Isuzu Wins 2024 Medium-Duty Truck of the Year Award

Isuzu Commercial Truck of America has once again been honored with the top spot in the Medium-Duty Truck of the Year award from Work Truck. This marks the fourth time in the 16-year history of the award that Isuzu has taken home the prestigious title. This year, the winning truck was the Isuzu N-Series Class 5 Gas Truck, selected from a field of 18 tough contenders. Work Truck readers voted the Isuzu N-Series Class 5 Gas Truck as the truck that best fits their fleet requirements.

"We are honored to announce that Isuzu N-Series has clinched the 2024 Medium-Duty Truck of the Year title from Work Truck's readers," said Lauren Fletcher, executive editor – fleet, trucking and transportation at Bobit. "This truck isn't just a ride; it's a reliable partner in the field. It's about consistent performance and grit – qualities every work truck manager values. Isuzu's N-Series isn't just winning an award; it's proving its mettle where it matters most – on the job."

Shaun Skinner, president of Isuzu Commercial Truck of America, expressed his pride in the achievement, stating, "After learning that our N-Series NRR Gas Class 5 truck earned the Work Truck Magazine Medim-Duty Truck of the Year award, I could not be prouder of our team, our dealers, and most of all, our customers who get to represent and drive this truck. This is the fourth time Isuzu trucks have earned this title from Work Truck readers in the last 12 years, starting back in 2012 with our Reach Van, in 2013 with the N-Series Diesel, in 2018 with the F-Series, and now the 2024 N-Series NRR Gas Class 5 truck. All of us at Isuzu would like to say thank you for your support in Isuzu, and we will continue to bring you quality Isuzu trucks for your business."

The Isuzu team received the award on March 6 at Work Truck Week 2024, held in Indianapolis, where they were recognized for their outstanding achievement in the industry.

Why Fleets Chose the N-Series as 2024's Top Pick

The Isuzu N-Series Class 3-4 gas work truck comes in two models: NPR and NPR-HD. Both are powered by an advanced 6.6L V-8 gasoline engine that produces 350 hp at 4500 rpm and 425 lb.-ft. of torque at 3800 rpm. For the Class 5 NRR, the engine is paired with the Allison 1000-series advanced 6-speed transmission with DynActiv Shifting, making it ideal for heavy-duty applications.

The truck's clean frame rails allow for easy customization and body mounting, with pre-drilled frame rails that can be used to mount toolboxes or side tanks. The N-Series dual rear-wheel chassis is designed to handle heavier payloads and provide enhanced rear-wheel traction for improved acceleration.

The Isuzu N-Series gas work truck is available in two cab configurations: Standard Cab with seating for three and Crew Cab with seating for seven. It features a 17,950 GVWR and 26,950 lb. GVWR, with both trucks sharing the same rear axle with a 14,550-lb. capacity and 5.57 drive ratio. With three wheelbases, fleets can accommodate body needs from 12 to 20 feet.

The medium-duty truck's low-cab forward design and large windshield provide drivers with an additional eight feet of view in front of the cab. The upright A-pillars don't extend in front of the driver, further improving driver visibility. New LED headlamps and daytime running lights update the front fascia styling and enhance driver safety. Five auburn-colored marker lights are placed across the roofline to increase the truck's visibility to other drivers. On the doors, the turn signals have an integrated cornering lamp that lights the driving path when turning.

The work truck's flat and convex side mirrors increase rearward visibility and can be ordered with an extended bracket for 102-in. wide bodies. Power remote control adjustments and a heating element are optional.

40 Years of Isuzu Commercial Truck of America 

Isuzu Commercial Truck of America celebrated 40 years of Isuzu Trucks in the U.S. market on March 16, 2024. Initially known as Isuzu Truck of America, the KS22 was the first Isuzu Truck that arrived in the U.S. in November 1984, only eight months after the U.S. operation was founded. Despite having only 87 hp, the truck was an instant success. Isuzu became the best-selling low-cab-forward truck in the United States a little over a year after the truck's launch and has maintained that position ever since.

Beyond the winning Medium-Duty Truck of the Year, Isuzu's lineup today covers the full medium-duty range and includes:

• Class 3-5 N-Series trucks powered by a 6.6L gasoline V-8.
• Class 4-5 N-Series trucks with Isuzu's 4HK1-TC turbodiesel.
• Class 6-7 F-Series trucks with a Cummins B6.8L diesel.

"There used to be a saying, 'Life begins at 40.' And although Isuzu Trucks has had an amazingly successful first 40 years in the U.S. market, this is just the beginning," Skinner said.