The Mack Granite is a series of Class 8 heavy-duty and severe-service trucks introduced by Mack Trucks in 2001 and still in production, with a new generation launched in 2026. It was designed as a straight truck for local construction, waste removal and other vocational work, and it is also sold as a semi-tractor.
Mack Granite at a glance
| Production | from 2001; new generation in 2026 |
|---|---|
| Type | Class 8 heavy-duty and severe-service truck |
| Cab | long, low-profile hood and high-visibility cab |
| Length | 117.5 in from bumper to back of cab |
| Cab types | day cab standard, 36 in integral sleeper available |
| Axle packages | 4×2, 6×4 (usual), up to 8×6 |
| Maximum loaded weight | 92,000 lb (42,000 kg) on four axles |
| Base engine | Mack MP7, 10.8 L, 325–425 hp |
| Largest engine | Mack MP8, 12.8 L, 415–505 hp |
| Alternative engines | Cummins ISL9 in the Granite MHD, Cummins Westport L9N natural gas |
| Wheelbases | 149 to 304 in (380–770 cm) |
| Base transmission | Mack mDRIVE automated manual, 12, 13 or 14 speeds |
Based on one source, the English Wikipedia article on the Mack Granite.
History of the Mack Granite
Mack introduced the Granite in 2001 as a vocational truck for work that never leaves the county: construction sites, waste collection, mixer and dump duty. The layout is a long-hood conventional, with the engine ahead of a high-visibility cab, 117.5 inches from the bumper to the back of the cab. Most Granites are day-cab 6×4 trucks, but a 36-inch integral sleeper is offered and the axle packages run from a 4×2 to an 8×6, with driven front, tandem-steer, lift and extended trailing axles available. Total loaded weight can reach 92,000 lb on four axles.
From 2001 to 2005 the Granite used the Mack E7 AMI, an 11.9-litre turbocharged inline six of 300 to 370 hp. The Mack MP7 became the base engine when it arrived in December 2006: 10.8 litres, overhead cam, 325 to 425 hp and 1,260 to 1,560 lb-ft of torque. The MP8, in production since 2007, is the largest option at 12.8 litres and 415 to 505 hp. A lighter Granite MHD uses the 8.9-litre Cummins ISL9, and a Cummins Westport L9N natural-gas engine is also offered. Mack’s mDRIVE automated manual is the base transmission, with Mack manuals of 8 to 18 speeds, Eaton-Fuller UltraShift automated systems and Allison RDS automatics as alternatives.
The chassis is a ladder frame with beam axles. The front axle is normally undriven on semi-elliptical leaf springs, though driven and tandem-steer axles are available; the base rear suspension is the Mack Camelback tandem, a multiple-leaf design that rocks above the bogey pivot and curves down under the axles, rated at 38,000, 44,000, 52,000 or 65,000 lb. Mack powered axles carry the drive carrier on top of the housing so the driveshafts run high and stay clear of dirt and damage on site. In 2020 Mack added Command Steer, an on-demand electric power steering pump that damps kickback and compensates for side winds and uneven ground.
Design and features
- Long-hood vocational layout: a high-visibility cab behind a low-profile hood, built for site work rather than long-haul aerodynamics.
- Axle choice from 4×2 to 8×6: including driven front axles, tandem steer and lift axles.
- Mack driveline: Mack builds its own engines, transmissions, axles and suspensions, with vendor components available.
- Camelback tandem: the base rear suspension, strong in on/off-road service and rated up to 65,000 lb.
- Command Steer (2020): electric power steering assistance that eases low-speed work and steadies the truck on the road.
Mack Granite versions
- Granite (2001–2005): the original with the Mack E7 AMI engine.
- Granite with MP7 and MP8: the standard drivelines from 2006 and 2007.
- Granite MHD: a lighter model with the Cummins ISL9 for loads where weight matters more than power.
- Granite with Cummins Westport L9N: the natural-gas version.
- 2026 generation: the new Granite introduced in 2026.
The Granite took over the severe-duty work of the Mack R series and the Mack DM series, while the highway tractors of the same years are the Mack Pinnacle. More trucks are in the Mack collection.
Sources
- Mack Granite, English Wikipedia: design, engines, transmissions, chassis, axles, ratings
