Palletized Load System

Oshkosh Palletized Load System (PLS)
Oshkosh M1074A1 Palletized Load System (PLS) truck in B-kit configuration and with an Oshkosh Container Handling Unit (CHU)
Type	10×10 heavy tactical truck
Place of origin	United States
Service history
In service	1993–present
Used by	U.S. Army, Israel, Jordan and Turkey
Production history
Designer	Oshkosh Corporation
Designed	1989
Manufacturer	Oshkosh Corporation
Produced	1992–present
No. built	6288 PLA A0 and >2150 PLS A1 (A1 figure includes A0 Recap to A1 standard), plus > 15,000 PLS trailers
Variants	M1074A0, M1075A0, M1074A1, M1075A1
Specifications (M1075A1)
Weight	24,040 kg (unladen with flatrack); 39,009 kg (GVWR); 61,462 kg (GCWR)
Length	10.795 m
Width	2.517 m
Height	3.277 m (LHS hook)
Crew	2
Armor	a-kit/b-kit; U.S. Army Long Term Armor Strategy (LTAS) compliant
Engine	Caterpillar (CAT) C15, 15.2-liter, 6-cylinder inline water-cooled diesel 600 hp (450 kW)
Payload capacity	14,965 kg (16.5 tons) on flatrack
Transmission	Allison 4500SP 5-speed automatic with Oshkosh 36000 Series 2 speed transfer case
Suspension	Oshkosh TAK-4 fully independent coil on axles 1 and 2, Hendrickson RT-400 walking beam on axles 4 and 5, rear Hendrickson-Turner air ride suspension on mid-axle (3rd)
Speed	62 mph (100 km/h)
Steering system	Power-assisted on front tandem

The Palletized Load System (PLS) is a truck-based logistics system that entered service in the United States Army in 1993. It performs line haul (long distance), local haul (short distance), unit resupply, and other missions in the tactical environment to support modernized and highly mobile combat units. It provides rapid movement of combat configured loads of ammunition and all classes of supply, shelters and containers. It mirrors similar systems in use with the British (Demountable Rack Offload and Pickup System (DROPS)) and other armed forces.

In January 1989, the U.S. Army Tank Automotive Command (now TACOM Life Cycle Management Command) awarded prototype Palletized Load System (PLS) contracts to Oshkosh Truck Corporation, the PACCAR Government Group and General Motors, Military Vehicle Operations, with each contractor to deliver nine trucks, six trailers, and 30 flatracks for prototype hardware testing which began in September 1989. Oshkosh Truck Corporation was awarded a five-year contract for PLS in September 1990, with production commencing in 1992.)

The original contract award was for 2626 PLS trucks, 1050 M1076 PLS trailers, and 11,030 M1077 PLS flat racks. Under the initial PLS contract, between 1992-1997 Oshkosh delivered 2905 PLS trucks and 1534 PLS trailers. Around 50 per cent of the PLS trucks were fitted with a Grove material handling crane and were designated M1074. PLS without the crane are designated M1075.

Between 1997 and 2001, Oshkosh Truck Corporation delivered a further 595 PLS trucks and 800 PLS trailers, increasing fleet size to 3,500 trucks and 2,334 trailers.

In March 2001, Oshkosh Truck was awarded the Family of Heavy Tactical Vehicles (FHTV) contract. FHTV included provision for up to 740 PLS trucks and 1060 PLS trailers. The FHTV contract was extended twice, following which FHTV2 was awarded to Oshkosh Truck. In October 2008 FHTV 3 was awarded to Oshkosh Defense. In addition to PLS and PLS trailers, FHTV covers deliveries of Oshkosh Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT) and Heavy Equipment Transporter (HET). As part of the FHTV 3 contract, Oshkosh commenced deliveries of PLS in A1 configuration.