Western Star 5700XE Helps Vermont Fleet Stand Out
Contact: Nicholas.Smith@Daimler.com
WESTMINSTER, Vt. – April XX, 2016 – Gordon Eglintine likes when his trucks turn the heads of the competition.
That’s one of the reasons the owner of GMH Transportation in southeastern Vermont ordered six 2016 Western Star 5700XEs for his fleet.
“I was looking to stand out and have a truck few others had,” Eglintine said.
He got that with the 5700XE. GMH serves the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec, as well as the continental United States, and no matter where the new Western Star trucks stop, they draw a crowd.
“Our guys pull into truck stops and other drivers gather around and want to know what they’re driving. They’re a beautiful truck; they’re eye-catching,” Eglintine said. “I think it’s important for a company to differentiate itself and stand out from its competitors.”
Of course, he didn’t buy the 5700XEs for vanity’s sake; he thinks adding the premium trucks to his fleet will help him attract and retain drivers.
“Drivers appreciate a good truck. They want to drive something they’re comfortable in and proud to drive,” he said.
The 5700XEs are driven by the best and most experienced drivers in the GMH fleet, Eglintine said: “I don’t give these out to any Tom, Dick and Harry. They go to the veteran drivers, the ones who’ve proven they can take care of their trucks.”
The trucks were sold to GMH by Patriot Freightliner, Western Star in Westminster, Vt. General Manager Doug Demarco and Sales Representative Craig Allen said GMH spec’d its 5700XEs to achieve three objectives: a long life, fuel efficiency and driver comfort, recruitment and retention.
All three goals are helped by the fully integrated Detroit™ Powertrain, which includes the fuel-efficient Detroit DD15® engine, the Detroit DT12™ automated manual transmission and Detroit axles (13,300 lbs front and 40,000 lbs rear). The Intelligent Powertrain Management system increases fuel economy by using terrain maps to adjust transmission and engine functions accordingly. Other features include adaptive cruise control and Detroit Virtual Technician™.
The 5700XEs were delivered with dual 120-gallon fuel tanks and full cab and chassis fairings. The galvannealed steel cabs have roomy 68-inch High Roof Stratosphere sleepers with premium interiors, including Ultraleather upholstery, refrigerator, Shorepower, AC/DC inverter system and SiriusXM satellite radio.
Eglintine said he’s been impressed with the workmanship, as well as the 7 mpg-plus the trucks are getting and the overall performance of the 5700XEs. “I would certainly buy the Western Stars again,” he said.
Western Star Truck Sales, Inc., headquartered in Fort Mill, S.C., produces tough custom trucks for highway and vocational applications. Western Star is a subsidiary of Daimler Truck North America LLC. Daimler Truck North America produces and markets Class 5-8 vehicles and is a Daimler company, the world’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturer.