Comparing Work Truck’s Top 5 Medium-Duty Trucks

We looked into the different features and benefits of Work Truck’s top five medium-duty trucks. How do they stack up?

Each year, Work Truck names its nominees for its Medium-Duty Truck of the Year ahead of Work Truck Week. According to Work Truck, nominees are determined by automakers and then voted on by fleet managers, and are considered for their “application effectiveness, durability, quality, servicing, maintenance, and lifecycle costs.”

We wanted to take a look at each of the five nominees and compare what we think are their key features and benefits for fleets ahead of the vote in March. Here’s what we found:

Chevrolet Silverado 4500 HD/5500 HD/6500 HD

At a Glance:

• Powertrain: 6.6 L Turbo-Diesel V8 Engine, w/ 350 horsepower and 700 lb.-ft of torque
• Payload: up to 9,200 pounds
• Towing capacity: up to 19,500 pounds
• Base Vehicle Warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles
• Powertrain Warranty: 5 year/100,000 mile

Key features:

• Durability – The Silverado features a strong frame and durable components that can withstand heavy use.
• Comfort – The cabin is pretty spacious, which means it will be comfortable for anyone spending a lot of time on the road, and its advanced technology will make the ride even cozier, with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility and a 7-inch diagonal touch-screen display.
• Versatility – The Silverado family of trucks can be fitted to multiple configurations, making them malleable to fleet needs across multiple industries, including upfitting for dump trucks, utility trucks, and more.

Ford F-600 Super Duty Chassis Cab

At a Glance:

• Powertrain: 7.3-liter V8 gas engine, w/ 350 horsepower and 468 lb.-ft. of torque
• Payload: up to 22,700 lbs.
• Towing capacity: up to 34,500 lbs.
• Base Vehicle Warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles
• Powertrain Warranty: 5 years/60,000 miles

Key Features

• Efficiency: The F-600’s 10-speed automatic transmission can help optimize fuel efficiency, which can save fleets a lot of money in the long run.
• Safety: The F-600 Super Duty Chassis Cab is equipped with a variety of safety features, including a lane departure warning system, automatic emergency braking, and pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking.
• Versatility: The F-600 Super Duty Chassis Cab comes in a regular cab, super cab, and crew cab and can be upfitted with different combos of bodies and attachments for a range of different fleet needs.

International MV Series

At a Glance:

• Powertrain: Varies based on engine selection
  • International A26: 12.4-liter 6-cylinder diesel, w/ 430 horsepower and 1,550 lb-ft of torque.
  • International N9: 9.3-liter 6-cylinder diesel, w/ 330 horsepower and 1,000 lb-ft of torque
  • International N10: 10.8-liter 6-cylinder diesel, w/ 370 horsepower and 1,250 lb-ft of torque.
• Payload: up to 25,500 lbs.
• Towing capacity: up to 35,000 lbs.
• Base Vehicle Warranty: 1 year/100,000 miles
• Powertrain Warranty: 5 years/250,000 miles

Key Features:

• Customizability – With multiple engine choices and a variety of configurations, the MV series is incredibly versatile.
• Efficiency – Additionally, the range of engine options can help fleets choose the most efficient option for them, which can decrease fuel costs over time.
• Maneuverability – The MV series is well known for its ability to move through tight spots, and features a tight turn radius and streamlined body that are great for navigating urban environments.

Isuzu FVR DeRate

At a Glance:

• Powertrain: 7.8-liter Isuzu 6HK1, w/ 300 horsepower and 860 lb.-ft of torque
• Payload: up to 17,950 lbs.
• Towing capacity: up to 30,000 lbs.
• Base Vehicle Warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles
• Powertrain Warranty: 5 years/150,000 miles

Key Features

• Fuel Efficiency – The Isuzu FVR achieves high fuel economy ratings with its fuel efficient engine, meaning lower fuel costs.
• Reliability – Isuzu is known for high-quality components and good warranties, so the FVR DeRate can be expected to withstand a lot of heavy use.
• Customizability – Like others on the list, upfitting is a major feature of the FVR DeRate, and it can be fitted to a variety of different configurations.

Ram Chassis Cab (We used the 3500 for comparison)

At a Glance:

• Powertrain: Varies based on engine selection
  • 6.4-liter HEMI V8 engine w/ 370 horsepower and 429 lb-ft of torque
  • 6.7-liter Cummins Turbo Diesel I6 engine w/ 360 horsepower and 800 lb-ft of torque
  • 6.7-liter High-Output Cummins Turbo Diesel I6 engine:w/ 400 horsepower and 1,000 lb-ft of torque
• Payload: up to 12,510 lbs.
• Towing capacity: up to 35,220 lbs.
• Base Vehicle Warranty: 3 years/36,000 miles
• Powertrain Warranty: 5 years/60,000 miles

Key Features

• Versatility – The Ram Chassis Cab can be configured to fit multiple industrial needs and features a variety of different engine options.
• Safety – The Ram Chassis Cab features electronic stability control, anti-lock brakes, and a rearview camera, which can reduce the risk of accidents and keep drivers protected on the road.
• Durability – Rams tend to be durable vehicles, making them a reliable option for long term use. How to Determine the Best Vehicle For Your Fleet (And When to Buy Them)

Using Fleet Management Software for Truck Purchasing

Fleet asset management software is the easiest way to track all of the metrics that dictate your fleet replacement schedules. With the right provider, you can use fleet cost tracking to know exactly how much your assets are costing you day-to-day, so that when their cost starts to outpace their return on investment, you’ll know it’s time to consider a new vehicle.

But fleet management software can do more than that, too – with an integrated fleet solution, you can customize maintenance schedules for each asset based on their OEM requirements, as well as manage truck drivers and assignments, log inspections and work order, and so much more.

Need a better way to know when it might be time to replace your medium-duty trucks? Fleetio can help you measure things like total cost of ownership and utilization so you know exactly when to start looking for a replacement. Start your free trial in Fleetio or request a demo today.