Western Star

WESTERN STAR Trucks Service & Driver Manuals PDF

Western Star Air Electrical Manual
Western Star Driver's Manual
Western Star Maintenance Manual

Western Star 4900

WESTERN STAR Trucks History

The Western Star brand appeared in the 1960s, when the American firm White started producing heavy-duty light trucks that met the weight requirements of the western US states. Their production was deployed in Ogden, Utah, and then in the Canadian town of Kilowna, British Columbia. The base model was a White-Western Star-4800 (6x4) hood truck, a classic for the United States, designed for long-distance transportation or construction.

For the sake of the machine's ease, its frame, fuel tanks, bumper, wheels, radiator and other parts were made of aluminum, hood and feathers ~ of fiberglass. The car was characterized by a wide rectangular radiator, a lot of chrome for exterior decoration, the interior was made of natural lacquered wood and expensive varieties of leather. The main power units were Caterpillar diesels up to 380 hp. and 10 ~ 13-speed gearbox. Since 1978, the company has been producing the Western Star SOYE trunk tractor - the most comfortable version of the standard Road Commander and the only trunk "beskapotnik" of this brand.

In 1981, the company "White" acquired the Swedish concern Volvo. Manufacture of trucks "Western Star" in the United States for a short time received the status of a branch of the company "White". But three years later it was closed, and the branch in Canada became an independent firm of Western Star Trucks Inc . It continued to manufacture her only hood series, which became the basis for the whole program of subsequent years.

The company "Western Star" remains the only direct continuer of the traditions of the company "White" and one of the leading in America for the production of heavy trucks and trunk tractors, for which offers 4 thousand options. In addition, it is the only national truck manufacturer in Canada, where it owns two plants. Two more assembly plants are located in Australia and New Zealand. Keeping the White tradition, the company continues to issue orders for class 8 bonnet cars (gross weight more than 15 tons) with aggregates of specialized American companies: Caterpillar diesel engines, Cummins or Detroit Diesel from 260 to 550 hp, multistage gearboxes Rockwell.

For a long time, the production program "Western Star" consists of a single KanoTHfero chassis 6x4 in numerous variants, which have not changed in the last 30 years, that make up the Heritage series. Since 1991, began to install a more streamlined cab and tail, developed in conjunction with the firm DAP, thus creating a range of Constellation. Both series include models from "3864" to "6964" with a wheelbase of 4343 and 4775 mm and several variants of length from the front bumper to the rear wall of the cabin (2769-3353 mm). The cars have an admissible full weight of 23.4 ~ 35.5 tons, can work as part of a road train with a gross mass of 76.5 tons, and in special versions up to 120 tons. All trucks are equipped with a short single Eagle sleeping compartment or an elongated Double Eagle with an internal width 2235 mm. 

On request can be installed especially comfortable and well-equipped sleeping compartments Phantom and Galaxy. Since 1997, after the acquisition of the British company ERF, trucks "Commander" with the English "EU" cab were produced in Australia and New Zealand. In addition, the company offers special all-wheel drive timber trucks and dump trucks. Recently, annually, "Western Star" produced up to 8 thousand cars and chassis. The 20th century for this firm ended with a new owner - the American company Freightliner. A total of 60 cars were built under the Western Star brand.

After the transition of Western Star, part of the concern Freightliner, under the control of the transnational corporation DaimlerChrysler, important changes began to take place in it. Initially, having the right to the trademark of the American company White, and remaining the only Canadian manufacturer of heavy mainline vehicles, it now regained US citizenship: in October 2002, the production of Western Star trucks was transferred to a general manufacturing plant in Portland, Ore., USA, where they are collected on their own line next to the heavy vehicles Freightliner.

In 2005, the headquarters of Western Star moved from Willoughby to Redford, Michigan, where the main engine building plant of the concern Freightliner is located. In parallel, the process of saturation of Western Star cars, executed in a typical North American spirit, the main units of the brand Mercedes-Benz of German and Brazilian production. The company's reorganization has not yet led to a change in its program, which still consists of two 4900 and 6900 series of hoods, which received new units.