One of the most respected names in the trucking industry, Freightliner has been building trucks for over 75 years, and this year celebrated their anniversary. Back where it all started in 1942, CEO and founder Leland James, who had been a truck driver since his late ‘teens, wanted a truck that would meet his own efficiency standards. In other words, he wanted something that was light, durable, and that had better ride quality than what other truck manufacturers were building, not to mention a higher payload. So, James came up with the idea of building a cab-over prime mover that consisted of a lightweight aluminium cab that would be capable of hauling 1 ton loads. It was a huge success, and thus leading Freightliner to making a name for itself as a builder of heavy duty Class 8 aluminium-cabbed highway haulers, and also the only North American truck manufacturer to operate a full-scale wind tunnel.
Leland James. The CEO and founder of Freightliner.
Portland, Oregon. Where Freightliner’s headquarters are located.
This is an example of what Leland James wanted: A prime mover that featured an all alloy cab and that was also capable of hauling 1 ton loads on America’s highways. These were nicknamed ‘Bubblenose’ due to the distinctive presence of the cab, and were the lightest trucks on the road at the time.
The boldly designed and muscular FLC 112 conventional, the model that established Freightliner as a top notch name in the Australian market.
The FLD. Introduced in 1987, this was Freightliner’s first aerodynamic prime mover that was among America’s best selling Class 8 trucks at the time. This particular one is an FLD 120, with a fully integrated 70″ sleeper cab that provided plenty of standing room.
In the mid 1990s, the aerodynamically styled Century Class was introduced as a more luxurious alternative to other Class 8 trucks and with very technological advancements to boot.
A Pikes Peak prepped Century Class.
Introduced in 1998, the Argosy was the first cab-over unit to incorporate a flat floor design, as well as the trucking industry’s first electrically assisted articulated steps, thus making for easier cab entry and exiting.
The Cascadia. Freightliner’s undisputed flagship model for the 21st century, and the industry’s best selling Class 8 truck.
Alex K Car Blog 