Autocar Unveils New Xspotter Yard Tractor Series

HAGERSTOWN, Ind.--Autocar, the first name in American commercial trucks and the industry leader in alternative fuel severe-service Class 8 trucks, has officially launched its newest family of products, the Xspotter yard tractor series. The Xspotter was introduced to the trucking industry at the annual TMC (Technology and Maintenance Council) Meeting & Transportation Technology Exhibition, the premier event where trucking industry professionals exchange ideas and learn about the latest in truck technology.

“Autocar’s new Xspotter is the answer to these demands and other operating and safety issues that users have been forced to deal with for many years with current offerings”

Yard tractors, also known as terminal tractors and trailer spotters, are commonly used to move semi trailers and intermodal containers from spot to spot at ship and rail yards, container ports, warehouses and distribution centers. Yard tractors often operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in unforgiving and demanding conditions. Today’s yard tractor owners and operators demand modern equipment with alternative fuel solutions which reduce harmful emissions. “Autocar’s new Xspotter is the answer to these demands and other operating and safety issues that users have been forced to deal with for many years with current offerings,” says Eric Schwartz, Vice President of Business Development for Autocar. “We leveraged our years of experience with Autocar truck series in other severe applications to improve and upgrade a vehicle that has not changed much over the past 25 years. We also partnered with select, knowledgeable customers and suppliers to develop the Xspotter into a high-performance vehicle, addressing very specific needs and day-to-day challenges of the application. We have incorporated the latest best-in-class features, including 360-degree visibility, a more spacious, quiet, driver-friendly operating environment and select components for greater reliability and durability. We stand behind our product with the industry’s most comprehensive standard warranty coverage.” The Xspotter is available with factory-built natural gas power as well as Cummins diesel power. In addition, Autocar has partnered with Balqon Corporation to offer an integrated zero-emissions lithium ion electric power system for the Xspotter.

History of the Xspotter

Autocar acquired a proven and tested yard tractor known for robust design and durability. The design had been manufactured, tested, operated and sold around the world in severe yard tractor applications. Building on a great design, Autocar invested millions of dollars in development of improvements over the next two years. “These improvements focused on operator comfort and productivity, including an deeper, ergonomically-designed cab to provide more entry/exit width, maximized head, belly and knee room and easy access to all operating equipment. Safety was also a major priority for our team, leading to our design of the largest windshield viewing area, driver and curb side window and rear exit door in the industry,” says Bill Dolesh, Vice President of Specialty Vehicle Engineering at Autocar. The Xspotter is the first yard tractor to offer a corrosion-resistant e-coated, steel constructed cab as a standard feature. Major critical components have been incorporated in the Xspotter from the best and most well-known suppliers in the trucking industry, to ensure fewer maintenance issues and increase service time and productivity.

Xspotter Yard Games

To help spread the word about the new Xspotter, Autocar held the world’s first Xspotter Yard Games, an event designed to demonstrate the capabilities and benefits of the Xspotter. As part of the TMC Annual Meeting & Transportation Technology Exhibition, trucking industry journalists were given the opportunity to experience first-hand the many enhanced productivity, safety and performance features that the Xspotter includes as standard equipment. In the Xspotter Yard Games, these journalists were given the unique opportunity to compete against one another in a new Xspotter, each one driving through a series of obstacles meant to simulate the typical maneuvers performed by a yard tractor operator on a day-to-day basis.

About Autocar

With a legacy of hard-working trucks dating back more than a century, Autocar has more than 300 employees and steadily increasing annual sales. Autocar, LLC and Autocar Industries, LLC are affiliated with Illinois-based GVW Group, LLC. Autocar, LLC, an American company headquartered in Hagerstown, Indiana, is the North American leading manufacturer of LCF Class 8 trucks and a leading engineering and manufacturing innovator. Autocar Industries, LLC, is the creator, manufacturer and distributor of the Xspotter yard tractor series.

Telephone: 877-973-3486

Website: www.autocartruck.com