CINCINNATI. The “value spec” offering from Paccar Leasing (PacLease) is receiving praise from customers, said the leasing firm, as it tries to provide customers with the right vehicle mix in its 35th year.
The company, which provides leasing for both Kenworth and Peterbilt vehicles, has a Peterbilt 330 truck on display this week at National Private Truck Council’s 2015 Annual Education Management Conference and Exhibition here at the Duke Energy Center Convention Center.
According to Michelle Harry, director of marketing, 67% of private fleets now utilize some level of leasing in their operations. She also noted by there are between 19,000 and 22,000 medium-duty vehicles being registered each year in fleet service, and nearly 20% of the Class 8 vehicles entering the marketplace are going into lease operations.
PacLease also had a Kenworth K270 cabover on display. Both the cabover products and the value spec conventional products (either the Peterbilt 330 or Kenworth T270) are ideal lease vehicles, said Todd Berger, director of national accounts-Kenworth.
“What happened over the years, conventional trucks have become more maneuverable with set-back axles,” he said. “But with [length] restrictions, the cabover is seeing more interest.”
Both Kenworth and Peterbilt have had Class 6-7 cabover products for a few years, but interest is really starting to pick up.
“The cabover had been gone for so long, it’s taking time,” said Mike Willey, director of national accounts for PacLease. “The time away and acceptance back into the market” though are growing.
The value spec, though, is really catching on, due in part because the vehicles do not require a CDL to drive, making them ideal rental vehicles.
Harry added that 40% of all Peterbilt 330 and Kenworth T270 orders feature the value spec package. The vehicles can be equipped with virtually any body type ranging from 18 to 26 ft.
That value spec package includes a PX-7 engine rated at 220 hp. and 520 lbs.-ft. of torque, an Allison 2100 HS 5-speed transmission and 10,000 lb. rated front axle. A Dana P20060S rear axle with a 4.88 ratio is also included. Drum brakes on both the front and back and a ABS 4S/4M traction system. The vehicles also feature a 75-gal. aluminum fuel tank and 11 gals. of DEF capacity. For drivers, a Bluetooth, AM/FM, USB and MP3 equipped entertainment system is included.
The Class 6 trucks are rated at 26,000 GVW.
