NOVI, MI. For upfitters, the development is in the details. And truck OEMs were more than willing and able to provide the latest on next year’s commercial vehicles here at the 2017 NTEA Truck Product Conference.
In keeping with the traditional format, although at a different venue this year, OEMs rolled out slide decks dense with specs and diagrams only fellow engineers and technicians could love. But the real business, or fun, began when attendees moved outside to the exhibit tent to lay hands—and tape measures—on the vehicles.
Making presentations this year, in order of appearance, were:
- International Truck
- General Motors Fleet
- Freightliner Trucks
- Hino Trucks
- Toyota
- Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation
- Ram Commercial
- Isuzu
- Mitsubishi Fuso; and
- Ford.
Over meals and in the convention center hallways, attendees posed questions to the OEM technical experts, and many of the answers to their vehicle design issues will find a way into next year’s updates.
All of the truck makers emphasized the importance of understanding how to access the upfitter and body-builder resources available on their websites, including the latest product bulletins, and many now offer apps for info on the go. Several also noted new CAD data format options.
For complete coverage of the conference, market projections, and product updates, see the November issue of Trailer/Body Builder magazine.
