1998–2020 for export markets
76-595: The Freightliner Century Class is a Class 8 truck that was produced by Freightliner from 1996 to 2010. The inaugural model of the C-Series family of Freightliner conventional-hood trucks, the Century Class replaced the FLD conventional (which dated to 1987). The model line is an aerodynamic-style sloped-hood conventional, fitted with either a day cab or rear sleeper cab . The Century Class remained in production in
152-543: A glider truck through 2020. Freightliner Trucks Freightliner Trucks is an American semi truck manufacturer. Founded in 1929 as the truck-manufacturing division of Consolidated Freightways (from which it derives its name), the company was established in 1942 as Freightliner Corporation . Owned by Daimler AG from 1981 to 2021, Freightliner is now a part of Daimler Truck subsidiary Daimler Truck North America (along with Western Star , Detroit Diesel , and Thomas Built Buses ). Freightliner produces
228-593: A cab with an overhead-mounted sleeper (further shortening the cab). The first-generation "shovelnose" cab was retired for 1954 in favor of the taller, flatter "WFT" design; as an option, a "Mountaineer" 4x4 system was offered. For 1958, the cab design was updated to tilt forward 90 degrees, increasing access to the engine. To reduce import tariffs imposed by Canada (later removed by Auto Pact ), Freightliner opened its first Canadian manufacturing facility in 1961, in Burnaby, British Columbia . To increase production in
304-769: A closure of the St. Thomas plant. Following the closure of Sterling, the Freightliner model line underwent a transition. While the M2 remained unchanged, the FLD 120/132 Classic/Classic XL were discontinued for 2010; after the model year, the Columbia and Century Class were also discontinued (in North America). In line with the Argosy, production of the Century Class shifted entirely to export. The Coronado long-hood conventional
380-623: A larger, freer-flowing grille, the facelifted Century Class S/T saw no aerodynamic penalties from the update to its overall profile. For 2010, the Century Class was retired in North America, replaced by the Freightliner Cascadia (introduced for 2008). The model remained in production for export sales through 2020. For 2002 production, the Freightliner Columbia became a second aerodynamic conventional for
456-457: A limited basis, ending in 2020. Through its entire production, Freightliner assembled the Argosy in Cleveland, North Carolina . This facility produced vehicles for both North America and for export, as well as glider vehicles. In Australia and New Zealand, Freightliner replaced the Argosy with its Freightliner Cascadia conventional (bonneted) truck. The Argosy made its debut in 1998 as
532-430: A new Medium Conventional series (FLC112), using the passenger portion of the cabin from the then recently introduced Mercedes-Benz LK. Mercedes cabins gradually became used for a number of Freightliner trucks. In 1989, Freightliner acquired a standing plant in Cleveland, North Carolina , near Statesville, that had been producing transit buses for German manufacturer MAN . In 1991, parent company Daimler-Benz withdrew from
608-761: A range of vans, medium-duty trucks, and heavy-duty trucks; under its Freightliner Custom Chassis subsidiary, the company produces bare chassis and cutaway chassis for multiple types of vehicles. The company popularized the use of cabover (COE) semitractors, with the Freightliner Argosy later becoming the final example of the type sold in North America. The company is headquartered in Portland, Oregon (the city of its founding); vehicles are currently manufactured in Cleveland, North Carolina , and Mount Holly , North Carolina, and Santiago Tianguistenco and Saltillo , Mexico. As of December 2020, Freightliner
684-401: A second party to finish its body), a glider vehicle is constructed as a vehicle designed to be completed with customer-supplied major components (typically, engine, transmission, and axles supplied from a previous compatible vehicle ). While a means to continue the use of serviceable powertrains, the method is criticized as a loophole to circumvent emissions regulations. As a glider truck,
760-708: A shorter vehicle length (allowing it to tow a trailer as long as 58 feet in the United States ). While sales of COEs had declined to a 3% market share of the Class 8 truck segment for 1998, Freightliner had predicted that its new design would lead to a revival of the configuration. Entering mass production in 1999, the Freightliner Argosy replaced both the FLB and FLA Class 8 COEs, becoming the third generation of tilting Freightliner cabovers. Adopting virtually
836-487: A third model for the C-Series family. Serving as a 21st-century version of the FLD 132 (Classic XL), the Coronado shared its cab structure with the Century Class and Columbia, but was fitted with an extended-length hood with a large rectangular chrome grille, external air intakes, and chrome-trimmed headlamps. Two versions of the Coronado were produced. In 2010, the model was restyled with trapezoidal headlamp bezels; this
