autocar ACX sets a standard for refuse drivers, customers, and communities with its ADAS safety-enhancing features, which include:
- Advanced emergency braking system
- Forward collision warning
- Stationary merge assistant
- Blind spot detection
- Electronic stability controls
- Rollover stability controls
“Autocar has an established reputation for innovation and leads the pack in heavy-duty vocational trucks,” Taitz said. “We will continue to strive to be the industry leader and are going full throttle into 2022, developing new strategies and even more innovations. Stay tuned.”
