Post by William Wilson on Jun 17, 2005 21:42:23 GMT -5
A Proud History
Western Star Trucks designs, manufactures, and distributes heavy-
duty custom trucks for long haul and vocational applications.
Western Star is known for its high quality and distinctive line of
premium trucks.
The company was founded on the belief that the driver is the most
valuable asset in trucking � whether it's a mining truck operator in
West Virginia or an over-the-road owner-operator in British
Columbia. Always keeping the driver in mind, the company has
introduced many products and innovations to the marketplace,
including a series of unique sleeper options, the sleek LowMax
profile, and a powerful extreme-duty vehicle, all the while
continuing to enhance existing products.
Tracing its roots back to 1967, Western Star Trucks began with
engineering and operations located at company headquarters in
Cleveland, Ohio and production in Canada. To meet its customers�
growing demands for mining, logging, and oil field heavy-duty
trucks, the small Western Star plant would eventually become 250,000
square feet of manufacturing space and 50,000 square feet of just-in-
time warehousing. During the company�s growth in the coming years,
improvements were made in efficiency and engineering as it
manufactured custom-built Class 8 trucks for vocational applications.
Throughout the 1980s, Western Star Trucks continued to grow its
product line and market share, all the while evolving its
manufacturing process and its reputation for durable and reliable
custom trucks. One of the first major product development
initiatives undertaken by the fledgling company was increasing
headroom in the cab and improving driver visibility, which set
Western Star trucks apart from other models in the industry.
Additionally, a state-of-the-art wrap-around dash catered an
individualistic look to a new customer: the highway tractor driver.
Western Star�s position as a premium highway tractor in the owner-
operator custom truck market continued with the introduction of the
Supertilt hood on 1986 model year trucks. This innovation revamped
the product line and introduced one of the earliest versions of the
sloped hood to the ultra-conservative heavy truck industry. These
traditional lines are maintained even today. A year later, Western
Star launched the Cornerstone chassis: a new platform that reduced
cost, weight and complexity.
By 1990, the extreme duty 6900 XD model was in production for the
most rugged applications. In 1992, Western Star won significant
contracts with the Canadian military, PT Freeport mining in
Indonesia, and highway maintenance trucks for the province of
British Columbia.
Western Star developed and launched the Constellation cab and
sleeper in 1996. The cab featured a large size and superior comfort
to the owner-operator market and maintained Western Star�s tradition
of welded steel cab construction. In 1998, the Star Light Sleeper
was introduced with a revolutionary new design and an ultra-
lightweight polypropylene honeycomb core, sandwiched between two
sheets of high-grade aluminum. This was a major weight reduction
achievement for Western Star and the industry.
In 2002, Western Star moved production to Portland, Oregon. The new
plant offered distinct advantages for Western Star from both a
production and engineering standpoint, including the plant
employees� significant experience in building a wide range of custom
trucks and the close proximity to state-of-the-art development and
testing facilities. That same year, Western Star introduced the
LowMax package. Available on several models, the LowMax features a
sleek lower-profile stance and lots of custom stainless steel
accessories.
Three new products were introduced in 2003. The 82-inch Stratosphere
was launched, becoming the only walk-through sleeper in the industry
that incorporates roof-mounted air horns and marker lights. The 6900
XD model became available with Twin-Steer, offering yet another
solution to the extreme-duty market. Plus, the 68-inch Stratosphere
walk-through sleeper was introduced, providing an ideal length for
Canadian customers and other vocations where a shorter wheelbase is
required. In 2004, the 123-inch BBC 4900 FA LowMax was introduced,
as well as a lighter-weight 4900 SA with a Stratosphere sleeper.
Western Star Trucks has long stood for the ultimate in comfort,
power, and convenience � while at the same time providing quality,
durability, and reliability. From owner-operator tractors to premium
vocational and severe-duty trucks, Western Stars are built exactly
to the specifications of its customers and will continue to provide
the most advanced and demanded options in the marketplace today, and
into the future.
Western Star offers the 4900 FA, 4900 SA, 4900 EX, and 6900 XD
models for three key segments:
Owner-Operator � Western Star has tremendous customer loyalty and
pride of ownership and offers three premium models to those looking
for a rugged and great-looking truck: the set-forward 4900 FA; the
set-back 4900 SA, with super visibility hood; and the 4900 EX
extended, conventional hood. Constructed with superior craftsmanship
and featuring a spacious, quiet cab, all of the models are available
with several custom options including the LowMax package and two
Stratosphere sleeper sizes.
Premium Vocational � For the toughest jobs, Western Star offers a
full line of rugged premium vocational trucks for applications
including, dump, logging, and heavy haul. The 4900 FA, 4900 SA, and
4900 EX can all be customized to meet the specific demands of any
over-the-road application.
Specialty/Extreme � For extreme applications when the ordinary rules
of tonnage and terrain cease to apply, Western Star offers custom-
built high-performance trucks. The 4900 SA can be used for severe
mixer, military, oilfield, snowplow, and railway maintenance
applications; the 4900 FA is ideal for severe mixer applications;
and the 6900 XD, which was built to handle the toughest severe-duty
applications, is perfect for the most challenging military,
oilfield, and mining jobs.