SECTION 10
#1732791170819912-610: A traditional, unionized carrier that flourished in the era before deregulation, realized it was in a fight for its life. In May 1981, it sold its truck manufacturing business and the Freightliner brand to Daimler-Benz , allowing it to concentrate its management attention and financial resources on its traditional trucking business. Around this time, the Chino and Indianapolis plants were closed permanently. Consolidated Freightways continued carrier business until 2002, when it ceased operation on Labor Day weekend. In 1985 Freightliner introduced
988-484: A trucking company, Freightliner sought to establish a distribution network for its product line, allowing for higher production volumes and reduced costs. In 1951, Freightliner entered into an agreement with White Motor Company of Cleveland, Ohio. One of the largest truck manufacturers in the United States at the time, White sold Freightliner COEs under the "White Freightliner" co-branding (all vehicles produced for CF were Freightliners). In 1953, Freightliner introduced
1064-537: Is a model line of cabover trucks that was produced by the American truck manufacturer Freightliner from the 1999 to 2020 model years. Developed as the replacement for the FLB cabover, the Argosy was a Class 8 truck, configured primarily for highway use. Competing against the International 9800 , Kenworth K100E, and Peterbilt 362, the Argosy was the final Class 8 cabover marketed in North America, following
1140-401: Is no longer affiliated with Freightliner. 1996 – American LaFrance was purchased; a 130-year-old manufacturer of fire apparatus, it was Mr. Hebe's first employer. American LaFrance had fallen on hard times and was moribund at the time of the acquisition. At the end of the year, Freightliner acquired the rights of the heavy-truck product lines of Ford Motor Company . 1997 – As a result of
1216-580: Is under a court order to improve safety, and was fined $ 30 million by the NHTSA after an investigation found that Freightliner had failed to recall dozens of known safety defects in its vehicles. In 2019 alone, Freightliner was forced to issue safety recalls 24 separate times by the NHTSA, and there have been over 100 recalls total on its flagship truck, the Cascadia. The judge found that Freightliner had no system in place to track faults, and ordered $ 5 million of
1292-486: The Mercedes-Benz Actros COE (also sold by Freightliner corporate parent Daimler AG) is within the same market segment as the Argosy, but weighs significantly more than a similarly-configured Argosy. From 2007 onward, Freightliner continued to market the Argosy in North America. Instead of mass producing the vehicle, it was offered as a glider vehicle . In contrast to an incomplete vehicle (sold to
1368-551: The Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1982 relaxed weight and length standards and imposed a new excise tax on heavy trucks and the tires they use. No longer was the overall length of semitrailer combinations restricted; rather, only the trailer was specified, to be not greater than 53 ft in length. Individual states retained more restrictive overall length laws, but fundamentally, the rules had changed forever. Consolidated Freightways,
1444-533: The eCascadia , an all-electric semi-truck by Freightliner, was handed to customers for field tests in 2019, then officially premiered in May 2022. An all-electric variant of the M2 box truck has undergone field tests. In 2022, Freightliner revealed an update for the M2 Business Class series. Models of Freightliner trucks over the decades have included: Freightliner Argosy The Freightliner Argosy
1520-497: The 1980s, Daimler instituted several major changes within the company. After only entering production of conventional-cab trucks in 1974, the company began to expand production of its Class 8 line; truck-length deregulation would lead to the near-disappearance of COE trucks in North America by the end of the 20th century. In 1985, Freightliner introduced the Business Class truck range. The first vocational truck produced by
1596-468: The Argosy remained available in North America alongside the Columbia, Coronado, Cascadia, and M2. Following its redesign for 2012, the Argosy continued as a glider truck in North America, adopting the second-generation design. In 2020, Freightliner ended production of glider vehicles entirely, leading to the closure of the model line. As part of its development, the Argosy was intended to comply with European crashworthiness standards, becoming one of
SECTION 20
