New, innovative Meritor 14X drive axles are outfitted on 105 new heavy-duty tractors being put into service by a private motor carrier, Shamrock Foods, based in Phoenix. Founded in 1922, Shamrock Foods Company is the umbrella for Shamrock Farms, the largest dairy in the Southwest, and Shamrock Foods, a nationally-ranked food service distributor. The fleet operates 1250 pieces of equipment including 650 power units.
“We were really impressed with the new 14X axle’s lighter weight, improved driveline angles, and a more robust inter-axle differential,” said Brad Peppers, fleet manager at Shamrock, noting the spec’ing assistance he received from his Meritor district manager Ron Sheets. “Our standard drive axle has been the Meritor RT145 model for over ten years, but this new one offers our operation even greater operating efficiencies and the long life we expect.”
The new drivetrain component is an advanced evolutionary axle system built on the legacy of the RT145, one of the industry’s most successful tandem axles. Its fastest and widest range of axle ratios, and the premium Amboid gear design with its above-centerline design of the inter-axle driveline provides significant improvements: reduced operating pressures for increased driveline life, less driveline angularity, vibration and energy loss, improved ride quality and overall longer component life.
The new Meritor axle, introduced in March, entered full manufacturing production at Asheville, N.C., in late June with planned deliveries to all major North American OEMs.
ArvinMeritor, Inc. is a premier global supplier of a broad range of integrated systems, modules and components to original equipment manufacturers and the aftermarket for the transportation and industrial sectors. The company serves commercial truck, trailer and specialty original equipment manufacturers and certain aftermarkets, and light vehicle manufacturers. ArvinMeritor marked its centennial anniversary in 2009, celebrating a long history of 'forward thinking.' ArvinMeritor common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol ARM. For important information about the company, visit arvinmeritor.com.