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FIRST
CLASS
Spring 2012 Volume 32 Number 1
The New Peterbilt Model 579
BEST IN
CLASS
New Cab Built Around
a Driver Page 12
Model 579 Engineered for
Greater Fuel Economy Page 8

FIRST
CLASS
CONTENTS
Quality. Innovation. Reliability. These core attributes
resonate throughout the new Peterbilt Model 579, the
latest product of Peterbilt’s legendary craftsmanship
and innovation.
6 Building the Model 579
Engineers set the bar at best-in-class
9 Engineered for More MPG
Aero innovations contribute to greater fuel economy
10 Winning the Weight Game
Composites help offset weight gains
11 Liking the View
Visibility from driver’s seat sets new standards
12 Built Around a Driver
Flexible cab helped create best-in-class driver environment
13 Connected to the Highway
Drivers rave about Model 579 ride, handling
14 A Quieter Ride
Achieving best-in-class sound quality starts in the chassis
15 Complementary Partners
PACCAR MX, Model 579 pairing is right for many applications
16 Safety Comes Standard
New Model 579 positions Peterbilt as safety leader
18 Only the Best
Supplier partners meet high standards
20 Running on All Cylinders
New model production, growing build rate have plant humming
22 Dealer Network Ready
Aftersale support in place for Model 579 buyers
2 | FIRST CLASS FIRST CLASS | 3

COMMENTS
Reading Your
Handwriting
Bill Kozek
General Manager
The new Model 579 further
broadens the Peterbilt lineup
and advances Peterbilt’s
commitment to helping its
customers succeed.
Market research, in a variety of forms, is a never-ending pursuit at
Peterbilt. Our business depends on understanding what makes
trucking operations successful so that we can provide them the
solutions they need. This research told us the market demands
more space for operators, and that Peterbilt’s detachable sleeper designs were
preferred. So we set out to design a new truck, a mid cab-width truck that would
establish new industry performance standards.
That must’ve been some very compelling research, right? Absolutely.
For example, our engineers spent a lot of time in truck stops, and they
weren’t just there for the apple pie. There they interviewed drivers, put them
in a simulated cab, studied their sight lines and their arm and leg reaches,
studied ergonomics, and asked them how to make it the best driver environment
on the market.
Drivers also told us they wanted the comforts of a wide cab. Fleet owners
told us that was fine with them, as long as it balanced their need to reduce
vehicle weight. Similarly, sound quality had to be best in
class. So did the ride, visibility and aerodynamics.
And that’s how the Model 579 came to be, an enduser-designed
vehicle packed with Peterbilt’s legendary
styling and breakthrough innovation.
The new Model 579 further broadens the Peterbilt
lineup and advances Peterbilt’s commitment to helping
its customers succeed.
I invite you to experience this special issue of First
Class Magazine and decide for yourself how this innovative new truck can
contribute to the efficiency and profitability of your trucking operation.
It’s likely you’ll see your handwriting all over it. Peterbilt. Class pays.
Better. Every Truck.
With Cummins engines, better fuel economy is just the start. Our Heavy-Duty ISX15 gets up
to 6% better mpg than the previous model. It also delivers stronger throttle response with
more pulling power, so drivers can pull steep hills with fewer downshifts. Plus, years from
now when you trade in your truck, having Cummins power will pay off with higher resale
value – making it a better choice from start to finish. For more reasons to spec Cummins
every time, visit cumminsengines.com.
Editorial director: Todd Acker • Editor: Bill Laste • Art director: Dale Aspinall • Client services manager: Cyndy Seitz • Publisher: Pete Sobic
First Class is published by Northbrook Custom Media, a division of Randall-Reilly Publishing Company, LLC, on behalf of Peterbilt Motors Company and its dealers. Editorial office: 21420 W. Greenfield Ave., New Berlin, WI 53146.
Phone (262) 650-9260. Printed in the U.S., copyright 2012. Postmaster: Send form 3579 to 21420 W. Greenfield Ave., New Berlin, WI 53146. One-year subscription in the U.S. $12.00; $15.00 in Canada; $25.00 all other countries payable in U.S. funds.
“Agreement Number 1689312”. Change of address or undeliverable copies should be sent to: 1415 Janette Ave., Windsor, Ontario, N8X 1Z1 Canada.
2 l FIRST CLASS
©2012 Cummins Inc., Box 3005, Columbus, IN 47202-3005 U.S.A.
FIRST CLASS l 5

THE NEW PETERBILT MODEL 579
Building the Model 579
The new Peterbilt Model 579 blends elements
of both traditional and modern styling with
best-in-class performance features.
Grounded in quality, innovation and reliability, engineers then raised the bar
Their goals were always clear
and actually, quite simple.
They were to base their
efforts on the very charcteristics
that made a Peterbilt what it was —
traits such as quality, innovation and reliability
— and make the new Peterbilt
Model 579 best in class, in every performance
category that mattered.
But if achieving that goal was as simple
as stating it, the new Peterbilt Model
579 would not nearly be the remarkable
truck that it is.
The genesis for the Model 579
occurred more than a decade ago, when
Peterbilt introduced its first innovative
“The market was there for the
new cab. What we had to do
was make it a Peterbilt.”
aerodynamic tractor, an on-highway revolution
that has since evolved into the
Model 587.
