Autocar Debuts DC Series Severe-Duty Work Trucks

Autocar debuted its first work truck, the Autocar No. 1, in 1897. The vehicle was tricycle-powered by a one-cylinder gasoline engine. Now, as the OEM heads into its second century of production, Autocar is adding the new DC-64D, ACX Xpeditor, and ACMD Xpert severe-duty model trucks to its lineup.

Autocar first announced in the fall of 2019 that it would be building two conventional truck models designed for the concrete and construction industry: the Autocar DC-64M designed for concrete mixers and the DC-64P for concrete pump applications. Last fall, it added the DC-64R designed for refuse. Now the DC-64D has been added designed for dump truck applications, and two new COE models.

With the new work truck models, Autocar said it has introduced a line of custom trucks designed to fit the needs of construction body requirements for job performance, safety and maximized uptime.

When designing the Autocar DC-64D, the company sought input from industry experts, while pairing its history of severe-duty truck design to engineer a truck designed specifically for construction applications, it said in a statement. More than 100 improvements later, the company said, the Autocar DC-64 solves numerous industry-specific issues.

According to the OEM, the DC Series delivers noticeable performance differences from previous Autocar models, including improved stability, tighter turning radius, greater frame strength, and overall custom engineering.

One of the major differences of the DC is the 325 degrees of visibility from the driver’s seat, with 3.2 square meters of viewable glass area. With its 160,000-psi steel frame rails, the Autocar DC handles up to 1,700 foot-pounds of torque and features a 36,287-kg towing capacity. Each model is available with diesel or natural gas fuel options.

“Autocar’s mission is to build trucks that never break down and are always up,” said Tim Thornton, vice president of strategy and commercialization at Autocar, in a news release. “To do this, we work directly with the customer to engineer the truck specific to their application, then work closely with the body company for additional pre-body engineering to enable a seamless integration that is truly unique to Autocar. Our direct-to-customer, pre-engineered approach has simplified the integration of post-production equipment."

Autocar DC Series Model Specifics

The DC-64D is engineered specifically for the demands of dump truck and general construction applications. The DC-64M is purpose-built for mixers, with specialized frame rails, suspension, cab and electrical features to withstand the challenges of mixer operations. Both models provide exceptional side-to-side and upward visibility, thanks to a wide, curved and steeply raked windshield, according to the company.

The Autocar ACX Xpeditor cab-over-engine model offers 4X2, 6X4 and 8X4 drivetrain options. The OEM said the truck’s rivetless construction requires less maintenance, and the extra-thick front panel reduces damage from the toughest work conditions.

The Autocar ACMD Xpert packs Autocar toughness into a Class 7/8 package that can be used in a wide range of vocational applications. It’s big enough to comfortably fit a three-man crew but sized for maneuvering through narrow alleys, tight parking lots and busy streets.

Originally posted on Trucking Info