Mack Trucks is entering a new era of driver safety with a proprietary system designed to provide truckers with increased awareness and peace of mind on the road. The new tech suite, called Mack Protect, makes its debut with the launch of the all-new Mack Pioneer Class 8 highway truck.
This shift marks a move away from the Bendix Fusion system previously used in Mack’s Class 8 lineup. Mack Protect was built in-house to meet the unique needs of Mack drivers and offers new layers of protection — both in terms of crash mitigation and helping prevent incidents before they happen.
Instead of a one-size-fits-all setup, Mack Protect comes in three versions so fleets and drivers can choose what fits best for their needs:
- Mack Protect (Standard) includes core forward-facing tools: adaptive cruise control, lane departure warnings, automatic emergency braking, forward collision alerts, traffic stop-and-go support, frontal airbags, forward pedestrian detection, and road sign recognition.
- Mack Protect Pro adds more side protection, including side curtain airbags, lane change alerts, blind spot monitoring on both sides, and pedestrian detection along the sides of the truck.
- Mack Protect Premier takes it a step further with active steering and lane-keeping assist layered on top of the Pro package.
On top of all this, Mack says the system brings in some brand-new technologies never before offered on their trucks. That includes:
- Driver Awareness Support with a heads-up display
- Radar systems for both the driver and passenger sides
- Automatic warnings for forward and side pedestrian detection
- Lane-keeping assistance through active steering
Scott Sokach, senior safety product manager at Mack Trucks, explained that the new system was built with everyday driving challenges in mind.
“The driver awareness features we’ve developed respond directly to the challenges professional drivers face every day,” Sokach said. “Our system is designed not just to respond to emergencies, but to help prevent them from occurring in the first place by extending the driver’s awareness of their surroundings.”
With safety demands evolving quickly in the trucking world — especially on long highway hauls — Mack is clearly putting a stronger focus on helping drivers feel more in control behind the wheel. And with the new Pioneer leading the way, the company seems committed to keeping both drivers and those around them safer mile after mile.
Source: Commercial Carrier Journal
