One of the first Freightliner Cascadias to arrive in Australia is delivering solid results in performance and fuel efficiency for livestock haulage company Conbar Transport.
Hauling livestock at a maximum combination weight of 68 tonnes, the new 16-litre Cascadia 126 is doing everything right according to Conbar Transport driver, Stephen McCormack.
“Livestock hauling is tough on fuel and each run is different, but the Cascadia is very often doing 1.8km per litre (5.1mpg), and sometimes better, which is excellent,” said McCormack.
According to Daimler Trucks, Conbar Transport fuel data showed the Cascadia 126 recently used 20 per cent less fuel than a locally-assembled conventional truck owned by a subcontractor on the same return trip with the same weight on-board.
The company said fuel efficiency, along with the integrated safety features and performance, were the main reasons Conbar Transport decided to purchase a brand-new Cascadia from Daimler Trucks Albury, identifying the potential for significant bottom line savings over the life of the truck.
The Cascadia 126 features a new-generation DD16 six-cylinder engine that generates 600hp and 2,050lb-ft (2,779Nm) of torque. It is teamed with Daimler’s Detroit DT12 Automated Manual Transmission.
According to McCormack, the new Freightliner is considerably quieter than the previous bonneted truck he used to drive and puts its power down with a lot less fuss. In fact, he suggests the serenity inside the cab can mask the Cascadia’s work rate.
“The performance is great. It doesn’t seem all that fast, but then you realise that you are getting to your destination in a shorter timeframe most of the time. Sometimes, I’m getting there 15 minutes earlier,” he said.
The enhanced visibility thanks to the clever design of the steeply raked bonnet and the windscreen means McCormack can see exactly where to place the truck – a feature that is especially helpful in tight yards.
“We go into some crazy places that you wouldn’t put a 4WD and I can see right down to the front of the truck,” he said. “The bonnet is so low that the vision is just great.”
Like all Cascadias, Conbar’s 126 comes standard with fully integrated safety features including a radar and camera-based Autonomous Emergency Braking system that can automatically detect, and fully brake for, moving pedestrians. It also has a radar-based Adaptive Cruise Control system and Lane Departure Warning in addition to Electronic Stability Control.
The company also ticked the box for the optional Sideguard Assist, which uses radar to ‘look’ down the left side of the truck and trailer to detect pedestrians and vehicles in preparation for left turns.
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