Driving the Mack m Drive automated transmission

First impressions of driving a Liebherr concrete pump mounted on a Mack MRU chassis with the “m Drive” automated manual transmission.

[@dgrenier4908]

M-Drive = basically a Volvo I-shift (both trans are made in the same facility in MD - Volvo powertrain Hagerstown) - yup your Mack is about the same as any Volvo or as a lot around here (where Volvo’s are built in VA) - “that’s a nice Mack riding on a Volvo chassis w/ a Volvo engine & AMT” - the upcoming new Mack Highway Tractor & the recently unveiled new VNL are almost the same truck other than badging & a few interior bits.

[@greghughey9738]

M-drive has done it's damndest to win me over in the 63z. I do like it, alot, but still prefer an 18. Call me old, tell me im stupid, but i still like the options an 18 gives. I haven't came into a spot where the M-drive has failed me, giant mud holes, to 8% pulling hills. I guess you could call me a control freak lol....the M-drive is def good. Regardless of who you are, or what your preferences are.

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

Traffic in the city here has gotten so bad, I’ll gladly take any innovation which does away with the 3rd pedal 😁😁😁

[@sirmister4411]

That thing has some serious rear over hang

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

Our old 40Z Putz was much worse. You get used to it. Just gotta keep mindful of them hard right hand turns when you’ve got that 5 ton box truck riding your driver side 😂😂😂

[@MuddyfeetTV]

Cool video. I was wondering how well they worked.

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

I was really impressed with it. For city driving with smaller size machines, I still think I’d take an Allison over the m Drive, but for big-booms as well as smaller booms which do a mix of city/highway/terrain driving, I feel like this m Drive could be the best of both worlds between manual and fully automatic transmission.

[@kjartanB]

So like most European transmissions of the last 10-15 years automated manuals. Our mixers and pumps on Mercedes trucks have 12 gear automated manuals and the pumps have 16 gear boxes. Don't think manufacturers make manual trucks unless specially ordered in Europe any more and haven't for years

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

We’re generally about 10-15 years behind the European market here when it comes to innovation.

[@fronabargerconveyingpumping]

Sweet looking truck! I'm curious how it rides with all that boom hanging over the back. We're switching to Kenworth for the next truck, service for Mack is pretty bad in our area.

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

The overhang actually ain’t that bad (our 40Z Putz was far worse). Funny thing around here is that our Mack dealer has come full circle and has been doing a great job lately. The one Peterbilt which we had in the fleet (and I used praise highly) has now become the bane of our existence in recent months as it’s been having reoccurring emissions issue which the dealer can’t seem to can’t figured out ($10K+ later on it’s still having the same issue). We will definitely be sticking with Mack under future units, unless going conventional, in which case both the Kenworth and Western Star are looking pretty good.

[@pumpingconcretefamilywithe2631]

Hermosaaa❤❤❤❤❤

[@gagerasmussen3788]

the m drive is terrible in the mud. haven't tried using the performance mode but i feel like it would just make it worse. it usually prematurely shifts

[@user-ng2mt2yr1t]

Yeah it's an ugly pump but how well does it really put out the mud compared to what you got for a pump and is it really going to be satisfying

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

The truck is admittedly ugly (that’ll likely never change on my lifetime here) the pump however is a thing of beauty, IMO. Even our current 16H Putzmeister pump kits lay down the mud faster than we ever really need. This one I’m assuming would be on par with it, albeit deadly smooth (likely more comparable to the new generation iLS pump kits from Putz). The XXT outriggers are ONE HUNDRED PERCENT satisfying! 😁

[@Dex01-Z_WingZero]

I hate the m drive. Almost always getting stuck cause it won't stop shifting and trying to push a button on the granite while bouncing sucks.

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

I’ve heard a few reviews similar to yours, and also a good number more reviews with guys raving about them. I’d have to put some good miles on one before I could really say for certain. Initial impression however: I was very impressed.

[@Dex01-Z_WingZero]

@@canadianconcretepumper1979 city driving they're worth it. Country driving they suck.

[@Dex01-Z_WingZero]

Liebherr is on tour?

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

Yes sir. I believe she was headed to Oregon next.

[@Dex01-Z_WingZero]

@@canadianconcretepumper1979 Dam not Alberta

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

@@Dex01-Z_WingZero Unfortunately not making it here to Canada. We jumped across the border to Bellingham WA for the day to check it out.

[@markbailey9384]

Is that the golden dog? 500 hp?

[@travis_b_]

I believe golden bulldog means all mack components. Mack engine, mack transmission and mack rear ends

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

@@travis_b_ So that’s what I’ve always been told as well. The funny thing is, our only rigs which have the gold Bulldog are the ones running Eaton Fuller transmissions rather than the Mack trans.

[@vegetablesouper9379]

Is the M for "Manties"?

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

I’ve heard it stands for massive….. oh never mind….

[@vegetablesouper9379]

@@canadianconcretepumper1979 :)... How do we order stickers and hats and hoodies and shirts? Can we just mail you cash?

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

@@vegetablesouper9379 My goal is to have a website in place by the end of this calendar year. Hats/stickers/shirts and random/cool, pump related stuff.

[@vegetablesouper9379]

@@canadianconcretepumper1979 Right on, I will get some swag for sure when the store gets online. And automatic transmissions are safer, but they diminish the pride of driving big trucks, imo.

[@piotres7358]

Good and pretty pump, but that mack is ugly...

[@canadianconcretepumper1979]

We’re used to it over here. They gave us cupholders in 2008, so we’ve remained pretty content throughout the 15+ years since 😂