ORLANDO, FL. — The American Truck Dealers (ATD) announced the winners of the 2013 ATD Commercial Truck of the Year yesterday.

The Kenworth T680 76-inch Sleeper with PACCAR MX Engine took home the title in the Class 8 category, while Hino’s 195h was selected as the medium-duty winner.

Long-time truck journalist and chief judge Tom Berg, said the T680 impressed the judging panel with its comfort and driveability, including its pulling power from the engine, easy shifting of its 10-speed manual transmission and well set-up gauges and controls.

Gary Moore, general manager of Kenworth and PACCAR vice president, pointed to the home-office-work feel of the truck, and also cited Kenworth’s work on fuel efficiency and high tech equipment.

Comfort was also mentioned as a winning characteristic for the Hino 195h. Judges were also impressed with its solid visibility, maneuverability, high-tech equipment and smooth, fuel-saving operation.

Robert McDowell, Hino senior vice president, sales and customer support, said “We are extremely proud Hino won the ATD medium-duty truck award for the third time in its four years of existence.”

After accepting the award, McDowell said the current models are only previews as to what is coming down the pipe. “We are working with natural gas and other green fuels for different trucks,” McDowell added.

A five-member panel of journalists evaluated five medium-duty trucks and four heavy-duty trucks last October at ADESA in Las Vegas. Trucks were judged on innovation, design, safety and driver satisfaction.

“Every year the challenge is greater and greater,” said judge Paul Hartley, writer and owner of AddMedia. “The manufacturers bring the best in the game.”