Revisit: Freightliner Coronado FL114

Name: Revisit: Freightliner Coronado FL114
Brand: Freightliner

The release of Freightliner’s Coronado FL114 in late 2012 more than honed the company’s commitment to the Australian and New Zealand markets. With a few years and more than half a million kilometers under their belts we sent Howard Shanks to see how some of the first FL114s to land Down-Under are holding up

Like many mid-size transport fleets in Australia Chris McMurray’s business Mystgold Transport Pty Ltd, grew from an owner-driver operation that went the extra mile and provided a more reliable operation than his competitors.

Today Mystgold are one of North Queensland's leading specialised refrigeration transport operations. Their reputation for reliability and service has seen them become the preferred transport suppler for many major companies as well as the preferred carrier for Woolworths groceries and fresh produce in the Far North and Western Queensland.

Shortly after the Australian release, Chris took delivery of six Freightliner Coronado FL114 prime movers, the first to enter his fleet.

Chris, like many operators working the remote far north Queensland inland routes, had traditionally specified Kenworth trucks for his outback operations and he'd also tested the waters with a couple of Western Stars.

"A Kenworth is hard to beat because their cabs and electrics are so tough and they're so well put together," Chris conceded. "Mind you, the Western Stars are not too bad either," he added.

Scared by endless Cummins EGR breakdowns and poor economy from what was available from both Kenworth and Western Star at the time, Chris said he went looking for something else that would deliver reliability and improvements in economy for his demanding fresh produce runs.

"Much of the decision to go with the new Detroit Diesel DD15 was driven by reading some of your reviews on them about the increased torque and improvements in fuel economy" Chris explained. “And the reassurance Freightliner and Detroit offered when I went on one of their study tours.”

“The Coronado FL114 had not long been released when I visited the Freightliner factory in Charlotte, North Carolina late in 2012,” Chris recalled. “I was really impressed by the model at first sight. What that meant is we now have the chance of buying, for considerably less than the price of a Kenworth or Western Star, a mildly customised workhorse specifically built to suit Australia's unique bridge formulas.”

“That, all on its own, would be enough to swing it for most people,” Chris continued. “But what makes this truck so appealing to me is not the power or the economy or even that spacious interior. Yes, I love the looks too, but they’re not the issue either. I ordered this truck because it’s the living embodiment of counter culture rock and roll. Today, when most trucks are packaged like James Blunt, or rely on past glories like the Stones, the Freightliner FL114 gets back to basics, just like my Fatboy … more George Thorogood and Steve Earle,” he grinned. “It’s tough, it’s robust !”

And nowhere is this phenomenon more apparent than in truck-land. At the recent Brisbane Truck Show, I talked with many of the visitors and not one asked about safety or emissions. They wanted to talk stylish good looks, power then economy.

An old ‘Jimmy’ powered White Road Boss could kill a rainforest at 400 paces whereas today’s DD15 powered Freightliner FL114 trundles around with daffodils coming out of its exhaust. For that matter the gas coming out of most modern day diesel engines is actually cleaner than the air that went in.

And, even though Chris is first to admit he’s still a bit of a rock’n-roller at heart, the fact that the Detroit powered Freightliner Coronados produce minimal emissions goes a long way to reducing Mystgold’s and their clients’ carbon footprint.

“Nowadays that is something we have to take seriously into consideration when quoting new jobs,” Chris revealed. “We’re part of our customers supply chain so we must do what we can to ensure we’re giving them the best and that includes reducing our carbon footprint as well. Equally, we have to look at the safety features of the equipment we are going to purchase and ensure we have the latest for our drivers. The Freightliner Coronado FL114 delivers that as well as the good looks.”

Mystgold’s Freightliner FL114 Coronado’s start with a 5150 mm (203 in.) wheelbase, a cab attached to a 34 inch mid-roof sleeper, and a Detroit DD15 fuelled to deliver maximum outputs of 560 HP and 1850 lb ft into an Eaton RTLO-20918 18-speed overdrive manual shifter. Performance goes to the ground through a Meritor RT46-160GP tandem running a 4.11:1 final drive ratio, riding on Freightliner’s popular AirLiner airbag rear suspension.

Up front, a Meritor FG941 steer axle rides on taper leaf springs while fuel is contained in three cylindrical tanks – twin 378-litre on the driver’s side and a single 567-litre on the passenger side just rearward of the battery box. Alcoa rims shod with Michelin rubber are fitted all-round.

At first glance of these specs, it can easily appear that 34-pallet B-Double role was the sole reason for the purchase of these FL114s. But this model has far more flexibility with suitability for everything from long single trailers out to 14.6 and even 14.9 metres (48ft and 49ft respectively), to 19-metre ‘pocket’ B-doubles, and truck and quad-dog applications where a set-forward front axle offers maximised weight distribution.

In the Mystgold operation the FL114s predominantly tow 48-foot trailers, up and down the coastal routes and road-train combinations on the inland outback routes.

When asked how they’re standing up to the punishing Queensland roads, Chris conceded they’d had some little issues with lightweight brackets and poor hose routing early in the piece, but hastened to add that Freightliner had been quick to address and monitor the problems to keep the trucks rolling.

While the deep-polished Texas bumpers look cool, Chris says if they were two inches shorter they’d have bullbars on them for running out west. “Those bumpers don’t stop a stray cow or big roo.”

In terms of suitability for the job, Chris admits the Freightliner Coronado FL114 have been doing an admirable job. “The drivers like them too which helps,” he added. “They’re very comfortable to drive, with good visibility and there’s plenty of room inside for all the things long-haul drivers require.”

More importantly, the Detroit DD15 engines have been performing faultlessly, with some of their Freightliners already notching up over half a million kilometers. “The reliability and fuel economy we’re getting from the Detroits is what we’d expected,” Chris said.

“With margins so tight these days you need your equipment to be reliable and economical and it’s just a bonus when they look cool and run sweet.”

Revisit: Freightliner Coronado FL114

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