Street Smarts: Mack focuses on drivers for MD Series upgrades

If you think driver comfort is something only Class 8 fleets need to worry about, think again.

The 2026 Mack MD has received a series of significant cab-focused upgrades designed to make the truck safer, more comfortable and easier to upfit. (Photo: Mack Trucks)

According to Tim Wrinkle, senior product manager, Vocational and Medium Duty for Mack Trucks, medium-duty fleets today are making driver safety, comfort and productivity priorities, too – which is why Mack decided to really zero in on those three areas for the first major refresh of its MD Series of medium-duty straight trucks.

Family style

I thought Mack hit a home run with its Class 8 Anthem model when it was released in 2018. To my eye, its styling marked a return to form for Mack, evoking the truck’s long and proud heritage in North American trucking.

So, I wasn’t surprised to see the Mack MD emulate the Anthem look when it debuted in 2020.

“We really wanted to keep the MD’s look in the Mack family,” Wrinkle said during an MD overview at the OEM’s North American headquarters in Greensboro, N.C., in November. “Our customers recognize Anthem as a premium truck. And if they have Class 8 trucks, they like that look to come down to their medium-duty trucks, as well.”

With this update for the 2026 MD model, Mack has elected to take that common styling one step further. Wrinkle said the MD is a “significant” refresh for both diesel and electric models.

The new enhancements are centered on incorporating the Anthem cab, and its driver ergonomic enhancements, into the MD design.

The new enhancements are centered on incorporating the Anthem cab, and its driver ergonomic enhancement, into MD models. (Photo: Jack Roberts)

“This new MD is all about driver comfort,” Wrinkle said. “The Class 8 Anthem and the Class 6 and Class 7 MD now have the same cab interior and exterior.”

But there are always caveats and tradeoffs in truck design, he noted. In this case, the interior of the MD is somewhat different, with a bigger doghouse and some minor tweaks in the dashboard layout.

“We already had our popular flat-bottom steering wheel in the MD,” Wrinkle said. “But we brought over the Anthem controls. So, those are now standard on every medium-duty Mack truck.”

Also new are steering wheel controls for cruise control, telephone and audio functions, which have migrated down from the Anthem. MD drivers will also appreciate the same tilt-telescopic steering wheel, power windows and locks and overhead storage. And that is on top of the MD’s air suspension cab and a standard air ride seat for the driver.

MD trim appointments now include two-tone black and gray or madura vinyl upholstery. Also new are adjustable seat belts on the B pillar and LED interior lighting. Several enhanced safety features are now standard, as well. These include a new ABS (Anti-Lock Braking System) with ATC (Automatic Traction Control), radio mute in reverse and a park brake alarm.

“All of these features are really important,” Wrinkle stressed. “Medium-duty fleets today are very focused on amenities and driver comfort.”

A clean cab inside and out

Nothing changes in terms of powertrain for this MD Series update, Wrinkle said. The MD is still offered with diesel or electric drivetrain options in the MD6, a Class 6 model with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 25,995 lb., and the MD7, a Class 7 model with a GVWR of 33,000 lb.

For those who opt for diesel, the Mack MD features the Cummins B6.7, which is matched with several Allison transmissions options. Meritor front and rear axles are standard.

The new MD interior features a standard tilt/telescopic steering wheel and brushed aluminum trim accents. (Photo: Jack Roberts)

“That’s about as bulletproof a medium-duty design as you’ll find anywhere today,” Wrinkle said.

Mack uses 110-KSI frame rails on Class 6 versions of the truck and 120-KSI frame rails on the Class 7 models, he added. The 120-KSI rails are the same as used on Class 8 models.

The company also opted for a new clean and clear back of cab design for this MD upgrade. This includes a large rear window and iconic Mack “peep-down” door windows.

“The new MD features a 107-in. BBC compared to 103 in. on the first-generation model,” Wrinkle noted. “That is a major improvement in terms of driver comfort.”

Just to give you an idea of what that means, it’s an interior cab volume of 200 extra liters compared to the previous MD.

“And you really feel it when you’re inside the cab,” Wrinkle said, “because those 200 extra liters are in the right place to maximize both driver and passenger comfort.”

Outside the cab, Wrinkle said Mack made ease of installation for body builders a top priority. To do this, Mack engineers have added pre-wired body builder connections, a relocated air dryer and updated wheelbases to industry standard cab-to-axle (CA) dimensions. This makes it easier to install an even wider array of body installations than before, according to Wrinkle.

Jack Roberts is a Tuscaloosa, Ala.-based independent journalist and licensed commercial driver with more than 20 years’ experience covering the North American and global trucking industries.

And all of these come without raising the MD’s price, he added.

Mission accomplished

Mack wanted to transform the MD into a premium medium-duty truck, and it is mission accomplished as far as Wrinkle is concerned.

“This new truck has a long list of standard features that you might not find at all on competitive medium-duty trucks,” he stated. “We believe that fleet owners and drivers alike will appreciate the level of thought and detail that we’ve put into this new cab design.”