The innovative Peterbilt aero continues
to appeal to on-highway drivers
seeking class, performance and spaciousness,
especially those with team
driver operations. The cab is among the
widest on the road, wider than the rest
of the Peterbilt lineup of vocational and
regional haul models.
And while the company continues to
achieve unprecedented Class 8 market
share with its lineup, fleet owners and
drivers alike told Peterbilt that there was
room for an even higher level of customization
— and it was right in the middle
of the existing cab sizes.
“Our product lineup certainly offered
flexibility, but we recognized an opportunity
to provide an even better fit for many
applications,” says Peterbilt General
Manager Bill Kozek. “The market was
there for the new cab.
“What we had to do was make it
a Peterbilt.”
That’s no small challenge. Making it
that much more challenging was the
goal of making the Model 579 best-inclass
in the six product performance criteria
customers told them mattered
most: aerodynamics, weight savings,
driver environment, visibility, sound
quality and ride quality.
“We learned, in talking to
fleet owners, drivers and our
dealers, that what mattered most
to them was performance,” says
Kozek. “Certainly, traditional
Peterbilt styling remained important
to our customers, but performance
is what they talked about
first. The market today is made up of
very sophisticated customers.
“So we directed our engineers and
design team that while the market has
styling expectations from Peterbilt,
any creation of style must be justified
by purpose.”
The following stories demonstrate
some of the specific challenges Peterbilt
engineers faced in achieving best-in-class
standards for the Model 579. The process
started with identifying industry benchmarks,
and then exceeding them. In each
instance, Peterbilt partnered with the
most innovative automotive suppliers on
the planet to create solutions never
before seen in the Class 8 market.
Some were particularly challenging.
For example, the acts of making a cab
both wider and lighter would appear to
be mutually exclusive.
But in the end, the Peterbilt Model
579 can be defined in three simple words:
Best in Class.
“That’s what drove our design
team these last few years,” says
Peterbilt Senior Assistant Chief
Engineer Kevin Baney. “We kept asking
ourselves, ‘Are we on track to
hit this target, to meet our
best- in-class goals?
“If not, how do
we get there?” FC
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FIRST CLASS l 7

BEST-IN-CLASS AERODYNAMICS
Engineered for More MPG
Aero innovations result in greater fuel economy
The new Peterbilt Model 579
embodies the latest innovations
in the company’s industry-leading
pursuit of maximizing fuel
economy through the use of aerodynamics,
according to company engineers.
“With no end in sight to the volatility of
diesel fuel costs, fleet owners made it very
clear to us that no stone should be left
unturned in our efforts to maximize fuel
economy in the design process of the
Model 579,” says Peterbilt Chief Engineer
Landon Sproull. “And it was interesting to
note that the same themes were repeated
by drivers. As more company drivers are
compensated by their ability to conserve
fuel on their routes, more of them want to
be behind the wheel of vehicles like the
Model 579 that are engineered for maximum
fuel economy.
“So we built a truck that not only
worked for the fleet owner’s bottom
line, but the company driver’s bottom
line as well.”
Computation Fluid Dynamics
(CFD) played an important role in
optimizing air flow around the cab of
the Model 579, according to
Sproull. Using various algorithms
and mathematics — which are
validated by wind tunnel testing
— CFD demonstrates exactly
which surfaces of a truck
offer the greatest drag and
resistance to the air through
which a truck moves.
Engineers are then able to
remodel the surfaces
accordingly, and even the
slightest adjustments can
Roof Fairing — Pulled leading
edge forward and tuned rear to
optimize airflow around trailer.
Exterior Visor —
Integrated marking lights
and optimal shape.
Bumper design —
Optimized air flow
around tires.
Hood — Dramatic slope
and overall hood shape
tuned for optimal airflow.
Contoured windshield —
Enhanced aerodynamic
performance.
Aerodynamic mirrors —
Enginnered for maximum
aero performance.
Cab and fairing closeouts —
Added rubber closeouts below the
cab and below the chassis fairing.
Chassis fairings — Full
length fairing with an
integrated battery box cover.
result in
signif icant
changes, according
to Peterbilt engineers.
For example, a sleeper
extender that measures a mere three inches
redirects airflow outward and around trailers
and eliminates a significant resistance
point, according to Sproull.
Engineers found other areas for fuelsaving
aerodynamic refinements as well:
• At the top of the cab, the roofline,
fairings and sunvisor were reshaped and
contoured for improved aerodynamics
and fuel economy.
• The hood is sloped dramatically, and
the bumper and air intakes are more
streamlined to reduce resistance.
• Chassis fairings are contoured to redirect
airflow around tires and wheels.
• New flexible aero packages include fairings
and skirts closeouts are now available
for application-specific aero advantages.
• A “lip” on the lower corner of the
bumper helps redirect air that otherwise
met resistance from the front of the tire.
“When we targeted best-in-class aerodynamics
for the Model 579, we were
addressing it from a perspective of expertise,”
says Sproull. “Peterbilt has quickly
established itself as the industry leader in
the science of aerodynamics.” FC
8 l FIRST CLASS
FIRST CLASS l 9

BEST-IN-CLASS WEIGHT SAVINGS
BEST-IN-CLASS VISIBILITY
Winning the Weight Game
Attention to detail helps offset weight gains from other improvements
Liking the View
Visibility from Model 579 driver’s seat sets new standards
When Peterbilt engineers
set out to achieve bestin-class
in six customeridentified
priorities, they
knew one of them — weight — would
present the greatest challenges.
