I Know...not a Coach....the future now posted with video pics

[eagle19952]

But a Wal-Mart / Peterbilt proto type with apparently a carbon fiber trailer....

[Lin]

Is it real?  Looks like just a drawing.  If it's for Walmart, doesn't it have to come from China?

[CrabbyMilton]

That sort of design was futuristic 50 years ago for the 1970's or 80's. Perhaps we will see such designs in trucks, cars, and buses but it seems like the future never really comes or we never notice until we look back. Interesting post though.

[dukegrad98]

A buddy of mine that is a professional driver for Wal-Mart told me that the prototypes are real, and they are being proposed for use on long Canadian runs, where the average mileage between stops is much higher than in the more saturated U.S. market.  That's as close as I have to knowledge about it.

Cheers, John

[eagle19952]

This is the WalMart/PACCAR:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTTgxqZqTaA

WALMART CANADA HAS this deal...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBUZ7Ba_Agw

[Jeremy]

I saw that photo with the central driver and immediately thought "Futurliner"



And the glass roof reminds me of a Plaxton Elite bus:



Jeremy

PS. I know a few builders of ULDB maxi racing yachts that would argue with the "biggest ever carbon fibre panel" claim made in the video. (Not to mention Boeing, come to that).

[belfert]

This is designed for long distance runs, but it doesn't appear to allow for a team driver?  What little the video showed of the sleeper didn't seem to show space for two drivers.  That driving position would take getting used to, but in the long run it would probably be easier to drive.  The driver would probably feel strange getting back into their personal vehicle.  After 4,000 miles in my bus I got back in my compact car the first time and it felt like my rear was dragging on the ground.

[TomC]

Just remember, the larger, more custom the windshield is, the harder it is to replace. This is why I like my Kenworth truck-4 piece flat windshield that any auto glass store could make. Some of the other buses I know that have flat windshields are-Gillig, Crown 4 piece, Flx transit with 6 piece, etc. Good Luck, TomC

[Oonrahnjay]

Just remember, the larger, more custom the windshield is, the harder it is to replace. This is why I like my Kenworth truck-4 piece flat windshield that any auto glass store could make. Some of the other buses I know that have flat windshields are-Gillig, Crown 4 piece, Flx transit with 6 piece, etc. Good Luck, TomC

     This is why - at the first sign of trouble - my bus is going to *become* a flat windshield bus.

[Boomer]

Those rookie truck drivers that back up with their head stuck out the window would have a hard time with that cab.  Just saw one do that yesterday trying to back around a corner, LMAO.