News From the Daimler Stable - Nov 2022

News

23 Nov

FREIGHTLINER CASCADIA DELIVERS. “It’s Incredible!”

A 16-litre Freightliner Cascadia 126 with all the creature comforts is making an impact at Wodonga-based fleet G.A.B.S. Weighing in at around 79-tonnes, it has been put to work running as a road train, hauling food-processing byproduct between Wodonga, in Victoria’s far north, and Charleville, in South West Queensland,

G.A.B.S operates a fleet of 13 heavy-duty trucks and the Cascadia is the first Freightliner. “I’ve always operated another brand of truck, but I’m very impressed with this Cascadia so far,” says G.A.B.S Director, Ross Spargo. “I was initially interested thanks to the value proposition of the new Freightliner. It made me take a closer look at the specs of the model.”

Now, after a several months on the road, Ross is glad he took the plunge with the Cascadia and he highlights the performance, fuel efficiency and comfort levels of the truck. “It has all the creature comforts, more horsepower, better vision and good fuel,” Ross said, before adding: “It’s an incredible truck to drive.”

So, what do the drivers’ think of the big Freightliner, which mixes old-school American muscle with advanced technology? “The drivers love it. The current driver likes a different truck brand, but he thinks the Cascadia is great and doesn’t want to get out of it.”

Also available with a 13-litre DD13 Detroit engine that produces up to 505hp and 1850lb-ft, Ross nevertheless went for the 16-litre DD16 with its 600hp and 2050lb-ft of torque. He is obviously a fan of you-can’t-beat-cubic-inches.

Against the trend he also opted for the good old 18-speed Eaton manual Road Ranger gearbox. (For those less inclined to self-shift, there is an excellent Detroit DT12 Automated Manual Transmission, or AMT.

Ross noticed early on that the Cascadia was extremely good on fuel, even in challenging conditions, and also used very little AdBlue. “We’re very happy with the fuel numbers. It’s getting the best fuel numbers in the fleet on that application and uses very little AdBlue.”

If you’re going to go all the way, you may as well include the bunk, so Ross selected a 60-inch sleeper for the Cascadia, which makes it a comfortable home away from home. The set-up includes a TV and a fridge, while it also has an Icepack cabin cooler unit to maintain the high level of comfort. For your next trivia night, the same designers who shape Boeing interiors were involved in the creation of the Cascadia cabin with the goal of ensuring that it w as both practical and ergonomic.

Ross and the G.A.B.S team is rightfully proud of their fleet and all the trucks get a little bit of love, with plenty of stainless steel, before they hit the road. The Cascadia benefits from some understated scrollwork and pin striping, along with stainless wheel guards, sun visor and bonnet guard, while there are plenty of LED lights across the top of the windscreen and on the cab skirts to make sure no-one misses the rig out on the open road.

While its inherent fuel efficiency gives the Cascadia good range, Ross also selected four fuel tanks with a combined capacity of 1249 litres to ensure the G.A.B.S truck can go a very long way between drinks.

The Freightliner Cascadia is the best-selling heavy-duty truck in the United States. It is produced in Charlotte, North Carolina, with an engine manufactured in Detroit, Michigan.

FUSO SHOGUN 460 WORKS THE QUARRY – CAN YOU DIG IT?

The owner of a major quarry material supplies business based in Wagga Wagga has added its first Fuso to its 14-truck fleet.

Alec Creasy, who has grown the Robbo’s Sand and Truck Hire business since purchasing it in 2013, was encouraged to switch from American-style bonneted trucks and try a Shogun by long-term contact, David Warren, the Dealer Principal of Daimler Trucks Albury and Wagga Wagga.

This is Alec’s first foray into the Fuso brand. Mr Creasy says once he started to weigh up the Shogun 460’s price and the inclusive support package that came with it, the decision was straightforward. “Ultimately, it was a business decision and when I looked at it I realised that it was really something that I couldn’t go past.”

“One of the trucks I was shopping it against only has a 12 month warranty, so there is a big difference when I compared it with Shogun’s 5 year or 500,000 (whichever comes first) warranty.”

The Shogun is fitted with a body and tipper trailer made from Bisalloy steel, which is heavier but more durable that aluminium. This way, the combination can be used for demolition cartage, which requires sturdier surfaces.

The steel body and tipper trailer weighs 500kg more than an aluminium equivalent, but the Shogun 460 combination still has a payload of 12.5 tonnes, a number that Mr Creasy is very happy with.

The Shogun 460 model makes – surprise, surprise - 460hp and produces 2200Nm, using an 11-litre six-cylinder engine from the Daimler Truck family. Sitting on the back of the engine is the latest generation 12-speed Automated Manual Transmission, which features an easy-to-use low-speed mode. Alec says the Shogun 460’s engine and transmission work well together.