Virtually everything engineers did to
achieve best-in-class standards in the
other five criteria made
achieving best-in-class
weight a critical challenge.
“Building a wider cab
achieved an optimized driver
environment, but it added
weight,” says Peterbilt Senior
Assistant Chief Engineer
Kevin Baney. “Similarly,
adding noise dampening
treatment achieved the
desired effect, but added
weight. And expanded fairings
improved aerodynamics,
but also added weight.
To get to best-in-class across
the board, we had to
add weight.”
Peterbilt already had
owned best-in-class status
for its industry-leading
weight-savings innovations
— starting with
the use of an all-aluminum
cab — so Peterbilt
engineering had significant expertise
from which to draw. And Baney noted
that Peterbilt had become very proficient
at shaving weight from trucks to
offset gains caused by recent engine
emission regulations.
But best-in-class means what it
says, Baney knew. And Peterbilt’s
design team decided not only to meet
that high standard with the Model
579, but to clear it by 100 pounds.
“So we had to be very aggressive
in looking for ways to offset
weight gains.”
Using aluminum and composites in the Model 579’s cab
construction was one of many techniques engineers used
to maximize weight savings in the Model 579.
Quality materials
Engineers focused their attack on
material selection, according to Baney.
The use of composites engineered for
maximum weight savings in the hood
and fairings provided significant savings,
according to Baney.
“We went to a number of high
quality, composite parts,” he says.
“We went to a closed-mold hood and
chassis fairing. I think overall we made
smart material choices that saved
weight without sacrificing performance
characterisitics, and in many
cases, enhanced them.”
For example, a stamped
aluminum frame proved to
be a weight-saver without
sacrificing structural
integrity, and in fact,
results in “the strongest
cab in the market,” according
to Baney.
New sleeper connections
not only eliminated
some hardware but simplified
the sleeper attachment
design. And even
smaller weight-saving
innovations, such as
redesigning A pillars, paid
off not only with a slight
weight savings but an
enhancement in visibility
as well.
Baney says supplier
partners such as Magna
Exteriors, which produces
the sleek hood of the
Model 579, played important roles in
helping overcome the weighty challenges
they faced.
“We had a lot of innovative supplier
partners really make key contributions
in this process.” FC
The view of the highway has
never been better, according to
those who have driven the new
Peterbilt Model 579.
In fact, the Model 579’s best-in-class
visibility surpasses previous standards by
46 percent, as measured by glass area of
the expansive, one-piece windshield, the
large side windows and the optimally
placed and designed side mirrors.
“We really went after the visibility factor,”
says Peterbilt Chief Engineer Landon
Sproull. “First, we went to great lengths to
find out what it takes to be best in class.
“Then we defined the best seat poisoning,
from eyepoint to gauges and to the
front and sides. We lowered the dash, the
hood and the belt line and made the side
mirrors larger.
“In the end we realized a 46 percent
improvement in visibility over other makes.
That’s something we’re very proud of.”
Details such as the design of the A
pillars, which support the windshield
from the outer edges, also created visibility
improvements over competitors’
products.
“We optimized the shape to not only
be structurally sound, but to minimize
the blind spot they create,” Sproull says.
“And we made smart material choices.
The result is an A pillar that is 20 percent
narrower than the competition’s, thereby
providing greater side-to-side visibility.
“And it’s lighter than their A pillars as
well, and still meets industry crash worthiness
standards.”
Greater focus
Among the other innovations in visibility
for the Model 579 are:
• Greater upward visibility from
the driver’s seat — a
benefit realized
when overhead stoplights are in use.
• A lower “belt line” on the doors improves
driver visibility in either direction.
• An innovative side mirror design improves
rear and lower side visibility over competitors’
products. The convexity of the mirror
also enhances the driver’s awareness of
surrounding traffic.
• Optimized side mirror positioning also
improves the field of vision between the
A pillars and the mirrors. FC
10 l FIRST CLASS FIRST CLASS l 11

BEST-IN-CLASS DRIVER ENVIRONMENT
BEST-IN-CLASS RIDE QUALITY
Built Around a Driver
Flexible cab helped create best-in-class driver environment
Connected to the Highway
Drivers rave about Model 579 ride, handling
As important as any of the bestin-class
criteria that drove
Peterbilt engineers in designing
the new Peterbilt Model 579
was that of the driver environment.
In fact, it’s one of the major reasons
the Model 579 exists, giving single drivers a
wide, spacious truck that maximizes both
comfort and productivity.
“We sought the input of at least 1,000
customers and drivers in creating the driver
environment,” says Jim Gossard,
Peterbilt director of
product planning. “We
wanted to make sure we
had a broad range of
input from people who
were familiar with competitors’ trucks as
well as ours.
“What we heard most was this: Make
it roomy, and make it comfortable.”
Among the tools engineers used to
optimize seat position, gauge displays and
access to controls and pedals was an
adjustable test cab that they took to various
truck stops and events where drivers
congregated. Drivers took a seat in the test
cab and could adjust virtually everything
required to operate the truck to their liking
and gave feedback on everything from seat
positioning to pedal resistance.
