PEORIA, Ill. — Through July, North American highways are being traveled by more than 100,000 vehicles powered by five new models of Caterpillar engines with ACERT Technology.

"All segments of the industry – owner operators, large fleets, governmental bodies, specialty vehicle operators – are showing a preference for Cat engines equipped with ACERT," said Steve Brown, director of marketing for Caterpillar On-Highway Engines. "In fact, more than 65 per cent of the largest fleets are operating our new engines. Many fleets that traditionally haven’t bought Cat engines are now specifying ACERT for its fuel economy and reliability advantage over competing engines."

Cat continues to be the market leader in both heavy duty and combined mid-range and heavy-duty truck engine sales, as measured by Ward’s Communications. For the month of June, Caterpillar’s percentage of industry sales was 30.5. Caterpillar was the industry leader for the first six months of 2004 in heavy-duty sales and combined mid-range and heavy-duty sales.

This strong performance is reflected in the results of two significant industry studies – one from customers and one from Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) truck dealers – that have given Caterpillar high honors, according to Brown.

Heavy-duty vocational truck owners again ranked Cat number one in customer satisfaction, earning the company the prestigious J.D. Power and Associates Award for the fourth year in a row. In fact, Caterpillar is the only heavy-duty engine manufacturer to receive this award since its inception. In addition, Cat’s mid-range 3126B engine received the highest scores in three of four conventional diesel engine performance categories analyzed in the J.D. Power and Associates 2002 Medium Duty Truck Engine Customer Satisfaction Study.

Caterpillar also was ranked the top independent engine supplier by OEM truck dealers in the most recent annual survey conducted by American Truck Dealers Association (ATD). Cat swept every category measured, including overall attitudes rating, which measures satisfaction with supplier-dealer relations, product marketing programs, product and overall support of dealer/OEM network. The study also measured satisfaction levels with parts, service, distributor relations, warranty and policy, and computer systems. Caterpillar’s score in numerous individual areas measured by the survey was nearly double that of it’s nearest competitor.

"With such a strong positive response to our new engines equipped with ACERT Technology, we’re well positioned again to provide the best value to customers when the next level of EPA regulations go into effect in 2007," Brown said. "In fact, we have a demonstration truck on the road today that meets the 2007 standard, as well as additional engines in our laboratory using our ACERT Technology to meet these more stringent emissions standards."

More information is available at www.cattruckengines.com.