#17327911708191672-542: The Argosy was powered by either a Cummins ISX or a Detroit Diesel DD15 (the latter, replacing the long-running Series 60). At its launch, 18-speed transmissions were standard, in either manual or automated manual form. In 2020, export of the Argosy to Australia and New Zealand came to a close, ending mass production of the model line in North Carolina; from 1999 to 2020, over 7,500 examples were exported to Australia. The same year, assembly of glider vehicles
1748-638: The Argosy were assembled in Cleveland, North Carolina . Initially produced for export in CKD kits , Freightliner shifted towards export of completely assembled vehicles in the early 2000s. Along with their right-hand drive configuration, export versions of the Argosy offer several configurations not offered in North America, including twin-steer front axles (largely used on Western Star severe-service trucks), grille/bumper guards , and axle layouts configured for road trains (multiple trailer configurations are comparatively rare in North America). In 2014, sales of
1824-540: The C-Series family. Sharing its cab structure with the Century Class, the Columbia was distinguished by its teardrop-shaped headlamps (styled like the Freightliner M2 ) and smaller grille. In contrast to the Century Class, the Columbia was developed primarily for fleet applications, alongside usage by owner-operator customers. For 2002 production, the Freightliner Coronado was introduced as
1900-455: The Cascadia (the successor of the Century Class and Columbia), including its drivers' compartment; in a loose preview of the 2018 Cascadia, the Argosy was designed with a trapezoidal grille opening and single-piece door glass (deleting the vent windows ). To allow for a larger radiator, the cab was raised slightly; consequently, the previous three-inch floor intrusion was eliminated entirely. In line with its conventional-style counterpart,
1976-551: The Cascadia, nearly 20% of trucks produced by the plant (including the Argosy and Century Class) were exported to South Africa , Australia and New Zealand . In 2013, Freightliner expanded its alternative-fuel lineup, adding a natural-gas version of the Cascadia. Introduced as a premium option for the Cascadia, the Cascadia Evolution further enhanced aerodynamics and fuel economy (distinguished by its full rear wheel covers) and improved interior features. The Coronado
2052-403: The Century Class; a 1-piece windshield (with 3 windshield wipers) was offered as an option. Carrying over a distinguishing exterior feature from the concept vehicle, the production Argosy offered electrically-powered pivoting entrance steps. Offered on sleeper cabs (alongside a fuel tank fairing), the feature was standard on the driver side and optional on the passenger side. Coinciding with
2128-536: The Charlotte metropolitan area. Volumes continued to increase. The year 1979 marked a consequential event in the evolution of Freightliner, and of the whole trucking and truck manufacturing industries. President Carter signed bills into law deregulating transport both on the ground and in the skies. Deregulation changed the economics of trucking and removed the system of regulated carriage that protected carriers, instead allowing more competition. Three years later,
2204-413: The Columbia conventional. While sharing the same cab structure, the Columbia is developed primarily for fleet applications (though both model lines become popular with owner-operators). The 1990s were a busy era for truck manufacturers in general, and for Freightliner in particular, under the leadership of flamboyant James L. Hebe, a former Kenworth sales executive who joined the company in 1989. During
2280-536: The Daimler acquisition, the Argosy largely eliminated the engine intrusion into the cab, sharing many body components and electronics with the Century Class conventional. In 1997, Freightliner acquired the truck-producing division of the Ford Motor Company and rebranded it as Sterling. In 1999, Freightliner built its one-millionth vehicle. The Century Class conventional model family was expanded, adding
2356-729: The Ford heavy-truck acquisition, Freightliner created Sterling Trucks (using a long-dormant nameplate once owned by White Motor Company). Intended primarily as vocational trucks, the Sterling product line consisted of rebranded versions of the Ford Louisville/AeroMax and Ford Cargo . 1998 – Freightliner acquires bus manufacturer Thomas Built Buses , based in High Point, North Carolina . Sterling-brand trucks entered production in St. Thomas, Ontario (sold concurrently with
Freightliner Century Class - Misplaced Pages Continue
2432-707: The Freightliner Argosy Safety Concept Vehicle. Derived from the Freightliner Century Class conventional, the concept cabover truck shared major production components, including its doors, windshield, headlamps, and grille. Along with visual commonality, the Safety Concept Vehicle adopted telematics from the Century Class, facilitating electronic braking, messaging capability, daytime running lights, and traction control. In contrast to