Pedal resistance, in fact, was just one
of the criteria in making the Model 579 a
best-in-class driver environment, according
to director of sales and marketing
Robert Woodall, who said clutch resistance
was improved by 30 percent over
comparable products.
“We started from scratch in terms of
developing the driver environment,”
Woodall says. “We spent significant time
“What we heard most was this:
Make it roomy, and make it comfortable.”
with customers, took their input and built
it right into the Model 579.”
Another important consideration was
seat positioning.
“We spent a lot of time defining the best
seat position, and tried to make it as objective
as we possibly could,” says Woodall.
“For example, we really tried to identify
what drivers told us was the best sightline
from eyepoint to gauges, or the position
from the seat to the pedal package. We
think we hit the mark with our response.”
The ergonomic design and the line
of sight to gauges of the
Peterbilt Model 579 relied heavily
on the input of customers.
Detachable sleeper
The Model 579 sleeper is detachable,
thus providing versatility in both
operations and at resale time, as well as
making the truck an attractive option in
a variety of applications that benefit
from an optimal driver environment.
Access to the sleeper is easy, with
ample room between the seats and the
large sleeper access. And the sleeper
itself features amenities that are unmistakably
Peterbilt, according to
Woodall. These
include: a functional
and ergonomic business
area, a high-performance
climate control
system, a flat-panel TV mount and
maximized storage space.
“We are always working with
tradeoffs in weight, but we have engineered
ways to make a wide, comfortable
cab without a weight penalty. We
couldn’t go to the market and say,
‘We’ve given you a spacious cab, but
at a weight penalty.’
“If you’re going to be best-in-class,
you have to be best-in-class in all of the
criteria that matter.” FC
Challenges arose when
Peterbilt designer s
sought to make the New
Model 579 best-in-class
for ride and handling.
After all, measurables clearly
exist for criteria such as weight, or
sound levels. Ride and handling
evaluation, however, depends
almost purely on a driver’s word.
“Certainly, ride quality is a more subjective
metric than some of the others,”
says Peterbilt Lead Engineer Kevin Baney.
“The most important resource we have
to work with is driver feedback.”
So Peterbilt sought the input of hundreds
of drivers who put miles on the
Model 579, whether from their own
drivers at the PACCAR Technical Center
in Bellevue, Wash., select customers
field-testing the product or from a variety
of veteran drivers chosen to participate
in field analysis trials.
The results?
Advanced steering geometry results in a 10 percent wheelcut
improvement over comparable products.
“Absolutely phenomenal,” says
Baney. “Drivers told us they feel connected
to the highway, as if they were in a luxury
car. They also tell us that the truck
feels extremely stable.”
Sound strategy
Interestingly, some of the same
strategies used to improve sound quality
in the Model 579 benefitted its ride
and handling qualities as well. Baney
says that efforts to maximize chassis
“stiffness” resulted in not only a quieter
ride, but a smoother, more
responsive ride as well.
“We added an overbell to stiffen
the chassis,” he says. “We also
widened the cab mounts, which
helps stabilize the cab and reduces
roll. The result is dramatic in terms
of ride and handling.”
Tight wheel cut
Additionally, technologically
advanced steering geometry has resulted
in a tighter front wheel cut that
measures a 10 percent better curb-tocurb
turning radius than previous bestin-class
standards.
And Peterbilt’s standard proprietary
Front Air Leaf suspension not only
offers an extremely smooth, comfortable
ride. It’s lightweight, and combined
with the standard air disc brakes offered
on the Model 579, it reduces tire wear.
“Drivers tell us they feel like they’re
riding on rails,” says Baney. “We really
feel like we set a new standard with the
Model 579 in terms of ride quality.” FC
The Comforts of Home
The Model 579 sleeper is designed to provide
a relaxing and comfortable rest environment
as well as a functional and convenient
office, according to Peterbilt engineers.
Features and benefits include a high-quality
climate control system, a flat-panel TV
mount, 10 percent more storage space than
competitive products and strategically
placed, energy-saving LED lighting.
12 l FIRST CLASS
FIRST CLASS l 13

BEST-IN-CLASS SOUND QUALITY PACCAR MX, PETEBILT MODEL 579
A Quieter Ride
Achieving best-in-class sound quality
starts in the chassis
Complementary Partners
PACCAR MX, Model 579 pairing is right
for a variety of applications
Putting the driver in a quiet
operating environment starts
with eliminating common
vehicle noises at their source,
more so than merely building a better
wall to fend them off, according to
Peterbilt engineers.
To that end, when Peterbilt engineers
targeted best-in-class in-cab
sound quality as a priority, work started
from the road up.
A brief primer in Sound 101 will help
explain why. Sound is essentially the result
of something moving or vibrating, and
that movement causes a resulting disturbance
in the air, which our ears recognize
as sound. In the cab of a truck, minimizing
or eliminating vibration or movement
of the chassis, therefore, reduces a primary
source of in-cab operating noise.
“We spent five months analyzing
sound inputs and eliminated many of
these inputs in the design process,”
says Peterbilt Senior Assistant Chief
Engineer Kevin Baney. “Textbook
design is to stiffen the chassis
and the cab and have
softer mounts to isolate
the noise.
