Big Rigs · Nationwide · October 24, 2026

2027 Peterbilts and Kenworths Get Touchscreen Dash and Voice Commands

Drivers who climb into a new Peterbilt or Kenworth Class 8 truck in 2027 will find a very different dash. Paccar is rolling out Paccar Connect, a touchscreen driver display, starting in early 2027, according to CCJ and Overdrive.

Screens instead of switches

In Peterbilt trucks, the 13-inch driver display is vertically oriented and built into the dash, "replacing a host of physical controls," CCJ reports. Kenworth trucks get a horizontal screen.

According to CCJ, the screen gives touch access to:

• Heating, air conditioning and audio controls
• Apple CarPlay
• The truck's exterior cameras
• Paccar's own apps, plus some Platform Science apps

The bottom third of the screen holds the climate and audio controls. A "knob on glass" dial, pressed in the center, cycles between fan, temperature and volume, CCJ says.

Hey Peterbilt

Drivers who want to keep their hands on the wheel can use the "Hey Peterbilt" voice assistant, which CCJ says works in English, French and Spanish and understands more than 250 unique commands. Overdrive reports Kenworth drivers get a "Hey Kenworth" version.

The built-in apps

CCJ says the screen offers four native apps, including:

• Vehicle Health, with diagnostic and maintenance information to help a driver decide whether an alert needs a service center.
• Digital Operator's Manual, with keyword search.
• Dealer Locator, which searches for dealers along a route or by distance and shows hours and phone numbers.

The system also links to cameras, with four digital and four analog inputs. For example, a side camera can pop up when the turn signal goes on, and fifth wheel and backup cameras can be added, according to CCJ.

CCJ got a hands-on demonstration at a Peterbilt press event in Sonoma, California. It reports the top two-thirds of the screen shows alerts, phone calls and music information, and changes with the app in use.

Progress or one more thing to break?

For drivers who grew up flipping toggle switches and turning real knobs, a dash run mostly through a screen is a big change.

A question for readers

The new Peterbilt dash trades a row of knobs and switches for a 13-inch screen.

Is that progress, or one more thing to break?

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