INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Allison Transmission has announced that test fleets using its Allison TC10 tractor transmission are achieving an average 5% fuel economy improvement over its current manual and automated manual transmissions.

“Approximately 100 major fleets throughout the US, representing a variety of applications, have been using our TC10 transmission in real-world duty cycles over the last two years,” said Jim Wanaselja, vice-president of North America marketing, sales and service for Allison Transmission. “The better fuel economy, coupled with Allison’s renowned reliability, durability and ease of operation makes the TC10 a powerful tool for improving fleet efficiency.”

The TC10 is specifically designed for both city and highway tractor duty cycles and provides a blended architecture with full power shifts, a torque converter and a twin countershaft gear box.

It is fully automatic, designed to offer smooth, seamless shifting through 10 gear ranges. With optimized acceleration and fuel economy, officials say the transmission is especially ideal for distribution applications where a tractor-trailer splits its work cycle between city and highway conditions.

Rated up to 600 hp and 1,700 lb-ft of torque at launch, the TC10 is designed with 10 forward speeds and two reverse. It comes equipped with Allison’s newest generation of electronic controls which the company says provide superior fuel economy features, prognostics to eliminate unnecessary oil and filter changes, and enhanced shift selector functionality. A five-year or 750,000 mile warranty is being offered.

Production of the new transmission began earlier this month.