The trucking industry is a major cog in the wheel that keeps the world moving. As fuel prices surge and better technology becomes available, the trucks we depend on evolve with the times. Mack has spent nearly a decade perfecting its long-haul trucking formula, and it’s time to show it off to the world. I’m in Allentown, Pennsylvania, to check out and drive the new Mack Pioneer and the Mack Anthem. What would you like to know?
As many of our readers know, one of the goals I have in life is to take command of as many vehicles as possible. I’ve had the privilege of controlling everything from a diesel-electric locomotive and a transit bus to supercars and a couple of planes. Yet, despite coming from a family with a history in trucking, I have never driven a semi-tractor. Thanks to the folks from Mack, that’s going to change, at least for a sliver of time, anyway.
I’ve been rather obsessed with learning about the evolution of the American semi-tractor. For longer than a century, there has been some incredible engineering hidden in plain sight; engineering that has made the modern world of logistics possible.
One of the most fascinating branches of big rig development is aerodynamics. In several decades past, trucks were giant bricks that averaged 5 mpg, but that was okay because diesel was cheap. Then, the infamous 1970s struck, with the decade’s oil crises, economic turmoil, and general unease. The price of diesel climbed sharply, and that put the trucking industry into a tough spot. A trucker might spend more than a quarter of their operating expenses on fuel, and fuel cost increases eat into profits.
The trucking industry had a clever way to fight back against increasing fuel prices. If fuel is going to be more expensive, then the truck itself needs to be more efficient to offset those increases. Just like how the oil crises of the 1970s dramatically reshaped cars, trucks had to adapt.
From that point forward, aerodynamics became a critical component of truck design. Truck manufacturers were obsessed with squeezing a mile per gallon or two more out of their rigs, and that spirit continues today.
Mack, which is a subsidiary of Volvo, says that it began developing the Pioneer back in 2017, and the truck was built around both comfort and efficiency. Along with a car-like profile and light materials, the Pioneer even sports digital rearview mirrors, all in the pursuit of fuel economy. According to Mack, the Pioneer gets 11 percent better fuel efficiency than Mack’s previous-generation long-haul truck.
Mack has also loaded the truck down with tech, including over-the-air updates, app functionality, and even a hot air blower to keep the LED headlights defrosted.
For regional haulers, Mack has launched the Anthem, and its whole mission is to be the more maneuverable truck than the Pioneer. Mack says that a key differentiator between the Anthem and the Pioneer is the Anthem’s “shorter bumper-to-back-of-cab (BBC) length of 113.5 inches compared with the Pioneer’s 125.5 inches.”
Mack also says that the Anthem is easier to see out of than previous Mack regional trucks and gets 10 percent better fuel economy, too. This increase in fuel economy, Mack says, can be good for $5,000 in fuel savings per year, depending on variables. Mack says the siblings are pretty close to each other in overall design. Even the interiors are the same, except that the Anthem can’t get the big sleeper that’s reserved solely for the Pioneer.
Sadly, I won’t be able to take these rigs out on the highway, as I do not have a CDL yet. Instead, Mack will be taking a handful of journalists through its museum, through its showroom, and out onto Mack’s private test track. Out there, we’ll be taking rides and doing some drives.
This is a whole new experience for me, so you can bet I’m going to tell you exactly what it’s like to climb into the modern versions of the sorts of trucks my dad used to drive some 25 years ago. I also plan to give you plenty of nerdy trucking history, as well as hopefully a deep dive into how a modern truck is designed. We’re even going to punch out a YouTube video!
Here is where I turn things over to you. This is a pretty unique opportunity for the Autopian and me, so I want to have some fun with it. What would you like to know about these rigs or Mack? Is there anything I should do while I’m here?
Top graphic image: Mack
Do they leave the factory with a lane-keep assist feature that restricts them to the left lane at 61 mph?
In a ways, yes!
Most fleet vehicles are speed restricted to 65mph. This is the default, although the customer can choose to change, or remove those restrictions.
They also have the option of making the top-speed for cruise control higher then then throttle to encourage drivers to use the cruise.
Often the reason you see the low-speed drag race where two trucks are going basically the same speed is because they’re both at their speed restriction, however the one that is attempting to pass is loaded / geared differently that allows it to overtake the right-hand one.
Also the worlds oldest drive in movie theater. Shankweilers is located in the lehigh valley. Id also check out America on Wheels and see if someone from hagerty could get you in with the NB Center. I think Torch went there once. Also in Macungie there is a large free truck show Friday and Saturday
cool you’re in my area. Check out Yocco’s hot dogs that family was a relative of Lee Ioacca. Lee actually worked there when he was younger
What? No bulldog hood ornament? I still see exterior mirrors in the photo where they are three abreast, so I’m confused unless those are the housings for the cameras.
And I’m curious how these are typically spec’d and what these things cost. I don’t remember what my dad’s conventional ’72 KW tractor with a 350 Cummins and 13-speed Roadranger cost, but I do remember that it was more than our 20-acre farm
Mack used to be known for terrible NVH but incredible durability and longevity. Will the Anthem still be durable and reliable but have much better NVH?
Looks like it’s right next to either Queen City AirPort, or ABE. I’m leaning ABE just because of the surroundings.
It is. Runway 7/15 is at the bottom of the Google Maps screenshot.
It’s definitely Queen City. ABE is about 8 miles from the Mack Center.
Makes sense – I got my private pilot’s license flying out of Queen City about 20 years ago.
Is the Mack Center the old Mack HQ? If so the geography makes total sense to me.
Would be interested to read about any plans for electrification they have in the pipeline
I have a medium duty Mack EV in my shop right now! Getting a van body put on it.
Interesting, how does it drive? How’s the integration?
I’m also curious if they have a class 8 EV in the pipeline, like an Anthem EV
I’ve only driven it a few miles! It’s been here for about 6 months, I drive it around the block and inspect it once a month (just like all the chassis on my lot). Drives just fine. Good acceleration (but it is a bare chassis). Everything in the cab is the same as a diesel truck. Slightly different displays for range/charge/etc. The big stand out is the noise. There is no ratting diesel to cover up all of the squeaks and wind!
This one would be a class 6 (26000 gross). It’s going to a dealer in MN, and will have to be towed up there. We had to do the same thing with the Pete and Freightliner EVs we did last year. They went to CA. They are more for local deliveries than over the road. More efficient to put them on a hook than stop and recharge multiple times.
This one has the motor mounted in the rear, right on the differential. The Petes we’ve worked on had the motor under the hood and still had a traditional driveshaft.