“We did just that —
A tight chassis proved to be the key in
achieving best-in-class sound quality for the
new Model 579 .
made the chassis and
the cab very stiff. And we adjusted mount
isolation to minimize noise transfer to the
cab from the chassis.“
Baney says the chassis design of the
Peterbilt Model 579 includes use of an
“overbell”, a unique crossmember that
strengthens the chassis at the cab mounts.
The result is a cab that improves chassis
stiffness by 100 percent over commonly
employed chassis stiffness standards in the
industry, according to Baney.
Noise dampening plays a key part in
quieting the cab environment, according
to engineers, and
new technologies
were a factor in driving the
Model 579 to its sound quality goal.
“Noise is still going to come from
the road, the tires, the powertrain, up
through the chassis,” Baney says. “The
key is to manage and control what
reaches the driver’s ear. The remaining
noise was dampened through treatments
on the engine cover, floor and
cab/door panels.
“But we only added it where
absolutely required.”
New standard
Engineers determined where best to
place the materials and how much was
necessary to maximize weight savings and
still achieve best-in-class status.
The result? A cab that set a new bestin-class
standard for the industry, by
nearly two decibels.
“It starts with eliminating completely
the source of the noises that normally
reach the driver’s ear,” says Baney. “Those
noises that survived, we dampened out
with innovative treatments. So whether
you’re closing the door or rolling down
the highway, you’ll hear luxury car levels
of sound quality.
“It’s a smart design.” FC
Pairing the two most inventive
trucking innovations of recent
years is the best way to optimize
the performance benefits
of the new Peterbilt Model 579 and the
PACCAR MX engine, according to
Peterbilt officials.
“The PACCAR MX and the Peterbilt
Model 579 are both engineered to deliver
industry–leading performance, reliability
and fuel efficiency,” says Peterbilt General
Manager Bill Kozek. “There is simply no
better way to optimize the performance
benefits of each of these innovations than
to run them in tandem. They provide an
outstanding complement to each other.”
Multiple advantages
For example, both the PACCAR MX
and the Model 579 are engineered for maximum
fuel economy. The Model
579’s aerodynamic design is best-in-class,
and the MX has been producing impressive
MPG figures for numerous customers.
And innovative weight-saving design
considerations in both the PACCAR MX
and the Peterbilt Model 579 illustrate the
synergy of pairing these two
products, according to Kozek.
The MX employs Compacted
Graphite Iron, which is 20
percent lighter than traditional
gray iron. The compact yet
versatile 12.9-liter design
belies its efficient size and can
produce a horsepower range of up to 485
hp and torque outputs to 1,750-lb-ft, outperforming
larger and heavier alternatives.
The Peterbilt Model 579, meanwhile,
is equally thrifty in weight savings.
Lightweight, stamped-aluminum construction
of the cab means the
Model 579 is well-rooted
in the basics of
weight efficiency. Use
Constructed of Compacted Graphite Iron,
the PACCAR MX engine maximizes the
weight-savings and fuel economy benefits of
the Peterbilt Model 579.
of high-quality composites reduces weight
in the hood and fairings. And Peterbilt
engineering, which is evident in components
such as their proprietary Front Air
Leaf suspension, delivers weight savings
from numerous sources.
“There is simply no better way to
optimize the performance benefits
of these innovations than to run
them in tandem.”
Similarly, a PACCAR MX-Peterbilt
Model 579 combination maximizes durability:
the PACCAR MX has a B10 design
life of 1 million miles, and Peterbilt has
spent years and more than 2.2 million
test miles refining and perfecting robust
design elements that figure to give the
Model 579 a similarly long service life.
Resale considerations
And such durability features of the
PACCAR MX and Peterbilt Model 579
are likely only to enhance Peterbilt’s
industry-leading reputation for resale
value, as the secondary market will know
there’s plenty of life left in a pre-owned
MX-579 combination.
“It is often said that the whole is
greater than the sum of its parts, and I
believe that is certainly true when you
pair the PACCAR MX engine with the
Peterbilt Model 579,” says Kozek. “They
are uniquely complementary partners,
and in combination, provide extraordinary
value and performance to the fleet
owner and driver alike.” FC
14 l FIRST CLASS
FIRST CLASS l 15

MODEL HEADER 579 SAFETY
Safety Comes Standard
New Model 579 solidifies Peterbilt position as safety leader, innovator
While an alert driver
remains the most important
safety feature of any
vehicle, the new Model
579 can provide the driver with the
resources and the environment necessary
to help ensure safe arrival for both
driver and cargo.
According to Peterbilt Chief
Engineer Landon Sproull, safety was
top-of-mind when engineers began
designing the innovative new Peterbilt.
“As we met with and interviewed
drivers and fleet owners about features
they found most important in a new
truck, we learned that safety was not
only important to them for its own
obvious merits, but that it was an
important bottom-line component as
well,” says Sproull.
“We learned it’s not just about simply
reducing the frequency and severity
of accidents. Poor CSA scores cost
fleets money as well, both directly and
indirectly.
“So we set out to build a truck that
created an operating environment in
which it was easy for the driver to make
safe, smart decisions while operating
Peterbilt is the first and only OEM to
offer standard front air disc brakes,
which are among the safety features
of the new Peterbilt Model 579.
the vehicle. And by giving it features
such as standard front air disc brakes,
safe entry and egress of the cab and
optimized grab handles, we give them
the tools to stay out of harm’s way.”
