Which Mack is right for you?

Newest MD, Anthem, and Pioneer models secure their spots in industry segments

It’s no secret Mack Trucks surpasses the competition with its legacy for durability, innovation in technology, and enhanced performance. Macks simply excel in every market segment. In fact, Macks are so versatile you sometimes see models used across segments – once a Mack owner falls in love with a specific model, they tend to be faithful and loyal to that model for the long haul.

Today’s Macks – no matter the market segment – have unprecedented advancements across the board. That results in sharing common fundamentals found in all Mack trucks including enhanced safety, fuel efficiency, and driver comfort – all designed with you in mind. These are a foundation for improvements to each model such as increased truck length, more spacious cabs, and additional features to further enhance driver safety.

So, which Mack is right for you? While some Macks, such as the LR, are designed for specific market segments, and others, like the Granite, are designed for specialized conditions, some models are useful across applications. If you have a mixed model fleet, take a look at each of the models. Examine the features they share – and those they don’t – and apply those to your specific needs. Whichever Mack you select, you’ll be ready for the long haul.

MD Series versatility

If it’s a reliable, versatile truck suitable for a range of applications you’re looking for, look no further than the MD Series. The MD, or Medium Duty, series brings the same durability found in heavy duty models, but at a at a budget-friendly cost.

Useful for applications including last mile and local delivery, some solutions within the MD Series don’t require a CDL while they all make a point of enhanced driver comfort. In fact, some of the revamped features are those you might not ever have considered as in need of improvement. The bottom of the steering wheel is squared off, making your vehicle entry and exit much easier. Your cruise controls, telephone commands, and radio functionality are all located at your fingertips, allowing you to keep hands on the wheel.

With the MD Series, you’ve got four additional inches of legroom compliments of the 107-inch bumper to back of cab, or BBC, which also helps to increase fuel efficiency. The Cumming B6.7 engine boasts 325 horsepower and boosts performance for greater distances and roadways plagued with hills and valleys that have historically reduced fuel efficiency.

Step up to the Anthem

The newest member of the Mack family, the newly-launched Mack Anthem, is ready to make inner-city driving a dream.

According to Blake Routh, Sr. Highway Product Manager for Mack Trucks, the Anthem traverses the roadways as your urban driving solution. Combined with a shorter BBC than what’s found on the Mack Pioneer, the Anthem features a shorter nose that simplifies maneuverability. If you make multiple stops throughout the day, the Anthem is the truck for you.

“The turning radius is great on both the Pioneer and the Anthem as is the visibility, but naturally the shorter BBC makes maneuvering the Anthem so much easier,” says Routh.

Mack’s design team also put a great deal of work into driver safety. The truck features forward collision warning, pedestrian detection, and blind spot warning. Additionally, the Anthem offers a plethora of options when it comes to vehicle cameras.

“You can get a front camera as part of Mack Protect, which is the standard forward collisions mitigation warning,” says Routh. “We also have a digital mirror system, so what that does is it looks like wings above the doors. Those cameras are actually acting as digital mirrors to give visibility.”

Routh adds, “So there are two screens mounted, one in the passenger, one in the driver, and those give a camera view of what would be a mirror.”

The greater the vantage points you have, the safer you – and those around you – will be. You can purchase the Anthem with a camera expansion hub, which allows you to plug in Mack cameras and mount them both on the truck and the trailer for optimal viewing.

Driver safety remains a critical ingredient in the Mack recipe for success. Along with the enhanced warning systems and camera options, Mack focuses on comfort to ensure safety. A driver alert in the cab is less likely to become distracted. For when you need a break, the Anthem now features not only a 44-inch sleeper configuration, but also a 64-inch option.

Longer body for the longer haul

If long haul is your segment, Pioneer is your best fit.

When you need to recover after racking up the miles, you can retreat to the sleeper, available in 44, 64 and 76-inch mid and high-roof sleeper.

As with other models, the Pioneer considers your comfort as paramount and features a wide cab for a more comfortable driving experience.

“When you spend a significant amount of time on the road, comfort is very important, so our Pioneer is getting nine inches wider from the previous Anthem which is what we used in that application,” says Routh “So, you’re getting nine inches of additional arm and shoulder space, which is very significant.”

According to Routh, both the day cab and the sleeper cab benefit from the additional room. This proves critical from a ride comfort perspective. The wider seat outfitted in the new cab is considered widely popular and enables driving ease.

“That new and wider seat comes standard,” says Routh. “It is also available with cooled and heated functionality.”

Historically, trucks were designed to accomplish the task for which they were designed. Comfort and safety were not the initial considerations. Mack, however, revolutionized that school of thought. The longer BBC found on the Pioneer reflects the foundation on which these principles are based.

“This truck rides really well and rides more like a car than a truck in a lot of cases,” says Routh. “The vibrations and stiffness used to be substantial on a driver, so the Pioneer’s improved comfort is great.”

Mack’s Pioneer stacks up additional gains for those customers looking for a long-haul solution. Those extra miles driven directly influence fuel consumption. With the more miles driven, the more fuel Pioneer customers use. The Pioneer’s new BBC, with its longer length, prioritizes fuel efficiency. Add the MP®13 engine to the equation, and the Pioneer improves fuel efficiency by 11%.

The Pioneer is outfitted with additional improvements to enhance driving performance. The MP®13 engine is equipped with 415 to 515 horsepower allowing the Pioneer to tackle inclines, while the updated engine braking system refines vehicle control.

Making the choice

At first glance, choosing your Mack seems like a difficult decision, particularly when more than one model is suitable for the jobs at hand. In the past, you’ve likely given up a feature to gain another only available in a different model. That’s not the case with today’s Macks, which deliver efficiency, safety, and comfort features across the line.

No matter what model you choose – or if you add multiple models to your fleet – you’ll be secure in the knowledge you’ve got the truck you need.