Kenworth refreshes the Class 8 cab

Kenworth has introduced a redesigned Class 8 interior centered on a 15-inch horizontal high-definition touchscreen, with wireless phone charging and an electronic parking brake now standard on new 2.1-meter cab trucks. The equipment is available on new truck orders.

The display combines radio and HVAC controls with the recently announced PACCAR Connect platform. Kenworth positioned the screen within easy reach and added a surrounding handhold intended to give drivers support when interacting with the display on rough roads or jobsites.

More controls move into the cab update

Along with the display, the revised interior adds USB-C charging ports, updated HVAC louvers, new storage and instrument-panel configurations, and new trim colors. Wireless charging is placed in a cubby beside the steering wheel.

The electronic parking brake replaces the traditional push-pull knobs on applicable new trucks. PACCAR says the broader Connect platform will give fleet managers tools for vehicle health, remote diagnostics, mileage, location, warranty status and idle-time monitoring as full capabilities begin arriving in early 2027.

A spec-sheet decision, not just a comfort feature

For fleets ordering new Class 8 equipment, the release turns several features into baseline configuration questions. Procurement and safety teams will want to confirm driver-training implications, dashboard-control preferences and how the factory display fits alongside existing telematics, camera and mobile-device policies.

The practical value will depend on whether the controls reduce device clutter without making routine functions harder to use. That makes driver feedback during early deliveries especially useful before a fleet standardizes the new cab package.

Fleet Vehicles & Technology

Kenworth Adds 15-Inch Display, Makes Electronic Brake Standard

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