Overview

Overview
This new 2025 Peterbilt Model 548 medium-duty refuse truck is built for refuse, scrap and recycling work in on-highway refuse service. The chassis is specced for a rear loader/dump body and carries a New Way 25-yard Cobra Magnum rear loader, a complete mount painted white. It has a 62,000-lb GVWR and GCW and is finished in white with a black frame. The Aero 107" BBC SMC hood has a bright-finish crown and sits over an aluminum cab. The powertrain is optimized for performance in vocational applications, with a typical operating speed of 65 mph.

Engine & Drivetrain
Power comes from a PACCAR PX-9 (2024 emissions) rated at 350 HP at 2,000 RPM, governed at 2,200 RPM, with 1,050 lb-ft of torque at 1,200 RPM. Supporting equipment includes the EMUX electronics architecture, a VGT exhaust brake and a Horton on/off fan clutch. The engine also has a high-efficiency cooling system, an 18.7 CFM air compressor and one engine-mounted air cleaner with an air restriction indicator. Fuel filtration uses a PACCAR fuel/water separator with 12V fuel filter heat. The engine has an engine protection shutdown and an immersion-type 110–120V block heater. A 12-pin remote PTO/throttle provision is fitted in the engine bay. The engine meets CARB and EPA idling compliance, and the maximum PTO speed is set at 1,400.

Exhaust runs through a single right-hand DPF/SCR module under the cab, venting through a 36" tall, 5" diameter chrome standpipe with clear coat and a curved tip. The transmission is an Allison 3000 RDS-P Gen 6 Rugged Duty Series automatic in a 6-speed close-ratio configuration, with a TC-421 torque converter and RDS Package 180. It uses a dash-mounted push-button shifter, auto neutral with the parking brake, and neutral at stop. Other transmission features include an output function neutral indicator for PTO, left-hand transmission PTO provisions and a transmission oil temperature readout. The driveline is a 1710 HD with two midship bearings. Electrical equipment includes a PACCAR 160-amp brushed alternator, a PACCAR 12V starter and three PACCAR Premium 12V dual-purpose batteries rated at 2,190 CCA. It also has a low voltage disconnect system, a battery disconnect switch on the battery box and a battery jumper terminal.

Chassis & Axles
The chassis uses 10-5/8" steel frame rails with a 5/16" rail thickness and a full steel inner liner. The rails are zinc-coated and anti-corrosion treated. Other frame features include an HD 5-piece crossmember at the back of cab, aluminum frame rail crossmembers and a square end of frame for a body-builder-installed crossmember. The wheelbase is 230", with a 162.5" cab-to-axle and 220.5" cab-to-end-of-frame. Up front is a PACCAR FX-20 steer axle rated at 20,000 lbs with a 4" drop and wide track. Steering is Sheppard HD94 dual-gear power steering with a frame-mounted reservoir and cooler. The rear axle is a Meritor RT46-160 rated at 46,000 lbs with a 5.63 ratio and a rear-rear diff lock with speed interlock.

Brakes are Bendix air cam drums, 16.5x7 in front and 16.5x8.6 in the rear, with refuse service brakes on the steer and drive axles. Brake hardware includes gusseted cam brackets, heavy-duty steer axle cam bushings and rear brake camshaft reinforcement. The truck also has an SBM valve and a 4S4M ABS system, and every axle uses synthetic lubricant. Both ends ride on PHP10 iron Preset+ hubs. The air system has a Bendix AD-HF air dryer with heater and coalescing filter. The polished and painted aluminum air tanks have pull cords and sit outside the frame rails. All air system components are cleared outside the frame on both sides behind the cab. The rated axle weights are 20,000 lbs front and 23,000 lbs on each rear axle.

Suspension
The front suspension uses 20,000-lb taper leaf springs with shocks and 80 mm spacer blocks. The rear is a Hendrickson HMX EX 460 HAULMAAX rated at 46,000 lbs with a 54" axle spacing, a 70K creep rating and HD shock absorbers. The cab rides on air suspension.

