MOSSVILLE, Ill. — Cat heavy-duty on-highway diesel engines have received two awards from J.D. Power and Associates for the second time in as many years.

Once again the honors for Highest Customer Satisfaction Heavy-Duty Over the Road Engine and Highest Customer Satisfaction Heavy-Duty Vocational Engine were painted Cat yellow.

The awards were given based on the results of J. D. Power and Associates 2001 Heavy-Duty Truck Engine and Transmission Customer Satisfaction Study, an annual survey measuring customer satisfaction with product quality and performance.

The study, which was based on interviews with more than 2,800 owners of Class 8 trucks, evaluates several performance criteria, including engine performance and quality, warranty, noise and fuel economy. Engine life, which encompasses durability, reliability and length of warranty, was the most important factor, accounting for more than half of the total impact on overall customer satisfaction.

In addition to the overall satisfaction measurement, the Cat 3406E was ranked highest in five individual engine satisfaction measures.

“We believe that the results of the J. D. Power and Associates study reflect our consistent product improvement over the past five years,” says Jim McReynolds, general manager, Caterpillar on-highway engine division. “The 3406E was ranked highest in each and every customer segment.”