What size engines is Knight putting in their latest trucks?

What size engines is Knight putting in their latest trucks?

For this discussion I'm going to be talking about 'HP' and not "Torque," where torque is the most important factor for pulling loads and why diesels excel in the industry with hi-flat torque performance:

When I started in the trucking industry in 1998, the general engine in most trucks was 475-525 HP.

When I went to work for Knight in 2003, their engines were extremely under powered at 350-365 HP. Super-dog FL Centurys!! Had a couple of the Express trucks I was driving over heat in mid-summer on the 3 hills west of Needles on I40!

After a couple of yrs driving Express, I found the trucks improved slightly and 'heard' that they were buying 385 HP Centurys.

Thereafter, they started buying Volvos and then Petes and the last I heard from the shop is that they were running 400-425 HP.

What are they buying today? The 3000 CCA battery reqmt was spec'd for the larger engines, up to 650 HP (4 x 750 CCA battery's?). where the smaller engines may get away with the 3x 750 CCA config. per Knight's discretion. (The larger engines need more starting power in cold weather).

 

Looks like the Internationals are at the top with Cummins ISX 435...picked up at the factory and drove a couple of refrig (metallic gray) Pete 379 tractors to Phx from Denton, TX (2006) that were running Cats...??? HP Carrying Ft. Worth Miller beer loads but engine was new and tight and only got 4.0- 4.5 mpg! Not much performance...

 

Co's always have the option of 'turning down' (reprogramming) the HP of an engine if so desired for improved fuel economy The reefer Pete 379's were turned down after we co. drivers delivered them from the factory in Denton, TX to Knight Phx.