Street Smarts: Mack looks to the future with new Pioneer tractor

It’s a point that Mack Trucks North America President Jonathan Randall has always been adamant about: Mack Trucks has been a pioneering company since its founding 125 years ago.

Mack was founded in 1900, in Brooklyn, N.Y. It was the dawn of the automotive age. And many things we take for granted today – like the concept of a larger vehicle specifically designed to transport commercial goods – hadn’t been hammered out yet.

It was Mack, as much as any other automotive manufacturer, that defined what a “commercial vehicle” would be. Its AC Model truck, introduced in 1916, was so advanced that the company applied for 18 different patents based on its design.

And, Randall pointed out, it was Mack that first introduced the concept of a vertically integrated powertrain – all the way back in the 1920s.

The company never let up. Today, it is widely recognized as a leader in commercial vehicle telematics and predictive maintenance telemetry. It boasts more than 200,000 connected trucks on the road today.

A Pioneering Design

All of which means that if Mack is going to call a new Class 8 truck the “Pioneer”, it better deliver on the advanced technology front.

The Pioneer is the first model in an all-new line of trucks that Mack will introduce over the next two years. (Photo: Jack Roberts)

Have no fear, a pioneering design for the all-new truck is exactly what Mack engineers have delivered.

At the glitzy, jam-packed launch in Brooklyn on April 8th, Stephen Roy, president and executive board member, Mack Trucks, called the Pioneer a “true 21st century truck for Mack.”

“This truck tells the Mack story,” Randall added during his portion of the Pioneer’s presentation that evening. “It’s bold, iconic, strong and timeless, embodying our DNA and character, while taking our customers into the future with advanced design that prioritizes both driver experience and operational efficiency.”

“With the Pioneer, we’re not just introducing a new truck,” Roy stated. “We’re redefining what a highway truck can be, taking trucking into the 21st century with features that transform the daily experience of professional drivers who spend an average of 150 hours per month in their trucks.”

Stated plainly, the Pioneer is designed specifically for long-haul fleet operations.

The new truck is available in the U.S. and Canada in multiple configurations for short-, medium- and long-haul operations. These configurations include:

• Day Cab
• 44” Mid-Roof Sleeper
• 64” Mid-Roof Sleeper
• 76” Mid-Roof Sleeper
• 76” High-Roof Sleeper

For the time being, Mack officials confirmed, both Pioneer and Anthem models will be produced concurrently at the Mack Trucks manufacturing plant in Lehigh Valley, Penn.

Just as importantly, officials added, more new Mack models are in the pipeline. In fact, they said over the next two years Mack will modernize its entire product line. Every existing model will be replaced with an all-new vehicle.

If you’re a Mack customer, you can expect more clarity as to how these upcoming models will fit into the OEM’s stable in the coming months.

Optimized Aerodynamics

Obviously, the Pioneer shares the same cab as the Volvo VNL launched last year. (Mack is owned by the Volvo Group.) But Mack engineers understood from the outset that maintaining the OEM’s legacy and distinctive brand image in the new design was critical.

Lukas Yates, expert chief designer at Mack, said his team accomplished this goal by creating a cohesive design that optimizes aerodynamic efficiency that still enhances the Pioneer’s visual impact.

A case in point: The iconic Mack bulldog still resides in a place of honor atop the Pioneer’s grill. However, the hood ornament – integral to Mack’s identity as a truck OEM – is now fully integrated into the hood design. It is also now flanked by air intakes to improve aerodynamic performance. That means that now the bulldog is also an important part of the new trucks’ aerodynamic performance, instead of being merely a decorative item.

A large, bold, Mack logo splashed across the grille of the truck is another important design aspect for the brand. But Yates’ team repositioned it on the Pioneer so that it is lower on the grille. This change enhances airflow around and over the nose of the truck. It also enhances the height and width of the truck when viewed from a distance.

All told, Yates said the new aerodynamic design for the Pioneer delivers an impressive 11% increase in aerodynamic performance compared to the current Anthem model.

A High-Tech Cab Interior

Inside the cab, the Pioneer features Mack’s most complete, driver-focused safety and productivity package ever.

Yates’ team met with 40 professional drivers in a non-branded focus group conducted at Virginia Tech Transportation Institute in Blacksburg, Va. Other driver clinics were held at truck stops across North America, as well. And feedback from Mack dealers was critical in finalizing the design.

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.

The Pioneer introduces Mack’s new premium seating system. These new seats feature a wider and taller frame with expanded shoulder and headrest areas. The seats also feature perforated material for both heating and cooling functions. Even better, an integrated massage system provides relief for sore backs during long drives.

The new MyMack smartphone app enables drivers to remotely check truck status and control lights and HVAC systems.

A new structural dash extrusion provides convenient device mounting options. This includes a new communications system with a versatile ball socket joint mount for phones and navigation devices. A patent-pending ELD (Electronic Log Device) mounting plate provides secure placement for essential compliance equipment, while a tablet holder positioned below accommodates iPads and similar devices.

The Pioneer’s cab also features dual-inductive charging stations – one optimized for the driving position and another located in the living environment – eliminating cable clutter, while ensuring devices remain powered throughout the journey.

The Mack Pioneer is available now for order.