What is a tractor for pulling food grade tanker?

Yes and no. Yes it's the same engine, and the same automatic transmission (which I'd never spec because it's an auto). The tunes on the engines are different, though. The manual Mack transmissions have also been around since pre-volvo...as has the Camelback suspension. Air ride has various vendors rebadged as their own...been that way since pre-volvo, too. Cabs might have some crossover, too...haven't kept up too much with them after the buyout.

I will say this, though...the ONLY aero truck that looks even remotely decent is the Mack Granite with the set forward axle...

 

My cascadia is fine for chemical. A 125 midroof 70" sleeper. I was told you need a mid roof for tankers, but I see a lot running full roofs.

 

Autos work well with tanker? Was it smooth bore?

Do you still do tanker?

 

We used all types of trailers; smooth bore, baffled, dry bulk.
The Vovlo automatic is the only setup that could handle the shifting correctly. We also tried some brand new loaners from Freightliner and International but would get stuck on a hill at a traffic light. Once the light truned green, the truck wouldn't move forward, but would roll backward. The Volvo setup didn't do that. so the company bought Volvo's.
It was really a mess; we'd have to get someone to watch for us while we coasted backwards to a level spot, then get a running start and hope we made the green light and not have to go through that again.
By the way, we ran 48 states and Canada and had no problems with the Volvo.

 

Pulled raw and condensed milk in a shotgun tanker for 18 months loaded at 80,000

Drove a 2 year old Western Star 3900 SB glider with a 12.7 Detroit and a 10 speed .

Never had much of a problem pulling long grades , I seemed to be right in line with the rest of the loaded trucks.

Glad it was a Western Star with its solid mounted interior cabinets when the condensed milk got bucking .

I now know why the cabinet doors were all constantly failing on the Kenworth 6800 I drove for a month previously

 

I have Macks with the 14 speed ishift transmission, and can say that after 32 years only driving manual shift trucks, wasn't sure I would ever like an automatic in a truck. Well after day 2 driving with the ishift auto, I was in lust with it, and now a couple of years later, I am a firm believer in them. Please give me an ishift, disc brakes, air ride suspension, and an MP8/D13 engine in all trucks. I wasn't even sure I would like air ride when I first drove one, until at the end of day 1 I didn't feel as beaten up at the end of the day. Previously it was rubber block and walking beams for me. My first time giving disc brakes a try was about 7 or 8 years ago, now I wonder why everyone doesn't have them.

 

No they are not. Believe me, we have both and the Mack is a far better truck than the Volvo.

 

We have Mack’s with the auto transmission. They all suck!!
Get a 10 or a 13 speed manual.

 

Why do they suck in your opinion?