Maximum visibility
Perhaps no safety feature is as important
to the driver as is his ability to see
what surrounds him, and to that end,
Peterbilt has engineered the cab of the
Model 579 to provide maximum visibility
from the driver’s seat.
Specifically, the brow of the dash
has been positioned to provide an optimal
sight angle from the driver’s seat.
And the dramatically sloped, contoured
hood also maximizes the driver’s sight
angles. The wide, one-piece windshield
optimizes sight lines as well, as does the
A pillars, that have been minimized in
thickness by 20 percent. Additionally,
side mirrors are now larger than most
found in the industry.
Peterbilt has long been an innovator
in forward lighting technology, and
Peterbilt engineers visited forwardlighting
leaders in 10 countries in their
quest to bring the best in headlamp
technology to the Model 579. The
result, produced by German company
Hella, is headlamps and fog lamps
that rank highest in down-road coverage
and overall light distribution, both
of which are key factors in reducing
driver eye fatigue.
At low beam setting, the halogen
headlamps produce 1,350 lumens and
have a 2,000-hour burn time. High-intensity
discharge lights deliver 3,200 lumens
and offer a 3,000-hour burn time.
Additionally, a passive venting system
removes condensation from inside the
cover lens while driving, thus minimizing
glare to oncoming traffic.
“Provide the driver with consistent,
high-quality lighting that reduces fatigue
and aids in identifying objects on or
around the road,” says Sproull. “That
was critically important as we created the
Model 579.”
Ergonomic environment
As important as optimizing sightlines
in the design of the Model 579 was
ensuring that the ergonomic operating
environment maximized driver comfort
and alertness levels.
“Literally, we put a driver in the driver’s
seat and built the cab around
him,” says Sproull of one part of the
design process, in which actual drivers
seated in a flexible test cab helped
determine gauge and control placement.
Gauges, as a result, are large and
easy to read while controls are all within
reach, such as the cruise and audio
controls that reside on the multi-function
steering wheel.
Other tools, such as an active stability
control system that shifts power
and applies braking to axles that need
it most, complement a driver’s own
reactions. A tight turning radius also
gives a driver a means to stay safely out
of harm’s way.
Peterbilt has also engineered
improvements in its grab-handle entry
system and in the steps entering the cab,
helping ensure safe entry and egress. The
cab also features a new deck plate
designed for secure egress and meets
SAE and global roof crush standards in
case of rollover. And an anti-blowdown
hood features a locking mechanism that
keeps the hood open and prevents unintentional
closing.
“Fleet owners told us they wanted to
reduce the frequency and severity of accidents,
and mitigate their effects and costs
should they occur,” says Sproull. “With
the Model 579, we believe we’ve given
them and their drivers a tool to take Class
8 vehicle safety to another level.” FC
Safety Enhancer
Peterbilt’s SmartNav system, an integrated infotainment system,
provides real-time truck monitoring, hands-free Bluetooth ® connectivity
and satellite radio. The innovative system also provides truckspecifc
navigation cues, such
as bridge clearances and
road condition updates.
16 l FIRST CLASS
FIRST CLASS l 17

SUPPLIER PARTNERS
When Peterbilt set the bar at best-in-class for multiple
performance critieria with the new Model
579, the company demanded plenty from not
only its own engineers and specialists, but from
its supplier partners as well.
So in order to achieve their goals, Peterbilt officials knew their
search for supplier partners would have to be global, and would
demand a sterling track record of innovation and performance.
And more than ever before, they found their partners came from
automotive backgrounds, according to Peterbilt Assistant General
Manager Mike Dozier.
“What we’re seeing is a blurring of the boundaries between
automotive and commercial vehicle suppliers, as customers
demand increasingly higher — and in some ways, automotive-like —
performance from Class 8 trucks,” says Dozier.
NEW Model 579
Merchandise
Available Today
PETERBILT LICENSED MERCHANDISE 2012
Only the Best
World-class supplier partners met Peterbilt’s high standards
Headlights, supplied by German innovator Hella, provide the best
down-road coverage and visibility in the industry.
“And what we found is that those capable of delivering worldclass
innovation for the automotive industry are highly capable of
doing so in a heavy-duty commercial vehicle environment as well.
From the beginning, when we shared our vision for the Model 579,
these are the companies that stepped forward and made clear that
they were willing and capable to offer best-in-class contributions in
each of their own areas of expertise.”
“These were the companies able to offer
best-in-class contributions to the Model 579.”
tems for full vehicle body manufacturing
built and tuned the Model 579 cab assembly
cell for optimum efficiency.
Consolidated Metco (ConMet),
Vancouver, Wash. A well-known supplier
of lightweight, low-maintenance solutions
for the trucking industry, ConMet
engineered the Model 579’s dash
as well as its cab and sleeper
storage areas.
Continental Instrumentation,
Hanover, Germany. One of the
world leaders in automotive
instrumentation, Continental’s
expertise is apparent in the
instrumentation of Peterbilt’s
latest model.
Hella, Lippstadt, Germany.
Hella has long been optimizing
performance of automotive and
commercial vehicle forward
lighting systems, and it continues to do
so with the headlight package designed
for the Model 579.
