The #Hiway Hauler 3.0 has arrived! The modern take on the classic Hot Wheels hauler makes it’s debut in the latest wave of Hot Wheels iD, as part of the HW Metro series. It is one of several #First Edition castings to make their debut in the #Hot Wheels iD line.
Hot Wheels Hiway Hauler 3.0 from the 2019 Hot Wheels iD / HW Metro series (side view)
To be the third version of something likely means that two others came before you. In this case, the #Hiway Hauler 3.0 is actually the 4th “Hiway Hauler” as the 1980 & 1992 #Hiway Hauler castings never had a naming distinction. After those, in 2012, the #Hiway Hauler 2 was born. This 3.0 version of the Hiway Hauler is not as tall as the other Hiway Hauler castings, but definitely looks the part with its cab-forward design. Per its designer, Phil Riehlman, the HH3 was designed to not only look sleek, but also to perform on the track sets and with the uber-powerful #Hot Wheels iD booster.
Hot Wheels Hiway Hauler 3.0 from the 2019 Hot Wheels iD / HW Metro series with the Hiway Hauler 1 and 2
Modern-day basic-level versions of the Hiway Hauler are known for their lack of diecast as traditionally, only the cab is metal. The cargo box and the base have been plastic on the HH1 and HH2. The same holds true for the #Hiway Hauler 3.0, however, Phil made sure to structure it with a diecast metal frame that sits below the plastic cargo box and encompasses the plastic base. The translucent plastic base also allows you to see an additional diecast support beam that bridges the diecast sides, for increased track performance due to the low center of gravity. This is a far cry from the triple-axle, poor performing HH1…
Hot Wheels Hiway Hauler 3.0 from the 2019 Hot Wheels iD / HW Metro series (head-to-head) with the Hiway Hauler 1
…or even the dual-axle, HH2 which sits very high. The Hiway Haulers have never been about performance until now as traditionally, the castings have served for more of a marketing purpose as the casting acts as a billboard for any and all of the Hot Wheels partnerships throughout the years.
As I mentioned earlier, the #Hiway Hauler 2 came out in 2012. With its handful of releases — oddly enough — none of them have been promotional. With that said, it felt a little “too soon” for a HH3, but with the focus of #Hot Wheels iD being track performance, having a casting that can serve as a billboard AND perform on track seems like a definite upgrade for the brand.
Hot Wheels Hiway Hauler 3.0 from the 2019 Hot Wheels iD / HW Metro series (head-to-head) with the Hiway Hauler 2
As with any of the past Hiway Haulers, the first thing you notice are those billboard side panels. This #Hot Wheels iD release of the #Hiway Hauler 3.0 features the Hot Wheels Legends Tour logo, in addition to a gold Bone Shaker. The fact that this #First Edition release of the HH3 features the #Bone Shaker, and that the first release of the HH2 features another classic in the #Rodger Dodger, seems like a trivia question in the making. I have no idea if the graphic designer, Ralph Benitez intended to promote the lineage with the HH3, but it’s a cool fact none-the-less.
Below you’ll see that the #Hiway Hauler 3.0 does, in fact, fit on the orange track and looks quite good on it — might I add! The base does have the #Hot Wheels iD chip in it like all the other iD releases, and you can just barely see the support bar running through the “d” in iD. In the Hot Wheels iD app/game, the view from behind the HH3 is a tad more limited than the other vehicles, but then again, you have to remember you are racing a cargo truck.
So how does the #Hiway Hauler 3.0 stack up against the other three iterations of the Hiway Hauler? I’ll let you guys decide in the comments below. For me, I have always loved the Hiway Haulers, and to now have one that is track-worthy — even though I don’t really race my cars — is a huge bonus. If anything, that yellow “Legends Tour” cargo box looks wicked awesome on top of the spectraflame black body; and this is one must-have #Hot Wheels iD release. Fortunately, if you haven’t added this to your collection yet, you can find it now at Target, or have it shipped to your door from Amazon.
Hot Wheels Hiway Hauler 3.0 from the 2019 Hot Wheels iD / HW Metro series
Categories: Showcase
ORANGE TRACK DIECAST 
I purchased one of these, three of the five id Race Team series recently, and loving these! The posh re-usable packaging, a unique identity for each one, another Race Team series to collect- may even buy the track components just to play with them
It is a cool truck for sure! Glad I picked one up.
I’m going to grab one for sure! I’m a Hiway Hauler fan…loving everything about this one!