DALLAS, Tex. – J.D. Power and Associates has handed Caterpillar heavy-duty diesel two top customer-satisfaction awards.

The international marketing firm says the famous yellow power plants captured the awards in both the Heavy-Duty OTR Engine and Heady-Duty Vocational Engine categories.

“The Cat 3406E, which is now known in the marketplace as the C-15 and C-16, was rated highest in 12 of 14 engine satisfaction measures,” says David Semlow, marketing manager, Caterpillar Truck Engine Division.

The honors are based on J.D. Power’s annual survey measuring product satisfaction and performance. More than 2,300 owners of two-year-old Class 8 trucks were asked about everything from engine noise to downtime.

The heaviest weighting, however, was placed on the engine-life portion, which gauges durability, reliability and length of warranty.

A total of 57 per cent of customers said they “definitely would” recommend Caterpillar engines to someone buying a new or used truck.

Among vocational customers, the 3406E was rated significantly above the market average.

“As an independent, third-party evaluation, we believe that the results of the survey reflect our consistent product improvement over the past five years,” adds Semlow. The company says it isn’t taking the news as a cue to slow down, either.

In an effort to offer the same level of value to all of its customers, Cat has also expanded its popular Truck Owner Protection Plan (TOPP) to include used trucks powered by Cat 3406E, C-16, C-15, C-12 and C-10 engines.

Available in 12-month, 100,000-mile increments, TOPP for used units features enrollment options up to 650,000 miles.

With diesel-fuel prices hovering around record levels, Caterpillar also has unveiled a new video training series that explains both driving techniques and management procedures designed to maximize fuel economy.

“Cat engines are engineered for exceptional fuel mileage, but the greatest influence on fuel usage is the way the truck is driven,” says Phil Hook, Cat truck performance consultant and driver trainer. “The Caterpillar Power Professional training series can help professional drivers learn specialized techniques to take full advantage of the fuel-saving features of electronic engines.”

The company says Cat customers have not only come to expect top-of-the-line performance from their engine, they also want to be able to show them off. To this end, the company has inked a deal with Panelite, who will produce a complete line of Cat-branded chrome accessories.

“Many drivers take great pride in their trucks and enjoy adding attractive accessories,” says David Kraftzenk, manager of new product development. “Each piece in the line will allow fleets and drivers to show their affiliation with Caterpillar while enhancing their trucks with classic chrome.” n