Inteva, Troy, Mich. Value-based, environment-friendly
products that enhance
performance and quality for trucking
OEMs are the specialty of this global supplier,
which provided door pads for the
Model 579.
Lang Mekra, Ridgeway, S. Car. Long a
leader in rear-vision mirror technology,
Lang Mekra played a key role in improving
driver’s seat visibility.
Magna Exteriors, Troy, Mich. This
subsidiary of Magna International
worked closely with Peterbilt in hood
and roof design, particularly as it
applied to achieving maximum aerodynamic
efficiency.
Magna International of America,
Troy, Mich. The diversified automotive
supplier designed and helped
engineer cab and closure assembly
protocols.
Superior Trim, Findlay, Ohio. This
innovative soft trim supplier has built
its reputation on quality, and has a long
history with Peterbilt.
Valeo, Paris, France. Energy-saving
visibility solutions for all weather and
driving conditions are the focus of this
global supplier, which designed the
Model 579’s windshield wiper system. FC
Manage Your PACCAR Financial
Accounts Online
Access to Account Information 24/7
Pay Multiple Accounts in a Single Transaction
• One-Time Payments
• Schedule Recurring Payments
Check Account Balances
Track Payment Activity
Request Payoff Quotes and Payoff Accounts Online
See how easy it is by registering at www.PaccarFinancial.com.
www. FINANCIAL.com
Model 579 Truck
T-Shirt
PETC600304
Contrast Stich
Cap
PETC600305
Sandwich Visor
Cap
PETC600306
Visit www.shoppeterbilt.com or call
1.877.705.3316 to order new items
“They helped make the Peterbilt Model 579 the best it could
possibly be.”
The following are 12 of the major suppliers of systems or componentry
of the new Peterbilt Model 579. More than 30 component
supplier partners have contributed to the new truck, according
to company officials.
The Behr Group, Stuttgart, Germany. Behr services the international
automotive industry with innovative HVAC solutions,
which it designed for the Peterbilt Model 579.
CK Technologies, Brownsville, Texas. This leader in engineered
composite systems and components designed and built the hard
trim for the cab interior.
Comau, Troy, Mich. This leader in advanced production sys-
Engineers from Comau collaborated
with Peterbilt in setting up advanced
assembly cells.
Keep in touch
with PFC;
Get the free mobile
app for your
smart phonegettag.mobi
and scan
the tag below.
18 l FIRST CLASS
FIRST CLASS l 19

PLANT PREPARATIONS
PLANT PREPARATIONS
Running on All Cylinders
New model production and growing build rate have plant optimizing efficiency
The Peterbilt production facility
in Denton, Texas, is in the
process of achieving two
major milestones. One will be
sustaining a build rate of more than
150 trucks per day, a goal that plant
manager Leon Handt expects to surpass
this spring.
The other will be integrating into the
production flow the new Model 579.
In spite of the dynamic state of the
production facility, Handt is calm, collected
and confident that the two major
milestones will be passed seamlessly at
the legendary plant.
“We’ve been planning and preparing
for the new product launch since 2007,”
says Handt. “And the fact that we are
concurrently taking the final steps to
achieving our goals has really helped us
optimize our production processes.”
Plant changes
Handt notes that the plant will see
a few physical changes as a result of the
new model. Most notable will be a new
Model 579 cab “build cell,” which was
designed by Magna International Inc.,
a company that has been serving the
Above, the new model dash manipulator is installed and tested. Lower left, production cells were
built and tested by Peterbilt at Comau, in Troy, Mich. Production benchmarking also occurred at
PACCAR’s DAF plant in the Netherlands and its Leyland Trucks facility in the United Kingdom.
auto industry since the 1950s. Their
designs were executed by Detroit-based
Comau, also a leader in automotive
production technology.
“We’ve had a very team-oriented
approach to integrating the new technologies,”
says Handt. “We had teams
from engineering, production, maintenance,
quality and several other Peterbilt
departments forming a core group, and
“We had teams from engineering, production,
maintenance, quality and several other Peterbilt
departments forming a core group, studying every
aspect of the new cab build equipment.”
studying every aspect of the new cab
build equipment. They spent a lot of
time in Michigan, performing time studies,
assessing material storage options
and evaluating processes, each from
their own perspectives. Then they’d
share what they learned.”
Among the improvements in process
will be a simplification of chassis-cab
attachments for the Model 579.
“We were able to simplify this
process with updates in the automation
of our cab cell,” Handt says. “This will
lead to improvements from a serviceability
standpoint as well.”
Optimizing space
Additionally, a new dash manipulator
and a new door-trim cell are being
readied, as is a robotic windshield cell.
Sleeper Assembly was relocated as were
some maintenance operations to make
room for new model production space.
“We didn’t add new brick and mortar,
but we did consolidate and use this
opportunity to optimize our process
flows to improve overall efficiency and
quality,” says Handt. “We do an excellent
job of utilizing space to maximize
its efficiency.”
Handt says benchmarking at other
PACCAR world-class facilities such as
the DAF plant in The Netherlands as well
as its Leyland Trucks production facility
in the United Kingdom helped dial in
processes, which have passed repeated
Quality and Volume Validations.
Copyright ©2012 Michelin North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Michelin Man is a registered trademark of Michelin North America, Inc.
