Walking up to one of Acela Truck Company’s new Monterra trucks is similar to an optical illusion. What looks like a typical cabover from a distance grows to the size of a family of medium tactical vehicles (FMTV) military truck. A full rebuild, brand-new paint job, and an abundance of comfort and technical upgrades brings a barely used truck a second life.

Headquartered in Belgrade, Mont., with a view of the Rocky Mountains and easy access to the roads of Yellowstone to the south and the Canadian oil sands to the north, Acela is the new automaker on the scene for extreme-duty, high-mobility commercial trucks.

These trucks are built specifically for use in extreme environments, such as oil fields, mining operations, pipeline, forestry, and utility fleets.

“When people first see the big 7.2L yellow Caterpillar engine inside, they are surprised. But, they know they are getting a durable truck,” said David Ronsen, founder and president of Acela.

With the capabilities of military trucks and added creature comforts, the Monterra is available in either a 4x4 or 6x6 configuration.

Redesigning a Truck

Acela purchases the used FMTV trucks from the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and turns them into extreme duty trucks for commercial use. Staff looks over each vehicle prior to purchase, selecting only the trucks in the best initial condition.

Acela trucks undergo a vigorous 1,600-step process to ensure their operation, with more than 650 new, OEM-guaranteed parts added or replaced on each remanufactured truck from suppliers including Allison, Meritor, Goodyear, Dana, Caterpillar, and Parker.

The process includes a full inspection and evaluation, tear-down and complete overhaul, sandblasting and painting, rebuild, performance testing, and customer sign-off. Acela’s Certified Reset Program ensures fleets get a like-new vehicle backed by a one-year limited warranty.

“Our proprietary process is no makeover. We perform a complete tear-down and prep, prime, and paint every fixed component on the cab and chassis,” Ronsen said.

In addition, the company’s trained technicians work in a strictly controlled lean manufacturing environment to eliminate errors and to meet a high standard of quality.

Acela Trucks will not be available through a dealer network but directly through the manufacturer and its body builder partners, starting at $95,000 MSRP for the 4x4 and $105,000 MSRP for the 6x6. Fleet discounts are available.

Building a New Company

Acela currently employs about 30 personnel and is led by Ronsen, who is joined at the helm by Jason Benoit, CFO.

With more than 20 years of executive management experience in automotive manufacturing, design, and engineering and technology development, Ronsen is a seasoned entrepreneur with several successful startups and acquisitions under his belt. He is a proven, experienced innovator in the automotive manufacturing design sector with three patents issued and several others currently in pending status. 

Benoit also has more than 20 years of experience, but in fleet management and operations. He was a partner and director of operations with Bronto Trucks, the first company to introduce heavy-duty on-/off-road, military-grade chassis into the Canadian Oil Sands. He has also held director and managerial positions with CEDA International Corporation, PLS Mine Services Ltd., Suncor Energy, and Fastenal.