What do you do if you’re Freightliner and your OTR market share numbers are in the stratosphere? You turn your attention to the vocational truck market, of course.
Freightliner has always had a vocational presence. But about four years ago, the company decided it was time to update its work truck lineup to take advantage of numerous powertrain and ergonomic upgrades found on the Cascadia tractor.
The result was the Freightliner SD series—a 108-inch BBC truck, a 114-inch BBC version and the 122-inch BBC model. All three models are configurable to accept an array of bodies. Significantly, the trucks are also highly adaptable in terms of fuel choices as well, with body and frame design parameters allowing for the easy addition of both compressed and liquid natural gas tanks, fuel systems and engines.
Freightliner’s new vocational product manager, Mark Howerton, offered me the chance to compare the 108 and 114 BBC models on a recent test drive based out of Freightliner of Austin with a long haul through the Texas hill country. My two test trucks offered a good look at the different ways Freightliner customers can trick out an SD model.
The 114 BBC truck was outfitted with a roll-off body and powered by an all-Daimler powertrain: a 475-horsepower DD13 diesel engine mated to an Allison 4000 RDS transmission. In contrast, the 108-BBC dump truck featured a 9-liter Cummins ISL diesel with an Eaton-Fuller 10-speed manual gearbox.
Both trucks feature the SD’s bold new styling—a departure from the highly refined aerodynamic lines found on Freightliner long-haul tractors. Howerton told me that good fuel economy remains a priority for Freightliner on its vocational line. But given the decidedly un-aerodynamic bodies these trucks are fitted with, and the unusual cargos they often haul, the emphasis for vocational fuel economy targets the SD’s powertrain since any aggressive aerodynamic styling can be negated pretty quickly once said bodies and cargo are added to the equation.
Pre-trip inspections on both trucks were straightforward: The SD’s hood pivots forward easily and all inspection points on both the Cummins and Detroit engines are easily accessible from ground level.
