Daimler Trucks is celebrating 75 years of Freightliner Trucks and 50 years of Western Star Trucks in North America
Daimler Trucks is celebrating two significant anniversaries in North America this year – 75 years of Freightliner Trucks and 50 years of Western Star Trucks.
According to Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA), Freightliner and Western Star have put a total of approximately 3,200,000 trucks on the road since their founding days in 1942 and 1967 respectively.
In the first half of 2017, Daimler Trucks says that trend has continued with 42,300 units entering the market.
In its year of anniversaries, Daimler Trucks will kick off the inaugural North American Commercial Vehicle Show (NACV) in Atlanta on September 24 with a Premiere Night. The next morning DTNA will host a press conference to showcase its range of on-highway and vocational trucks, along with technologically advanced engines and components.
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In 1942, Freightliner debuts the first commercial vehicle with an all-aluminum cab. It is dubbed the ‘shovelnose’ or Model 600
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Throughout the four-day show DTNA‘s 70,000-square-foot booth will feature interactive displays and top-selling vehicles from Freightliner Trucks, Western Star Trucks, Fuso Trucks, Mercedes-Benz Vans and Thomas Built Buses. Additionally, Detroit components, safety and telematics software demonstrations, financing services from Daimler Trucks Financial, and aftermarket parts will be showcased.
Highlights at the DTNA booth will include a special-edition new Cascadia marking Freightliner’s 75th anniversary. The new Cascadia mid-roof XT will also be on display.
Western Star will celebrate its 50 year anniversary by displaying its 5700 XE, 4700 and 4900 truck models. DTNA says each will feature this year’s Limited Edition 50th Anniversary appearance package and the latest productivity, technology and safety enhancements.
Flagship truck
In the year of its 75th birthday, Freightliner has started production of its flagship truck, the new Cascadia which Freightliner says is its most connected truck ever.
The Truck Data Center, a hardware box integrated in every truck, provides communications capabilities for telematics systems. Today, over 275,000 of DTNA’s trucks in North America are said to be already online.
This year Freightliner is reflecting on its beginnings. Seventy-five years ago founder Leland James could not find a truck powerful enough to meet conditions in the western United States, so he decided to build his own.
Since then Freightliner lays claim to launching all-aluminum cab in 1942, offering an integrated sleeper cab with raised roof in 1987, and in 2015 put the first licensed, fully autonomous truck on American highways, namely the Inspiration Truck.
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In 2015 the Western Star 5700 XE was introduced – the XE stands for extreme efficiency.
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Western Star can trace its roots back 50 years to the Canadian logging and mining industries. The brand has since established itself as a premier vocational and over-the-road heavy duty truck manufacturer in the region.
DTNA says the recently launched 5700XE is the most fuel-efficient Western Star truck to date, and with its 6900 Multi-Body-Transformer, Western Star is reported to be gaining strong momentum in its anniversary year.