Mack Splits Highway Lineup With Pioneer, New Anthem

Mack gives fleets two highway choices

Mack Trucks is moving away from a single do-it-all highway tractor and splitting its on-highway strategy between the new Pioneer and a redesigned Anthem.

The company outlined the plan at its Experience Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where senior highway product manager Blake Routh described the Pioneer as the over-the-road option and the new Anthem as the regional and urban-duty truck that can still handle highway work.

Efficiency, comfort and safety lead the pitch

Both trucks share a common cab platform with day cab, 44-inch and 64-inch sleeper options. The Pioneer adds a 76-inch sleeper, available in mid-roof and high-roof configurations, and is the only model with Mack's integrated electric parking cooler.

Mack says aerodynamic and powertrain changes can improve fuel economy by up to 11% on the Pioneer and up to 10% on the new Anthem, depending on spec and duty cycle. The cab is also 9 inches wider than the prior generation, with new suspension and a Max Ride system aimed at driver comfort.

More data and uptime tools

The new lineup carries Mack Protect collision-mitigation technology, forward-facing radar and cameras, lane-keep assist, blind spot coverage and tiered safety packages. Mack is also tying the tractors into GuardDog Connect, over-the-air updates, Mack Connect and a My Mack mobile app.

For fleet buyers, the bigger move is segmentation. Mack is trying to give longhaul operators a dedicated efficiency and sleeper package while keeping regional fleets in a more maneuverable Anthem platform without giving up connectivity or safety tools.