Current model Freightliner 114SD
Freightliner Trucks, a division of Daimler Trucks North America LLC, will introduce a 114 Severe Duty (SD) set-back axle (SBA) truck with natural gas technology to the North American market, making the announcement at the Alternative Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo in California. Designed for severe duty segments such as construction and other markets, the new 114SD SBA is a lightweight yet durable truck ideal for heavy-duty vocational applications. Including trucks produced under the Sterling brand, Freightliner’s conventional chassis natural gas solutions will have more than 1,000 trucks in customer hands by the end of 2011.
Designed for vocational and municipal customers such as dump, refuse and sewer vacs, the factory-built 114SD SBA natural gas truck will include the lightweight Cummins ISLG natural gas engine, which is designed for superior fuel economy, performance and dependability with near-zero emissions. The truck will also be equipped with the Allison 3000RDS transmission, which includes patented torque converter technology that results in improved startability at the launch of the vehicle, full power shifts, and a better performing engine.
“Natural gas is quickly becoming the fuel of choice for the refuse market, and has started to gain traction with municipal customers,” said TJ Reed, director of product marketing for Freightliner Trucks. “Based on our conversations with customers in other vocational segments, there’s an increased interest in natural gas, particularly with the recent spike in the price of diesel fuel.”
Reed continued: “The Freightliner 114SD natural gas truck offers these customers the complete package – a rugged truck equipped to tackle the toughest of vocational jobs – that also benefits fuel economy and the environment.”
Production will begin on the natural gas 114SD SBA in December 2011. The natural gas model will initially be offered in the set back axle configuration.
This article primarily compiled using information from a Freightliner press release.
