Freightliner begins new Cascadia testing

Freightliner this week announced the start of the local testing and development program for the new Cascadia truck in Australia.

The testing is part of a $100 million right-hand drive program specifically for Australia and New Zealand markets, with trucks expected to go on sale in early 2020. Ironically, the new Cascadia will be launched at the same time that we say goodbye to the venerable cabover Argosy.

The Freightliner Cascadia has been the best-selling heavy-duty truck in the United States since 2009 and the new-generation model has continued this success.

Freightliner Australia is carrying out an exhaustive multi-million dollar test program for the truck in local conditions to ensure that the best possible specification is selected and that it stands up to Australia’s tough roads and conditions.

This will be in addition to testing that will be carried out by the research and development team at Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) in the United States.

“We all know Australian trucks run harder, faster and in hotter conditions, so we are conducting a test and development program that is far more comprehensive than anything Freightliner has done in this country,” said Freightliner Australia Director, Stephen Downes.

“There is good reason the Cascadia is the best-selling truck in the United States, but we have to make sure we get it right for Australian conditions,” he added.

Daimler Truck and Bus Australia President and CEO, Daniel Whitehead, says the large investment in the Cascadia right-hand-drive program demonstrates a strong commitment from Daimler Trucks North America.

“This is a massive investment that demonstrates just how serious DTNA is about the Freightliner brand in Australia,” he says.

“DTNA also understands that an extensive local testing and development program is critical for the success of the new Cascadia and has given us its full support.”

The first test truck we saw at the announcement in Melbourne this week was a left-hand drive example which has been equipped with camera and monitor technology to enable it to safely operate on public roads and gather data before a number of right-hand drive models join the program.

The new-generation Freightliner Cascadia was subjected to several million kilometres of gruelling testing before it was introduced in the United States last year.

Freightliner says the company continues testing the new model around the clock with a team of more than 50 drivers departing the Portland Oregon headquarters every day for the sole purpose of racking up kilometres for durability testing.

Mr Downes told Trucksales.com.au that the local testing would feed real-time data to the US through the truck’s telematics. “You ask me why we have bothered to bring a left-hand drive truck here before the right-hand drive versions. Well, it maximises our testing window. We can stream data off this truck 24/7 with our connectivity. This gives us a head start on our research and development and lets the guys back in the US know how the truck is performing under our conditions.”

Mr Downes went on to say that the company wants to gather as much data as possible to get the truck as near to perfect as possible before it goes on sale.

“This truck will be a game changer for us. A game changer in terms of technology, of safety and of connectivity." Mr Downes stressed that: "It will be a truck that is fit for purpose.

“Let me recap on some of the numbers in terms of the research and development testing that has already taken place. Over 800 engineers were involved, over one million hours of R&D over five million kilometres of road testing and over 50 prototype test trucks that still operate today.

“We know what a 400,000km truck looks like; we know what a 700,000km truck looks like, but my key point is this: we can be supremely confident that DTNA has delivered us a magic truck.”

An obviously excited Mr Downes added that the company will be fully prepared and the truck will be at its best when it’s launched in 2020.

The truck we viewed at the launch and you see in the accompanying photos is a Cascadia 116 fitted with 13-litre Detroit engine with the DT12 transmission. This will soon be followed by a Cascadia 126 with the 16-litre Detroit Diesel engine and DT12 transmission.