Mack Trucks has expanded its proprietary Mack Protect active safety platform to its medium-duty lineup, introducing the collision mitigation system on the Mack MD Series for the first time.
The company unveiled the technology during Work Truck Week 2026, held March 10–13 at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis.
Originally introduced on the heavy-duty Pioneer, Mack Protect integrates radar, camera systems, and Mack-developed detection algorithms to help drivers avoid or reduce the severity of collisions. The system expands detection capabilities with forward- and side-looking pedestrian recognition designed for complex urban and regional driving environments.
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The new system reflects the growing adoption of advanced driver-assistance systems in commercial trucks, which fleets increasingly rely on to improve driver awareness and help prevent crashes.
According to Mack executives, bringing Mack Protect to the MD Series extends heavy-duty-grade safety technology to medium-duty fleets that frequently operate in dense urban traffic and regional delivery environments.
“By bringing Mack Protect to our Mack MD Series, we’re delivering heavy-duty-grade active safety to customers that operate in dense urban and regional environments,” said Jonathan Randall, president of Mack Trucks North America. “Situational awareness, the detection of pedestrians and Automatic Emergency Braking help our customers more safely navigate when operating in dense urban and regional environments.”
Integrated Driver Assistance and Collision Mitigation
The Mack Protect platform combines multiple active safety technologies designed to monitor the road environment and alert drivers to potential hazards.
Forward Collision Warning (FCW) uses Mack-developed radar and cameras to identify vehicles, motorcycles, cyclists, and pedestrians ahead of the truck. When a potential collision risk is detected, the system provides escalating visual and audible alerts.
Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) automatically adjusts the truck’s speed to maintain a safe following distance when slower vehicles are detected in the same lane. The system can reduce cruise speed, activate the engine brake, downshift the transmission, and apply service brakes as needed to maintain the selected time gap.
If a driver does not respond to an FCW alert, Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) can automatically apply the service brakes to help avoid or reduce the severity of an impact. The system also activates brake lamps and hazard lights when necessary.
Lane and Speed Monitoring Systems Enhance Awareness
Mack Protect also incorporates systems designed to improve lane awareness and speed compliance.
Lane Departure Warning (LDW) uses a forward-facing camera to monitor lane markings and alerts the driver if the truck unintentionally drifts out of its lane. Audible alerts are played through the left or right speaker depending on which lane boundary is crossed.
The system also includes speed limit sign recognition with overspeed alerts. A forward-looking camera detects U.S. and Canadian speed limit signs and displays them on the truck’s CoPilot display.
Drivers receive escalating alerts when exceeding posted limits by five miles per hour and again at ten miles per hour, supporting broader fleet efforts around speed management and driver safety.
Blind-Spot Detection Designed for Urban Environments
To address visibility challenges common in city driving, Mack Protect incorporates right-side lane change and blind spot support.
Dual side-facing sensors monitor the passenger side of the truck and detect nearby vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians. The system provides visual and audible alerts to help mitigate right-side blind-spot incidents during lane changes — a common risk in urban freight operations.
“These safety features reflect our commitment to providing customers with technology that supports their drivers while protecting others on the road,” said Alex Lee, Mack senior product manager for vocational and medium-duty trucks. “Mack Protect brings premium collision mitigation capability to medium-duty customers who expect heavy-duty Mack-level quality, durability and uptime.”
For fleets operating in city environments, technologies such as pedestrian detection, AEB, and blind-spot monitoring are becoming increasingly important as regulators and safety advocates place greater emphasis on urban truck safety and vulnerable road users.
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