2508-576: The Inspiration was loosely based on a Cascadia. A Level 3 autonomous vehicle , the autonomous driving system was equated to the autopilot system of an airliner or a Tesla (requiring operator presence). For 2017 production, Freightliner introduced a second-generation Cascadia, adopting elements of the design from the Inspiration autonomous vehicle. For 2018, Freightliner debuted the EconicSD low-entry COE. Intended largely for refuse applications,
2584-542: The M2 was designed entirely by Freightliner. The Century Class model family was expanded further, debuting the Freightliner Coronado premium conventional. Styled similar to the FLD132 Classic XL, the Coronado shared its cab structure and technology with the Century Class and Columbia, marketed towards owner-operators. In a further expansion of the vocational model line, the Freightliner Condor
2660-520: The Revolution concept vehicle. Constructed of carbon fiber and plastic, the cab featured a redesigned layout. Intended for use by a single driver, the passenger seat was replaced by a jumpseat (converting into a sleeper bed); to optimize trailer hookups, the design included a rear access door. As a result of increased demand for the Cascadia, parent company DTNA announced plans in 2012 to expand its workforce at its Cleveland, NC, facility. Alongside
2736-624: The US market in those days, owing to overall length regulations that limited the bumper-to-taillight dimension of a semitrailer unit to 55 ft on interstate highways. Conventionals were popular on western roads due to more convenient ingress/egress, better ride, and easier access to the engine for servicing. In 1979, a new plant in Mount Holly, North Carolina , and a parts manufacturing plant in Gastonia, North Carolina , were constructed, both in
2812-664: The United States until 2010 as the Freightliner Cascadia replaced it as the second generation of the C-Series family. The Century Class remained in production for export markets through 2020, when it was replaced by the Columbia CL112 and the Cascadia (which also replaced the Freightliner Argosy COE). In 1981, Freightliner changed ownership, changing hands from trucking company Consolidated Freightways (its founder) to Daimler AG . During
2888-480: The United States, assembly plants were opened in Chino, California, and Indianapolis, Indiana. In 1969, a second facility was opened in Portland for parts production. White Motor Company became troubled in the 1970s. Expansion into appliances and agricultural equipment consumed capital without producing a return, and the relationship with Consolidated Freightways became frayed. In 1974, the distribution agreement
2964-503: The United States, the new generation was developed primarily for sales in export markets (in Australia, the Argosy was the best-selling Freightliner vehicle line ). Distinguished by the introduction of a larger grille, the update brought extensive design upgrades, centered around aerodynamic and cooling improvements. While sharing its underlying cab structure with the first generation, the 2012 Argosy adopted design commonality with
3040-519: The attempt to integrate production of specialized emergency vehicles into a company noted for high volume production capabilities proved unworkable. While remaining the fifth-largest manufacturer in the emergency vehicle segment, American LaFrance was sold in 2005 to private equity fund, with DaimlerChrysler retaining ownership of the Ladson factory. For 2006, the Sprinter van underwent a redesign (for
3116-601: The brand, the FLC 112 mated a Mercedes-Benz LKN (low-cab COE) cab with an all-new conventional chassis. In 1991, the Business Class was expanded, adding the medium-duty FL-Series (replacing the long-running Mercedes-Benz L-Series trucks in North America), again mating a Mercedes-Benz cab with a Freightliner-hood chassis. Though the main FLD120 was an aerodynamic conventional, its fundamental structure dated back to 1977. In
Freightliner Century Class - Misplaced Pages Continue
3192-495: The bunks. For 2005 production, the Century Class S/T underwent a facelift for the first time. To accommodate the air intake requirements of upgraded emissions standards, the intake area of the grille was increased significantly in size (extending into the bumper). To increase visibility (and simplify replacement), all headlamp, driving, and foglamp bulbs were replaced by replaceable composite bulbs. Though fitted with
3268-523: The company introduced the Freightliner Century Class , its first completely new Class 8 conventional in over 20 years. A year later, the company began production of cowled bus chassis, with the FS-65 derived from the medium-duty Business Class. For 1999 production, the Freightliner Argosy debuted; directly replacing the FLB, the Argosy consolidated four previous Freightliner COEs into a single model range. The first clean-sheet COE design from Freightliner since
