Peterbilt’s latest vocational truck is clearly designed with drivers foremost in mind
The expansive light and space of the Texas plains have always fascinated Americans in a manner that is disproportionate to its hard-scrabble terrain. But, as many truckers intimately know, driving a big rig across the Longhorn State is where the vast immensity of the United States truly hits home. At times, it seems like Texas goes on forever. Many a Texan would argue that in fact, it does.
Peterbilt has deep roots in Texas. So it’s not surprising that both Peterbilt and Texas take the idea of their respective history and legacy seriously. In some ways, these can be a burden for a truck-builder. Peterbilt’s storied past, and the expectations of its customers, means the company is not free to simply build any truck design that pops into its engineers’ heads. There is a family history here to be considered. And any new design has to not only pay homage to that past, but also build on it while adding to its stature.
It’s a tall order. But one that Peterbilt has fulfilled with the advent of its newest vocational Class 8 truck: The Model 567.
Given the realities of truck design today, the Model 567 simply did not spring into existence all on its own. The truck is derived from the company’s Model 579 tractor, which debuted two years ago at the Mid-America Truck Show in Louisville, KY. The focus of the Model 579 was to create an entirely new and modern cab/driver environment. In order to do this, Peterbilt surveyed hundreds of truck drivers all across the country, putting them in cab mock-ups and asking them to configure various structures, components and controls to their liking.
The untold thousands of data points created by this research effort led to the final Model 579 product and the eventual Model 567 vocational truck which is now entering full production. And make no mistake: The end result is a truck that is crafted with driver comfort and productivity as a first priority.
Winter in Texas seems to wash out the entire landscape in muted hues of tan, and brown, highlighted by the yellow glow of an early morning sunrise over the plains. This washed out landscape made my candy-apple red test truck positively glow in comparison. I know from my visit to the company’s Denton facility that Peterbilt is experimenting with some very exciting paint schemes. And while the colors on this Model 567 could hardly be called experimental, there’s no question the truck is a head-turner.
