Portsmouth, VA-based East Coast Truck & Trailer Sales has ordered 30 specially-designed Western Star LowMax trucks, built to fit the needs of the car-hauling industry.
”Our customers range from fleet operators running 50 to 100 trucks to individual owner-operators,” said Bob Berger, national sales manager at East Coast Truck & Trailer Sales. “In addition to selling car haulers, we also operate a transportation division, which runs about 25 trucks, including two Western Stars with prototype trailers. What we needed was a truck with a shorter hood, a low profile design, and big bore engine power for car hauling applications.
Working with East Coast, Western Star’s engineers came up with a new 123-inch BBC 4900 FA LowMax for car hauler specifications. It includes 22.5-inch low-profile tires, reduced rear suspension height, lower cab mounting, low-profile oil pan, and special exhaust routing packages – plus a shortened hood of approximately nine inches. East Coast said it has ordered 30 trucks to receive throughout the year, each equipped with Detroit Diesel engines and 48- or 62-inch sleepers.
”Our industry is run by inches and pounds and, since SUVs and trucks have a greater height and an increased weight, our car hauling customers need lighter weight and lower profile trucks,” added Berger. “This is a lightweight and low height truck that also has more cab space, modern product improvements, and a roomy sleeper. In addition to keeping our customers within the length and weight requirements here on the East Coast, they also will be pleased to be able to increase their payload.”