“We did a lot of benchmarking, both
in engineering and in operations,” Handt
says. “And especially in operations, I
think we’re really starting to model ourselves
after more of what happens in the
automotive industry. Customers will see
the results in the quality of the Model
579 and all Peterbilt products.” FC
COMBAT RISING FUEL COSTS
WITH THE MOST FUEL-EFFICIENT
DRIVE TIRE IN NORTH AMERICA 1 .
The MICHELIN ® X One ® XDA ® Energy tire.
Thanks to the MICHELIN ® X One ® XDA ® Energy drive tire, rising fuel costs don’t
have to mean falling profits. A 3,000-mile, real-world road test compared the
MICHELIN X One XDA Energy drive tire, together with the MICHELIN ® XZA ® 3
steer tire and the MICHELIN ® X One ® XTA ® trailer tire, to the most fuel efficient
tires of our leading competitors. The results? The MICHELIN X One XDA Energy
tire can make your Peterbilt truck more fuel efficient, helping to save up to
7% 2 on fuel. It’s just one more way The Right Tire Changes Everything .
1 Estimates based on comparative rolling resistance data commissioned by an independent third party on drive tires from the SmartWay SM –
verified technologies list comparing the MICHELIN ® X One ® XDA ® Energy drive tire to the most fuel-efficient drive tires of two of our leading
competitors. Visit www.gowidesavegreen.com for details of the 3,000-mile fuel test.
2
Actual results may vary.
12MTT4896
20 l FIRST CLASS FIRST CLASS l 21

AFTERSALE SUPPORT
Dealer Network Ready for the Model 579
Peterbilt customers know it’s not just trucks
that have helped bestow “legend” status on
the famous red oval. It’s unparalleled, coastto-coast
customer support as well.
Now at more than 250 locations throughout the
United States and Canada, the Peterbilt dealer network
remains tirelessly dedicated to the needs of its customers,
whether it be sales, service, parts or financing. And the
dealer network is uniquely prepared to support the new
Peterbilt Model 579, according to Peterbilt General
Manager Bill Kozek.
“Peterbilt has committed extensive resources to not only
engineering, perfecting and introducing the innovative
Model 579, but ensuring that the infrastructure exists to
support its seamless integration into our customers’ fleets,”
says Kozek.
“You’ll find our sales representatives are wellschooled
in the features of this exciting new truck, and
how they can specifically benefit your application and
operation. Our parts departments are — as always —
properly and extensively resourced to meet all of your
needs, and dealership personnel can help direct you to
attractive financing options that are available through
PACCAR Financial.
“And should service be necessary, rest assured that
our factory-trained, certified service technicians have
been trained extensively in the numerous technological
advancements that lay the foundation for the
Model 579.”
Kozek notes that a corollary exists in matching premium
customer service with premium products, as both
Models 587 and 210 were recently recognized as
American Truck Dealers Commercial Truck of the Year.
“Much as we build a truck, Peterbilt is uncompromising
in customer support and service. We not only build a
great product — we support it as well.” FC
Watson & Chalin has two new additions to its popular, steerable Tru-Track Alumilite family.
Joining the SL-1190 13.5K, are the SL-0893 8K and the SL-2055 20K.
Whether you’re looking for an 8K, 13.5K or 20K steerable
lift axle – Watson and Chalin has the right one for you!
Peterbilt installs all three of these steerable lift axles, depending
on your vocational application and capacity needs.
The new SL-0893 8K lift axle design, enhanced over our SL-0851
configuration, is the industry’s first 8,000 pound capacity lift
axle designed to maximize your payload under federal bridge
applications. The new SL-0893 designed with premium rubber
bushings and unique ride height adjustment promotes reduced
weight, improved durability and lower maintenance; all this
including a stronger warranty.
The new SL-2055 20K sets the standard for a high capacity
steerable lift axle. This 20,000 pound capacity lift axle incorporates
a fabricated axle beam promoting reduced weight and
rugged durability; weighing almost 200 pounds less than the
current suspension. In addition, a full 25 degrees of wheel-cut
and our unique ride-height adjustment feature are integrated
into the SL-2055 design.
800.445.0736 972.547.6020 www.watsonsuspensions.com
Fuller® Convertible Transmission
+ Solo Advantage® Clutch
= First Class Performance and
Return on Your Investment
Eaton’s Fuller convertible transmission
operates as a 9-speed
and can be easily be converted
to a 13-speed to increase vehicle
versatility and resale value at
trade-in time.
The Solo Advantage is a selfadjusting
clutch. It features a
50,000-mile standard lubrication
interval for linehaul applications
to further minimize maintenance
and reduce ownership cost. A
premium patented release bearing
and exclusive vibration control
technology dampers offers first
class performance and ROI.
Both come with industry-leading
warranties (5 years/500,000
miles for transmission* and
3 years/350,000 miles for Solo
Advantage). And, both are backed
by Roadranger support.
So, talk to your Peterbilt
representative to consider
spec‘ing this combination on your
next truck. And ask about extended
warranties on this combo.
For more product information,
visit Roadranger.com.
*Prior to conversion for linehaul applications.
Warranty changes to 1 year/100,000 miles
(160,000 km) or to the expiration of 3 years/
300,000 miles (480,000 km), whichever is
greater after conversion.
BACKED BY
22 l FIRST CLASS
SUPPORT