Western Star Trucks designs, manufactures, and distributes heavy-
duty custom trucks for long haul and vocational applications.
Western Star is known for its high quality and distinctive line of
premium trucks.
The company was founded on the belief that the driver is the most
valuable asset in trucking � whether it's a mining truck operator in
West Virginia or an over-the-road owner-operator in British
Columbia. Always keeping the driver in mind, the company has
introduced many products and innovations to the marketplace,
including a series of unique sleeper options, the sleek LowMax
profile, and a powerful extreme-duty vehicle, all the while
continuing to enhance existing products.
Tracing its roots back to 1967, Western Star Trucks began with
engineering and operations located at company headquarters in
Cleveland, Ohio and production in Canada. To meet its customers�
growing demands for mining, logging, and oil field heavy-duty
trucks, the small Western Star plant would eventually become 250,000
square feet of manufacturing space and 50,000 square feet of just-in-
time warehousing. During the company�s growth in the coming years,
improvements were made in efficiency and engineering as it
manufactured custom-built Class 8 trucks for vocational applications.
Throughout the 1980s, Western Star Trucks continued to grow its
product line and market share, all the while evolving its
manufacturing process and its reputation for durable and reliable
custom trucks. One of the first major product development
initiatives undertaken by the fledgling company was increasing
headroom in the cab and improving driver visibility, which set
Western Star trucks apart from other models in the industry.
Additionally, a state-of-the-art wrap-around dash catered an
individualistic look to a new customer: the highway tractor driver.
Western Star�s position as a premium highway tractor in the owner-
operator custom truck market continued with the introduction of the
Supertilt hood on 1986 model year trucks. This innovation revamped
the product line and introduced one of the earliest versions of the
sloped hood to the ultra-conservative heavy truck industry. These
traditional lines are maintained even today. A year later, Western
Star launched the Cornerstone chassis: a new platform that reduced
cost, weight and complexity.
By 1990, the extreme duty 6900 XD model was in production for the
most rugged applications. In 1992, Western Star won significant
contracts with the Canadian military, PT Freeport mining in
Indonesia, and highway maintenance trucks for the province of
British Columbia.
Western Star developed and launched the Constellation cab and
sleeper in 1996. The cab featured a large size and superior comfort
to the owner-operator market and maintained Western Star�s tradition
of welded steel cab construction. In 1998, the Star Light Sleeper
was introduced with a revolutionary new design and an ultra-
lightweight polypropylene honeycomb core, sandwiched between two
sheets of high-grade aluminum. This was a major weight reduction
achievement for Western Star and the industry.
In 2002, Western Star moved production to Portland, Oregon. The new
plant offered distinct advantages for Western Star from both a
production and engineering standpoint, including the plant
employees� significant experience in building a wide range of custom
trucks and the close proximity to state-of-the-art development and
testing facilities. That same year, Western Star introduced the
LowMax package. Available on several models, the LowMax features a
sleek lower-profile stance and lots of custom stainless steel
accessories.
Three new products were introduced in 2003. The 82-inch Stratosphere
was launched, becoming the only walk-through sleeper in the industry
that incorporates roof-mounted air horns and marker lights. The 6900
XD model became available with Twin-Steer, offering yet another
solution to the extreme-duty market. Plus, the 68-inch Stratosphere
walk-through sleeper was introduced, providing an ideal length for
Canadian customers and other vocations where a shorter wheelbase is
required. In 2004, the 123-inch BBC 4900 FA LowMax was introduced,
as well as a lighter-weight 4900 SA with a Stratosphere sleeper.
Western Star Trucks has long stood for the ultimate in comfort,
power, and convenience � while at the same time providing quality,
durability, and reliability. From owner-operator tractors to premium
vocational and severe-duty trucks, Western Stars are built exactly
to the specifications of its customers and will continue to provide
the most advanced and demanded options in the marketplace today, and
into the future.
Western Star offers the 4900 FA, 4900 SA, 4900 EX, and 6900 XD
models for three key segments:
Owner-Operator � Western Star has tremendous customer loyalty and
pride of ownership and offers three premium models to those looking
for a rugged and great-looking truck: the set-forward 4900 FA; the
set-back 4900 SA, with super visibility hood; and the 4900 EX
extended, conventional hood. Constructed with superior craftsmanship
and featuring a spacious, quiet cab, all of the models are available
with several custom options including the LowMax package and two
Stratosphere sleeper sizes.
Premium Vocational � For the toughest jobs, Western Star offers a
full line of rugged premium vocational trucks for applications
including, dump, logging, and heavy haul. The 4900 FA, 4900 SA, and
4900 EX can all be customized to meet the specific demands of any
over-the-road application.
Specialty/Extreme � For extreme applications when the ordinary rules
of tonnage and terrain cease to apply, Western Star offers custom-
built high-performance trucks. The 4900 SA can be used for severe
mixer, military, oilfield, snowplow, and railway maintenance
applications; the 4900 FA is ideal for severe mixer applications;
and the 6900 XD, which was built to handle the toughest severe-duty
applications, is perfect for the most challenging military,
oilfield, and mining jobs.