Based on its recent analysis of the Class 8 tractor market, Frost & Sullivan has presented Allison Transmission with its 2016 Best Practices Award for North American Customer Value Leadership. The recognition is specifically for the innovation and performance demonstrated by the company's fully automatic TC10.
"The TC10 remains the first and only fully automatic transmission for the Class 8 tractor market," said Silpa Paul, Senior research analyst with Frost & Sullivan. "While this segment has traditionally been dominated by manual transmissions, the TC10 offers definite advantages related to fuel economy and drivability that will continue to spur adoption and long-term growth."
On average, the TC10 reportedly delivers 5% better fuel economy than current manual- or automated manual transmission-equipped tractors. Additionally, the transmission's ease of use enhances the ability to recruit and retain drivers, while reducing training time and removing the distraction of manual shifting for drivers on the road.
"We are honored to receive this recognition from Frost & Sullivan," said Lou Gilbert, director of North American marketing and global brand development for Allison Transmission. "This award further confirms the value that the TC10 offers the Class 8 tractor market in terms of innovation and impact."
With its twin countershaft and torque converter architecture, the TC10 combines the drivability, performance and durability benefits of full power-shifting automatic transmissions with the cruising fuel economy inherent in twin countershaft architecture. The design utilizes a torque converter for initial launch only, a five-speed countershaft main transmission and a two-speed planetary range output section. With this technology, there is no torque interruption between shifts.
Frost & Sullivan's annual Best Practices Awards are presented to companies that have demonstrated excellence in proactively creating value for customers with a focus on improving the return on the investment that customers make in its services or products. The awards recognize companies in a variety of regional and global markets for outstanding achievement in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service and product development.