LOUISVILLE, Ky. – With a new logo and a new name, commercial vehicle component systems supplier Meritor debuted what it calls an "advanced technology display" at the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) in Louisville. 

Comprised of current and future technologies aimed at improving fuel economy and operational efficiency, the display featured the Advanced Rear Axle concept – a unique 6×2 rear axle, based on the 17X axle sold in Europe.

The package, as it was unveiled by Meritor (most recently ArvinMeritor) at MATS, is expected to be market-ready in 2012.

“What we are featuring in combination has the ability to enable performance-optimized weight reductions and corresponding payload increases of more than 1,000 pounds and increase fuel efficiency by 10 percent," said Dale Eschenburg, senior director, Engineering, Meritor.

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The system’s features include:

Meritor LogixDrive. Debuted in September 2010 in Europe, the "intelligent" system controls the amount of lube in the axle based on operating conditions thereby improving fuel economy.

Intelligent Traction Control: Automatic differential lock and enhanced load transfer to the drive axle, engages and disengages below and above 25 mph in instances of low traction providing a 6×2 with 6×4-like traction in most operating conditions.

An aluminum Carrier provides 100-pound weight savings compared with a traditional case ductile iron carrier; and a carbon fiber bowl weighs roughly 1/5th the weight of steel resulting in savings of approximately 25 pounds. Plus, aluminum hubs shed another 120 pounds off a tandem axle tractor configuration.

A 2.47 ratio, currently available on the Meritor 14X, can increase fuel economy by more than one percent compared with common rear axle and overdrive transmission ratios, when paired with a direct drive transmission. Even faster ratios are being developed, the company says.

The Meritor DualTrac is designed to optimize the use of wide base single tires or dual tires and offers the ability to improve bearing life compared to standard track axle with outset wheels, while providing the ability to convert back to duals if needed.

Q Plus Cam Brakes with advance friction material, currently in production, are designed to meet the stringent stopping requirements that go into effect for most highway tractors in August 2011, as do Meritor WABCO Air Disc Brakes and the SteelLite X30 Brake Drums also offered.

Titanium Brackets shed about 30 pounds compared with traditional steel.

As for the 14X tandem axle, it now comes with an aluminum carrier which offers about 100 pounds in weight savings compared with a standard cast-iron carrier as a tandem.

It will be available in 2012 on the 14X in a wide range of ratios including the 2.47, the fastest ratio on the market, as well as compatible with the DualTrac configuration, that optimizes the use of weight-efficient, wide-based single tires.