3344-556: The company restored profitability when the market rebounded. Significantly, production also commenced in Santiago Tianguistenco, Mexico , about 30 miles (48 km) outside Mexico City, in a plant owned by Daimler-Benz. At that time, the plant was also producing buses, Brazilian-designed medium-duty trucks, and compact Mercedes-Benz passenger cars. Following the introduction of the medium-duty Business Class, Freightliner saw further evolution to its model range. For 1996,
3420-517: The decade, Freightliner made numerous acquisitions to further diversify itself: 1995 – Oshkosh Custom Chassis in Gaffney, South Carolina , became Freightliner Custom Chassis, producing the underpinnings for walk-in vans used by companies such as UPS to deliver parcels and Cintas for uniform laundry services; diesel recreational vehicles; conventional school buses ; and shuttle buses. The Oshkosh and Freightliner partnership has dissolved, and Oshkosh
3496-403: The decline in use of the design in the United States and Canada. After the 2006 model year, Freightliner shifted mass production of the model line entirely to export, ending sales of Class 8 COEs in North America. Sold nearly exclusively to South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, the Argosy was produced through 2020. In North America, the model line remained available as a glider truck on
3572-525: The early 1990s, the C-Series became the first Freightliner model family designed from the ground up by Daimler AG. Though not marketed in Europe (a region that does not favor hooded-style trucks), the Century Class/C120 was developed in response to meet European crash-test requirements. Along with introducing safety advances, development sought to lower overall cost of operation, seeking to reduce
3648-481: The entire design of the 1998 concept vehicle, the Argosy combined the set-back and set-forward front axles of its predecessors with an axle placement directly below the driver. Several cab configurations were introduced. Alongside a 63-inch (BBC) day-cab, sleeper cab lengths of 90 inches, 101 inches, and 110 inches were offered; sleeper cabs were offered in either a mid-roof or raised-roof configuration (110 inch length). The Argosy shared its 2-piece windshield with
3724-688: The final Ford heavy trucks). At the beginning of the 21st century, Freightliner was part of DaimlerChrysler, following the 1998 merger of its parent company with Chrysler; several changes in 2000 were made by the merged company that affected Freightliner. Canadian-based Western Star Trucks , a premium truck manufacturer was acquired in its entirety, giving Freightliner a third truck brand (along with assembly plants in Kelowna, British Columbia, and Ladson, South Carolina). Originally an entity of General Motors, DaimlerChrysler acquired Detroit Diesel , integrating its operations within Freightliner. Coinciding with
3800-534: The fine be applied to upgrading outdated paper-based systems and converting to recall software used by other automakers for decades. As of May 2021, Freightliner has at least three open investigations against it for electrical issues, including several fires. Several weeks after the fine was issued by the NHTSA, Freightliner CEO Roger Nielsen was replaced by John O'Leary, a senior executive from Mercedes Benz trucks, and former CFO of their parent company Daimler Trucks. Freightliner traces its roots to 1929; following
3876-492: The first time); final assembly shifts to the former American LaFrance facility in Ladson, South Carolina. While sold nearly exclusively as a cargo van, the Freightliner Sprinter is also offered as a passenger vehicle (alongside Dodge and Mercedes-Benz Sprinters). After 2006 production, Freightliner ended sales of the Argosy cabover in North America. The first company to produce a fully tilting cab, Freightliner
SECTION 50
#17327911708193952-441: The founding of Consolidated Freightways (CF) in Portland, Oregon, company founder Leland James set up a company division to produce semitractors for company use. Developed in a CF maintenance facility, Freightways Manufacturing used Fageol vehicles as a starting point for the design, placing the cab above the front axle. Shorter in length, the new Freightways truck allowed for CF to use a longer trailer and remain in compliance of
4028-489: The fragile economy, Freightliner was awash in used trucks it could not sell; following the rapid expansion of the previous decade, Freightliner was left with multiple poor-performing operations outside of its core truck brand which was in decline in a poor economy. Seeking new leadership, DaimlerChrysler installed former company CFO to begin a turnaround for Freightliner. By 2002, the Kelowna Western Star plant
