Mack Trucks customers can now order a Mack mDrive HD automated manual transmission in Mack TerraPro cabover concrete pumpers powered by the 13.0L Mack MP8 engine.

Fully integrated with the MP8 engine and Mack axles, the 13- and 14-speed mDrive gives concrete pumper customers a solution to help improve performance, boost on-site productivity and safety and maximize uptime, according to the company.

Mack made the announcement during World of Concrete 2021, June 8-10 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

“Mack’s commitment to serving the construction segment and the concrete industry has been a hallmark of our 121-year history,” said Jonathan Randall, Mack Trucks senior vice president of North American sales and commercial operations. “We changed the game in 2019 with the introduction of the mDrive HD for the TerraPro concrete pumper, the industry’s first AMT for a cabover concrete pumper truck. We’re building on that great success by expanding our offering to pair the mDrive HD with the Mack MP8 engine for customers requiring higher horsepower.”

Mack customers requiring pumpers with longer booms, starting in the 30-meter to 40-meter range, prefer bigger pumps and higher horsepower to power the pumps to move concrete through the boom, according to the truck maker. The mDrive HD, paired with the MP8 engine delivering up to 505 horsepower and 1,860 ft.-lb. of torque, is a proven combination, Mack said, providing durability and power where high horsepower is necessary.

The mDrive HD features split-shaft PTO functionality, receiving output directly from the transmission, creating higher torque for large auxiliary equipment like concrete pumps.

Ruggedized internal components, including stronger gears and synchros, are built to withstand the rigors of jobsites and frequent shifting often found in construction applications. Low-ratio creeper gears enable improved startability and ultra-low speed maneuverability.       

The mDrive HD HD also includes advanced standard features such as Rock Free, which allows drivers to free stuck vehicles by rocking the truck back and forth by pumping the accelerator, and Auto Neutral, which improves jobsite safety by automatically putting the transmission into neutral when the parking brake is set. Additional features include MaxBrake, Performance Mode, and Grade Gripper, which helps prevent rolling backward on an incline.

To help maximize uptime, the Mack MP8 engine and mDrive HD are monitored by Mack GuardDog Connect, Mack’s integrated telematics solution that monitors critical fault codes. When a fault code is detected, GuardDog Connect proactively contacts 24/7 Mack OneCall agents. With Mack GuardDog Connect, several service alerts can be resolved using Mack Over The Air (OTA), which allows customers to make unlimited driver-activated software and parameter updates.

Mack introduced the mDrive HD in 2015, and first offered its it in Mack TerraPro concrete pumper models in 2019.