PEORIA, Ill. — Caterpillar has won its fourth consecutive J.D. Power and Associates award for customer satisfaction in an on-highway truck engine category.

The C-15 engine earned the highest level of customer satisfaction in the Vocational Class 8 trucks category. The company has won the distinction every year since J.D. Power and Associates began recognizing heavy-duty engines in 2000.

The results were based on interviews with 2,700 owners of two year old Class 8 trucks. The interviews surveyed satisfaction in three areas: engine performance, engine noise and vibration and engine quality and warranty.

“The results of the J.D. Power and Associates study, as an independent third party evaluation, clearly show the growing customer satisfaction with Caterpillar engines in the North American trucking industry,” said Richard L. Thompson, Caterpillar group president with responsibility for the company’s global engine and research divisions. “Our employees take immense pride in these awards which demonstrate Caterpillar’s commitment to providing customers with engines that lead the industry in reliability, fuel economy and durability.”

Cat’s C-12 ranked second in the vocational category.

“We continue to see strong customer acceptance for our new engines powered by ACERT technology,” Thompson said. “ACERT is a long-term emissions technology solution for customers who rely on Caterpillar engines and dealer support for their economic success.”