4104-527: The launch, the company debuts the first truck with an all-aluminum cab. Shifting to military production during World War II, Freightliner resumed truck production in 1947. In 1949, Freightliner sold its first vehicle outside of CF (to Portland-based forklift manufacturer Hyster ); the vehicle is preserved in the Smithsonian collection in Washington, D.C. As it largely existed as a subsidiary of
4180-529: The lowered engine intrusion, the gear shifter was integrated into the dashboard console, allowing walk-in access to the sleeper cab. The Mercedes-Benz engine of the concept vehicle was not used for production, as the Argosy adopted the Cummins ISM, Cat C12, and Detroit Diesel Series 60 inline-6 diesels. In 2006, the Argosy received an optional minor facelift. Marketed as the Argosy Evolution,
4256-447: The medium-duty market in over a decade, the model line met with success. Another pronounced downturn in the industry's fortunes necessitated drastic measures to restore Freightliner to financial health, and Dieter Zetsche , now the chairman of Daimler-Benz's Board of Management, was dispatched to lead the project as CEO. The Burnaby assembly plant was closed, replaced by a new facility in St. Thomas, Ontario. Cost reduction programs across
4332-581: The medium-duty truck segment, shifting its presence to Freightliner. Serving as the replacement for the aging Mercedes-Benz L1117, the Business Class made its debut. Also called the FL series, the Business Class was a downsized version of the FLC112, sharing its cab with the Mercedes-Benz LKN cabover. Along with a lighter GVWR, the FL was given a shorter hood with two headlights. The first all-new entry in
4408-548: The model line is an adaptation of the Mercedes-Benz Econic . In September 2019, parent company Daimler announced that it would be halting "its internal combustion engine development initiatives as part of its efforts to embrace electric vehicles ." As of May 2022, the MT-series step van (called MT50e) is available as an all-electric vehicle, and so are school buses built on Freightliner's chassis. Also,
4484-415: The model line was revised, becoming the Century Class S/T (S/T = Safety and Technology). The S/T package added a driver's side air bag and improved seat mounting restraints. The Century Class S/T was also offered with a Driver's Lounge and Backpack option. The Backpack option was an added fiberglass hump added to the outside of a rear cab sleeper model that provided additional interior storage space between
4560-416: The model line was withdrawn after only 7 model years of production, as declining sales of the type led to the discontinuation of competing vehicles from Ford, Kenworth, International, and Peterbilt, respectively. From 2007 onward, Freightliner continued production of the Argosy entirely for export. For 2012 production, Freightliner introduced a second generation of the Argosy. While again manufactured in
4636-408: The most advanced COE designs ever produced in North America, the vehicle was produced with an engine intrusion only 3 inches high (effectively creating a flat interior floor). The Freightliner Argosy was the final COE design to be introduced and sold in North America, with Freightliner ending sales of factory-assembled vehicles after 2006; alongside export production, the Argosy remained available as
SECTION 60
#17327911708194712-455: The number of maintenance points and reduce overall fuel consumption. Introduced in 1995 for 1996 production, the Century Class shared the 120-inch BBC length of the FLD120. Distinguished by its four separate headlamps, the model line was among the first large trucks to increase the use of onboard telematics ; at the time, the vehicle had engine data logging, optional onboard messaging capability, and optional telephone and fax systems. For 2000,
4788-469: The original grille (from the Century Class) was replaced with a new unit flush with the bumper vents; the cab corner vents were later updated. The interior received minor revisions as well, and chassis fairings were improved for greater fuel efficiency . After 2006 production, Freightliner ended sales of the Argosy in the United States and Canada. The final Class 8 COE introduced in North America,
4864-517: The parent company of the Freightliner Trucks brand, alongside Sterling, Western Star, Detroit Diesel, and Thomas Built Buses. For 2008, the company introduced Freightliner Cascadia , a new-generation Class 8 conventional. Intended as the successor to the Century Class and Columbia, the Cascadia consolidated the two model lines; while styled as a scaled-up M2, the Cascadia was optimized for fuel economy, safety, and reliability. Within
4940-592: The production Argosy, the concept vehicle was fitted with a Mercedes-Benz OM457 12.0L I6 turbodiesel; it was fitted with 22.5-inch front wheels, with lower-profile 19.5-inch rear wheels. Intended to preview a successor to the FLB-series cabover (introduced in 1987), the Argosy Safety Concept Vehicle was distinguished by a nearly flat interior floor (reducing the engine intrusion to only 3 inches high ), outward-pivoting entrance steps, and