Cab & Interior
The day cab has a ProBilt charcoal gray interior with a curved roof and a thermal insulation package. The driver gets a Sears high-back, air-ride vinyl seat with a right-hand armrest. The passenger side has a Sears two-person non-air low-back vinyl seat with a toolbox underneath. The seats are black with orange seat belts. Driver controls include a tilt/telescoping steering column and a multi-function steering wheel with audio and cruise controls. The main instrument panel is a 7" digital cluster. It shows engine hours, PTO hours, turbo boost, percent torque and transmission oil temperature, along with a dual-scale speedometer. The dash has room for up to four additional switches, plus one additional wired switch.

Comfort and convenience features include a combination fresh air heater/AC, power door locks and windows, and dark window tint. Entertainment is a ConcertClass AM/FM/WB radio with a 3.5 aux input, a USB port, Bluetooth phone and audio, and two speakers. The cab is prewired for a CB with dual mirror-mounted antenna mounts. Global telematics hardware is installed, with a 5-year SmartLINQ RD subscription for the PACCAR PX engine.

Outside, the cab has a one-piece curved windshield, a fixed one-piece rear window and a stainless steel outside sunvisor. The bright-finish Aero mirrors are motorized and heated with integrated convex mirrors, and a look-down mirror sits over the passenger door. Other exterior features include twin 26" roof-mounted round air horns, a textured NFPA-compliant exterior grab handle and metal door kick plates. The front bumper is a 3-piece steel Aero bumper in a bright finish with 4" extra-wide fender lips. Lighting includes composite fender-mounted headlights, bumper-mounted daytime running lights, five chrome Aero LED marker lights and LED stop/turn/tail/backup lights. Safety equipment includes a 107 dB backup alarm, a fire extinguisher and a triangle reflector kit.

Body & Equipment
The body is a New Way 25-yard Cobra Magnum rear loader, a complete mount painted white. It runs off a hot shift PTO with overspeed protection and pack-on-the-go, and uses a 12K reeving cylinder. The body is built from upgraded steel throughout. The hopper floor is 1/2" 50K steel with a 100K back liner, and the eject panel face is 7GA 80K steel. The rear body side panels are also 7GA 80K steel, and the body floor is 1/4" 80K steel. Additional protection includes guards over the roof hoses and a tailgate seal extension.

Safety equipment includes a safety shutdown with a driver alert buzzer and E-stops on both sides of the tailgate, plus a color flat-screen rear vision camera. Lighting includes LED mid-body backup lights and LED work lights inside and outside the tailgate. Integrated LED amber strobes are fitted on the upper and lower tailgate and on the front of the body. Two Perkins Rotary D6620 cart tippers are included. Other equipment includes a street-side shovel/broom rack on the tailgate, a curbside cup holder and an access ladder with grab handles. There is also an 18"x18"x24" aluminum toolbox, a 20-lb fire extinguisher, and rubber mud flaps at the front and rear of the tandems.

Tires & Wheels
The front tires are Goodyear G289 WHA 315/80R22.5 20-ply on Alcoa 89U647 22.5x9.00 high-polish aluminum wheels. The rear runs eight Apollo EnduComfort RDCS 11R22.5 16-ply tires on Alcoa ULA187 22.5x8.25 high-polish aluminum wheels.

Fuel & Tanks
Fuel is carried in a 70-gallon D-shaped polished aluminum tank under the cab on the left side, with a polished non-slip step and polished straps. A small DEF tank is mounted on the left side behind the cab under a polished stainless steel cover. There is an aluminum non-slip cab entry step over the aftertreatment on the right side. The aluminum space-saver battery box sits on the right side behind the cab, with side access to the batteries.

Warranty & Protection
This truck includes Peterbilt Class 7 Standard Coverage for 1 year with unlimited miles. The PACCAR PX-9 carries PACCAR standard coverage for 2 years, 250,000 miles (402,336 km) or 6,250 hours. Base emissions coverage (CARB operation) on the PX-9 runs 5 years or 150,000 miles.