Freightliner Trucks

American truck brand

Freightliner Trucks is a truck brand of Daimler AG, which owns the premium automobile brand of Mercedes Benz. Freightliners are manufactured in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

Freightliner Trucks
Company typePrivate
IndustryAutomotive
Founded1942; 82 years ago (1942)
(as Freightliner Inc)
HeadquartersPortland, Oregon, U.S.
Key people
Roger M. Nielsen, President, CEO
John O'Leary, CFO
ProductsCommercial Vehicles, Luxury vehicles
OwnerDaimler AG (since 1981)
ParentDaimler Trucks North America
Websitefreightliner.com

History

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Freightliner began in 1929 as the truck-manufacturing division of Consolidated Freightways in Portland, Oregon.

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 to maximize use of engine power (needed to climb mountains in the western United States).

In 1942 Leland James renamed it Freightliner Corporation. As part of the launch, the company made the first truck with an all-aluminium 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.

Models

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Freightliner Class 8 Trucks
Model Family Name Production Years Cab Configuration Notes
WFT (White-Freightliner) 1958-1976 Cabover/COE
  • WFC (White-Freightliner)
    • WFC 120
1974-1976 Conventional First White-Freightliner conventional

120-inch BBC

  • FLA-Series
    • FLA
    • FLA 104
    • FLA 104 64
    • FLA 75
    • FLA 7542T
    • FLA 8662
    • FLA 8664T
    • FLA 9664
    • FLA 9664T
c.1987-1997 Cabover/COE
  • FLB-Series
    • FLB
    • FLB 100 42T
    • FLB 104 64
    • FLB 9664
c.1987-1997 Cabover/COE
  • FLT-Series
    • FLT
    • FLT 6442
    • FLT 9664
    • FLT 7564
1976-1986 Cabover/COE Largely the same as WFT COE, renamed to reflect the discontinuation of White Motor Company distribution.
FLL-Series 1976-c.2000 Low-entry COE Low-cab forward COE, intended for vocational applications.[1]
Argosy
  • North America: 1998–2006
  • Global: 1998–2020
Cabover/COE COE derived from C-Series structure
  • FLC-Series
    • FLC
    • FLC 120
    • FLC 120 64
    • FLC 120 64 T
    • FLC 120 84
1977-1987 Conventional Model update in 1984

Setback axle version produced 1984-1987

FLC112 is unrelated, part of Business Class

1987-2010 Conventional "Aerodynamic" conventional with skirted sides and curved bumpers and fenders.[2]112 and 120-inch BBCs

Classic series (using FLC hood) introduced in 1990 (see below)

FLD SD (severe-duty) is equipped with "Classic" (non-aerodynamic) hood and fenders

  • Classic Series
    • Classic
    • Classic XL
1990-2010 Conventional FLD-based conventional with "traditional" hood design.[2]

Classic = 120inch BBC

Classic XL = 132-inch BBC

Replaced by Coronado

1996-present Conventional Replaced FLD-Series in multiple phases

Century Class and Columbia replaced FLD 120

Coronado replaced Classic/Classic XL (FLD 120 SFFA/ FLD 132)

Cascadia (2008) replaces both Century Class and Columbia; second generation of model line

New Cascadia (2017) is third generation of model line.

eCascadia is the electric variant

  • SD-Series
    • 108SD AB
    • 114SD AB
    • 114SD AF
2011-present Conventional Severe-service/vocational variants of the M2 Business Class

Also includes 122SD (Coronado since 2013)

Freightliner Medium-Duty (Class 5-7) Trucks
Model Family Name Production Years Cab configuration Notes
1985-2007 Conventional First-generation Business Class, shares cab with Mercedes-Benz LKN
Condor 2001-2013 Low-cab COE Developed nearly exclusively for refuse applications.

Also produced by Sterling Trucks and American LaFrance.

Available in a semi.

EconicSD 2018–present Low-entry Low-entry COE derived from Mercedes-Benz Econic COE

Replaces Condor

  • Cargo
    • FC70
    • FC80
1999-2007 Low-cab COE Continuation of Ford Cargo production, adapted to FL-Series chassis

Also sold by Sterling (SC7000/SC8000)

  • Business Class M2
    • Business Class M2e Hybrid
    • Business Class M2 106
    • Business Class M2 112
    • Business Class M2 106V
    • Business Class M2 112V
2001–present Conventional Second-generation Business Class, Freightliner-designed cab

M2 106 - 106-inch BBC

M2 112 - 112-inch BBC

Other Freightliner Vehicles
Model Family Name Production Years Cab configuration Notes
  • MT-Series
    • MT-45
    • MT-55
    • MT50e
c.1995-present Step-van chassis Produced by Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation

MT50e is the electric variant

Freightliner Sprinter 2001–2021 Full-size van Badge-engineered version of Mercedes-Benz Sprinter; first company to sell the model line in North America.

Sold as cargo van (completed in United States from CKD kits) and passenger van (imported from Germany).

Mercedes-Benz announced Freightliner Sprinter sales will be discontinued as of December 2021.[3] The Sprinter will continue production and sales through the Mercedes-Benz brand.

1996–2006 bus chassis Cowled bus chassis designed from the Business Class FL chassis; based on FL60 and FL70.
  • S2
2001–present Cutaway-cab/chassis Cutaway cab version of Business Class M2 10.
2003–present bus chassis School bus chassis designed for the Thomas Saf-T-Liner C2 body.

References

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  1. "Freightliner Trucks: 75 Years of Innovation". freightliner.com. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Background: A Tradition of Innovation - Freightliner Trucks | Freightliner Trucks". freightliner.com. Retrieved 2020-06-24.
  3. "Mercedes-Benz Is Ending Production Of The Freightliner Sprinter Van". Motor1.com. Retrieved 2021-02-10.

Other websites

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