PORTLAND, Ore. — Freightliner Trucks Wednesday marked the delivery of the 50,000th new Cascadia since its start of production in January 2017.
Fuel-efficient components such as the integrated Detroit powertrain, driver experience improvements inside and out, together with the proprietary Detroit Assurance suite of safety systems and powerful vehicle performance telematics from Detroit Connect have helped propel customer acceptance of the new Cascadia, according to Richard Howard, senior vice president of sales and marketing.
He said demand for the new Cascadia, coupled with strong market conditions, have contributed to Daimler Trucks North America’s (DTNA) ongoing market leadership position.
“Our goal was to develop a truck with our customers in mind and provide them with the very best in fuel efficiency, safety and driver-focused features,” Howard said. “We want to sincerely thank all of our customers for the continued trust and partnership, and we could have never reached this significant milestone without them.”
By combining the global engineering expertise of parent company Daimler AG, hundreds of hours of testing in DTNA’s state-of-the-art research and development facilities and millions of miles of on-highway testing, Freightliner designed the new Cascadia, its most technologically advanced and aerodynamic truck, Howard said.
Claremont, North Carolina-based Cargo Transporters recently added 128 new Cascadia trucks to its fleet.
This week, North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper visited DTNA’s truck manufacturing plant in Cleveland, North Carolina, to discuss local employment, DTNA’s footprint in the state and Cargo Transporters’ new Cascadia trucks with executives from both companies.
More than 6,500 people work at DTNA facilities in North Carolina, and Cargo Transporters employs more than 700 in the state.
“For more than 40 years, we’ve had the privilege of purchasing trucks from Freightliner. Knowing that we are getting a superior product and at the same time employing hardworking North Carolinians is very important to us,” said John R. Pope, chairman, Cargo Transporters. “We have a true partnership with Freightliner Trucks and know we can call upon one another when needed.”
The Cargo Transporters team worked closely with the North Carolina-based West Carolina Freightliner dealership to spec the right solution for its interstate and intrastate truckload and drive van delivery business, Pope said.
Cargo Transporters currently operates more than 550 Freightliner trucks produced by the Cleveland Truck Manufacturing Plant.
“The collaborative process with West Carolina Freightliner together with its proven performance made adding new Cascadias to our fleet an easy decision,” said Dennis Dillinger, Cargo Transporters president. “Our drivers like how the truck is loaded with interior and technological updates that make their time on the road and off more comfortable, and we appreciate the performance and productivity advantages we’ve already seen with the new Cascadia.”
For more information, go to www.freightliner.com.
PHOTO INFORMATION
Freightliner Trucks District Manager Kirk Gavaghan, left, hands over the keys to the first new Cascadia to Catawba Rental Co. President Danny Abernathy, center, and president of Cargo Transporters Dennis Dellinger at their headquarters in Claremont, North Carolina. Catawba Rental Company and Cargo Transporters are sister companies. (Courtesy: DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA)
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