ORLANDO, Fla. — Mack Trucks, Inc. is taking the opportunity of this year’s World of Concrete show to highlight its industry-leading line-up of heavy-duty trucks for concrete applications and to note reasons for optimism for the industry in 2004.

"There’s no doubt that 2003 was a challenging year for both heavy-duty truck makers and our customers in the construction industries," said Paul Vikner, Mack president and CEO. "But we saw encouraging signs of strength in the economy as a whole in the fourth quarter, which we expect to lead to renewed activity in construction and better conditions for our customers, especially in the concrete industry, this year."

Vikner said Mack maintained its leadership in the truck market’s construction segment despite sharply lower sales volumes last year, thanks to the growing acceptance of its Granite model truck as the vehicle of choice in a wide variety of applications in the segment particularly mixers. He also noted that concrete pumper customers continued to prefer the Mack MR model.

The Mack Granite model is the number one selling heavy duty class 8 conventional straight truck in the U.S. Whether configured as a mixer, dump, or tractor hauling heavy equipment, this exceptionally lightweight series of vehicles delivers more payload without sacrificing durability.

Specifically designed for the types of demanding applications the Granite model relishes, the recently introduced 23,000 lb. addition to the Mack UniMax front axle family joins two other models already in use 18,000 lb. and 20,000 lb. versions. The UniMax axle is the first-ever vocational axle with unitized hubs specifically designed for heavy-duty applications. Like all UniMax axles, the 23,000 lb. version features unitized wheel hubs that are permanently sealed with synthetic grease, virtually eliminating maintenance costs.

Mack also recently began offering an Air Operated Clutch Assist that reduces clutch pedal effort and decreases pedal travel, improving driver comfort and reducing fatigue. This new clutch assist can be ordered as an option on new vehicles or easily retrofitted into an existing Mack chassis. By reducing the force required to push a clutch by 25%, the assist makes driving a Mack vehicle easier than ever.

The Mack MR model continues to be the top concrete pump chassis and also proves its value as a water tanker, refuse truck, fire and rescue vehicle, and municipal dump truck. The MR model is extremely tough as well, with a galvanized steel cab that resists rust and corrosion, and a rugged heat-treated, high-strength, low-alloy steel frame designed for heavier payloads and exceptional stability.

All Granite and MR models are powered by the proven Mack ASET Vocational engine family (utilizing Internal Exhaust Gas Recirculation, or IEGR). The ASET engines, fully compliant with EPA’04 emissions standards, continue to meet customer expectations in terms of fuel economy, uptime and performance.

For more information about Mack, visit www.macktrucks.com