Palmer Trucks

Episode 8: Kenworth T700

Often imitated, never equaled, the Kenworth T700 is the ultimate truck on the road. With the lowest aerodynamic drag of any Kenworth truck and optimal fuel efficiency, this 18 Wheeler is a smooth sailing workhorse. The T700's lower sleeker design and rounded edges control airflow and reduce wind drag. And this truck is built for luxury- a towering eight feet of headroom, 60 cubic feet of storage and all the creature comforts in the sleeper- flat panel TV and a drawer style refrigerator. We'll visit Kenworth's design visualization room in Renton, Washington, where engineers wear special 3D goggles to view real-sized images of trucks projected on a 16-by-20-foot screen. Engineers can rotate or flip the virtual truck, or peer at it from any angle, to test new designs and evaluate potential assembly challenges. At the Chillicothe, Ohio factory we see the T700 built from the ground up in power and style- chassis creation, panel installation, power train assembly, and cab and sleeper install.