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Mar 1, 2008 12:00 PM

Sterling Trucks has introduced some new factory-installed safety options and is making Detroit Diesel's new DD15 engine available in several of its heavy duty models.

The safety products — air disc brakes, new collision warning system from Eaton, and Roll Stability Control (RSC) from Meritor WABCO — are available on Sterling Set-Back A-Line, Set-Back L-Line, Set-Forward L-Line, and Acterra models.

Sterling's proprietary air disc brakes, “ideal for applications that are notoriously hard on truck brakes, are the first to be offered on both the front and rear wheels industry-wide,” says Richard Shearing, the company's manager of product strategy. “Having air disc brake on all wheels eliminates the fade imbalance that results from mixing air disc and standard drum brakes, making the truck safer and easier to operate.”

Additional benefits of these air disc brakes, he notes, include a better response rate, shorter stopping distance, longer life, and longer service intervals.

Sterling is offering the new Eaton-VORAD VS-400 Collision Warning system that features an easier-to-understand driver interface unit that uses an LCD screen with text and graphics. This warning system provides in-cab alerts to help the driver identify traffic conditions in advance, such as slow-moving vehicles and short following distances.

The system has the SmartCruise feature. It uses data from the collision warning system to help the truck maintain the appropriate minimum distance from the vehicle in front of it.

The VS-400 will be available for order in the fourth quarter of the year.

Stability control

Another new factory-installed safety option is Meritor WABCO's Roll Stability Control (RSC) system. Based on the anti-lock braking system (ABS), the system is designed to help reduce rollover accidents, as well as jackknifing and loss of control.

The RSC system focuses on a vehicle's center of gravity, lateral acceleration limit (threshold where rollover may occur), and wheel speed. When critical lateral acceleration thresholds are exceeded, RSC intervenes to regulate the vehicle's deceleration by reducing engine torque, engaging the engine retarder (if equipped), and automatically applying drive axle and trailer brakes.

“The deceleration resulting from the intervention reduces the vehicle speed and rollover threshold, allowing improved maneuverability and stability,” explain Meritor WABCO officials. “Frequently, activation takes place before the driver is even aware of the need.”

Engine option

Detroit Diesel's DD15 engine can be spec'd on Sterling's heavy duty Set-Back A-Line and Set-Back L-Line models. The engine is a 14.8-liter, 6-cylinder, in-line design, offered in models from 455 to 560 horsepower, with torque ratings of 1,550 to 1,850 pound-feet.

The engine, which uses a combination of exhaust gas recirculation and a particulate filter for reduced emissions, also comes with dual torque ratings for special applications.