5016-438: The safest trucks tested of the time. Outside of North America, trailer length laws remained more restrictive than in the United States and Canada, leading to continued demand for shorter-length cabover trucks. In response, during its entire production, the Freightliner Argosy was produced for export markets, with Freightliner primarily focusing on South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. From 1999 to 2020, export versions of
5092-483: The stringent length laws of the time. In line with the company name, during the 1930s, Freightways Manufacturing began to brand its truck production under the "Freightliner" name. In addition to their shorter length, the trucks underwent weight reduction using aluminum instead of steel to maximize use of engine power (needed to climb mountain grades in the western United States). In 1942, Leland James renamed Freightways Manufacturing as Freightliner Corporation; as part of
5168-522: The vocational model line, the Condor low-entry COE was discontinued. In 2009, Freightliner began production of natural gas versions of the Business Class M2 in its Mount Holly facility. In March 2009, DTNA discontinued Sterling Trucks, citing substantial model overlap with Freightliner and decreasing market share (in spite of multiple product launches). The closure of Sterling also brought
5244-541: Was added to SD model family, renamed the 122SD. On August 22, 2014, the Cleveland plant built the 3 millionth vehicle of Daimler Truck North America, a 2015 Cascadia Evolution. At the time, Freightliner employed 2600 workers at the facility and 8000 employees in North Carolina. In May 2015, the Freightliner Inspiration was unveiled near Hoover Dam. The first road-licensed autonomous semitruck,
5320-552: Was closed (shifting to Portland), along with a Thomas facility in Woodstock, Ontario (consolidating entirely to High Point). For 2002, the Freightliner product line underwent multiple updates. For the medium-duty segment, Freightliner introduced a second generation of the Business Class, the Business Class M2 , ranging from Class 5 to Class 8 severe-service conventionals. In place of the cab derived from Mercedes-Benz,
5396-460: Was discontinued in North America, closing down the Argosy model line completely after 22 years. As of current production, the Argosy has not been replaced by an equivalent product line in North America since 2006. Freightliner Australia has commenced sales of a right-hand drive version of the Cascadia; also sourced from North America, the Cascadia is a hooded (bonneted) truck, less advantageous under trailer length laws. Outside of North America,
5472-483: Was introduced as the first low-entry COE; competing with the Autocar Xpeditor , the Condor was developed nearly entirely for refuse applications. In the early 2000s, the operations of Freightliner subsidiaries would undergo multiple changes. Following the acquisition of Western Star Trucks, Freightliner consolidated production of American LaFrance in the previous Western Star plant in Ladson, South Carolina;
5548-544: Was joined by the Coronado SD (developed primarily for vocational applications ). In 2010, Freightliner introduced its first diesel-electric hybrid vehicle, based on a M2 106. For 2011, the company debuted the SD model family. Alongside the Coronado SD introduced the previous year, two new models were added, the 108SD and 114SD, derived from the M2 model family. In 2012, Freightliner celebrated its 70th anniversary, unveiling
5624-490: Was later named the 122SD in North America. Currently, the 2002-2010 Coronado remains in production as a glider-kit truck. Introduced for 1998, the Freightliner Argosy COE replaced the 1980s FLA/FLB COE lines. Along with sharing a visual resemblance with the Century Class (with both trucks sharing multiple structural components), the Argosy also shared its onboard telematics with the Century Class. One of
5700-507: Was terminated, and Freightliner Corp. began life as a freestanding manufacturer and distributor. Many of the first dealers were from the White Motor Co. network, but some entrepreneurs also signed up to represent the trucks without the White Motor Co. franchise as a complement. At the same time, the company introduced its first conventional model, an adaptation of the high COE mainstay product. High COEs accounted for well over 50% of
5776-508: Was the final truck manufacturer in North America to offer a Class 8 cabover. The Argosy remains in production in North America, sold exclusively for export. In the summer of 2007, DaimlerChrysler was split, with the Freightliner parent company reorganizing itself as Daimler AG. Freightliner begins production of trucks in Saltillo, Mexico. On January 7, 2008, Freightliner LLC was renamed Daimler Trucks North America , LLC (DTNA), operating as
#818181