It’s a Manual Thing..

In-depth

3 Dec

Darren Cog-Swaps the First Manual Aussie Cascadia

‘American truck’ and ‘Economy’. There’s a couple of words that once wouldn’t go hand in hand. But up in Kempsey, NSW, furniture hauling specialist, Williamson Bros is reporting a 20% fuel saving with the latest addition to its fleet of 20 trucks. The truck in question is America’s most popular trucking choice – the Freightliner Cascadia.

Even more interestingly in this age of increasingly automated gearboxes, the company opted for a manual in the form of the ubiquitous Eaton Road Ranger with all of its glorious 18 speeds.

Williamson Bros, which has depots in Kempsey, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, is the first Australian customer to take delivery of a Cascadia with a manual transmission. The company made the call to choose a manual based on the preference of driver Darren Campbell, who has been with Williamson Bros for 21 years (which is very nice of them).

**Darren Campbell with his ‘personalised’ drive**

“I’ve driven cab-overs but I do prefer bonneted trucks and I do like manual gearboxes,” said Darren. “Just call me old-school.”

He likes the Cascadia and its performance, but the comfort levels are what impresses him the most. “It is very comfortable to drive. All the controls are close to hand and there’s a lot of room in the cab and the bunk.”

As mentioned this is the first Cascadia to be ordered with a manual ’box. One of the reasons that manufacturers and customers have embraced autos is that, mixed with other high tech gizmos, autos are going to give the best possible fuel consumption.

Most Cascadias use a DT12 12-speed Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) with Intelligent Powertrain Management. This uses topographic data to determine the best times to change gear and when to enter the fuel saving eCoast mode (Four different 18-speed Eaton manual RLTO are also available).

Having driven one of these, I can attest to just how effective these autos are. Left in Cruise, the truck knows that it is about to reach the crest of a hill and will start to back off the power without losing speed, and then roll over the crest and down the other side (not something you would try in a manual). It doesn’t sound like much but a few metres here and a few there really add up over a couple of thousand kilometres – especially when you’re in vehicles that would once only get you a couple of kays for each litre of diesel it slurps.

So, back to Darren Campbell. It is a testament to his driving ability and cog-swapping that he is getting 2.6km per litre out of the Cascadia with a B-double hooked up. This is a very good return, even though the B-double is on the lighter side at 40 tonnes.

Darren’s Cascadia is the 116 model, which denotes the Bumper to Back of Cab measurement (in inches). It comes with a 13 litre, 6 cylinder Detroit DD donk putting out 505 horses and 1850 lb/ft. (You can also get a 126 model which not only has those 10 extra inches in the cab, but a 16 litre producing 600hp and 2050lb-ft).

Apart from leaving some of the fuel savings to Darren’s cog-swapping ability, rather than the trucks technical wizardry, the Cascadia comes with all the other bells and whistles. It features a full-suite of integrated safety technology that is new to the conventional truck class, including a radar and camera-based Autonomous Emergency Braking system that can automatically detect, and fully brake for moving pedestrians in addition to vehicles.

It also has radar-based adaptive cruise control and a lane departure warning system in addition to Electronic Stability Control and a driver airbag.

Williamson Bros also chose to add the optional Side Guard Assist, which uses radar to ‘look’ down the left side of the truck and trailer to detect vehicles, pedestrians and objects in preparation for left turns.

Damien Clegg, who together with wife, Karlie and family, runs Williamson Bros, is impressed with the Cascadia. “We know how good a driver Darren is, but the latest in engine technology, and the aerodynamics of the truck, mixed with his undoubted ability is returning us a significant saving. When we did the sums on the kilometres it does, it actually accounts for a decent chunk of the payments on the truck.

“We’re pleased to have cutting-edge safety features in our trucks. We want to do everything we can to protect our drivers and the community, so it just makes sense to choose a truck with the best in safety equipment.

“I really want to give a shout out to Steve Pinkstone and the guys at Daimler Trucks dealer, Mavin Truck Centre (Kempsey and Coffs Harbour). They were brilliant to deal with and their follow-up is great.”

There you go Steve & Mavin, you’ve been ‘shouted out’ - and congrats on being part of Daimler Elite Support.

**Mavin Truck Centre’s Steve Pinkstone (L) with Damien Clegg. Now, give Darren his truck back boys.**

The four year/800,000km manufacturer warranty and five years/500,000km of complimentary servicing (standard with all Cascadia models rated below 110 tonnes) also played a part in Damien’s decision to buy the Cascadia.

So, Damien’s happy because he’s getting decent savings on his new rig and Darren’s happy because he still gets to swap cogs in the latest of comfort and technology. Sounds like a match made in…..Kempsey.

Footnote: Daimler were unable to provide me with like-for-like fuel consumption when compared with an auto, so if anyone out there is hauling a 40 ton B-double behind a Cascadia 116 Auto, give us a shout here at Truckin with Kermie and we’ll find out just how good Dazza is.