“The gearbox is nice and the performance is excellent. Fully loaded it will just go beautifully up through the gears, it doesn’t carry on at all. The driver, James (Scott), I couldn’t get him out of the truck. It can turn really tight, which is very helpful in some of the sites we are getting in and out of.”

The cab-over Shogun is well-suited to construction sites, with additional features such as a transom window on the passenger door (below the traditional window) providing additional visibility.

Like all Shoguns, the 460 model comes standard with a suite of advanced safety features including the latest generation Advanced Emergency Braking System (AEBS) that now uses camera and radar camera technology and completely stop for a moving pedestrian in the event the driver does not respond to an audible warning. Radar adaptive cruise control is also standard, along with Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), a driver airbag, Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and Hill Start System (HSS) assistance function continue.

And of course, if 460 horses aint enough, you can always go for the 510hp models. Fuso has a full range of Shogun rigid models that are perfect for tipper bodies, as well as factory Built Ready Fighter and Canter tipper models. The Canter 815 Wide Cab Tipper and Canter 615 City Cab Tipper models can even be driven on a car licence.

ELECRIC SEMITRAILER IN THE ALPS: 40-tons eActros crosses the Arlberg Pass in Tyrol

Stuttgart / Arlberg Pass, Austria – As part of a series of tests the eActros 300 in semi-trailer format and which recently premiered at the IAA Transportation 2022 in Hanover, successfully crossed the Arlberg Pass in Austria.

For this test engineers from Mercedes-Benz Trucks fully loaded the semi-trailer to 40 tons. The tests in Tyrol covered a total distance of 111 kilometers, including Bludenz, Stuben, St. Anton and Lech, at times at an elevation of more than 1,800 meters. The experts from Mercedes-Benz Trucks subjected the tractor and trailer to tests to validate its performance and durability.

A special focus was put on energy recovery through recuperation, which can be used extensively in the alpine topography of Tyrol. During recuperation, energy gained during braking is returned to the eActros' batteries and is then made available to the drive unit. In this way, the electric tractor unit was able to recover a total of around 180 kWh of energy. At the end of the demanding tour, about 40 percent of the energy was still available.

Stina Fagerman, Head of Sales, Marketing and Services at Mercedes-Benz Trucks: “The tractor unit version of the eActros 300 expands the application options of the eActros for heavy-duty distribution transport. The intensive tests in Austria have shown our electric truck can reliably fulfill its tasks, even in a particularly challenging topography with extreme uphill and downhill grades.”

In total, the electric semi-trailer climbed 2,300 meters in altitude during the test – the maximum grade was at 13 percent. On the way to the test area, the truck's batteries were only charged at public charging stations. Series production launch of the eActros 300 prime mover is planned for the second half of 2023.

The eActros 300 prime mover model can pull all standard European semi-trailers, taking into account the maximum permissible total length. It is based on the same technology as the eActros 300/400. Three battery packs, each with an installed battery capacity of 112 kWh, enable a range of up to 220 km on a single battery charge. The technological heart of the electric truck is the drive unit, an electric rigid axle with two integrated electric motors and a two-speed gearbox.

Daimler also announced a 500km Actros LongHaul version at the IAA.

‘JUNIOR BURGER’ FUSO SHOGUN 360 DELIVERS FOR TASSIE OPERATOR

Stephen Gray Transport operates out Smithton, on the far North East Coast of Tasmania. Stephen and his wife Wendy started-off their business 40 years ago with a second-hand truck worth about $5000.

The company services Burnie, Devonport and Launceston and covers all types of freight delivery, from refrigerated cargo to containers, cars and tractors. Business has been so strong that the Gray’s decided to add a new heavy-duty truck. With a mix of European and Japanese trucks in his stable, Stephen started the selection process with an open mind.

Now they have a fleet of four late model trucks, having recently added a brand-new Fuso Shogun 360.

Blake Williams at Burnie CJD, delivered the truck with his own ute on the back so that he could drive it back home. Blake organized the tilt-slider body from CTE Custom Truck Equipment in Dandenong, Victoria, and it handles various cargo with ease. There’s 20ft containers, telehandlers, 4WDs, cars and a huge array of everything else.

The truck was specified as a 6x2, a decision that some would suggest was brave on an island that gets more than its share of rain, but Stephen says traction is not an issue, “as long as you don’t stray onto surfaces that you shouldn’t be on.”

So why go 6x2 instead of the traditional 6x4?

“Choosing a single rear axle rather than a tandem increases my payload by around 600-700kg, which is a lot,” Stephen said. “It also reduces wear and saves fuel, so it made a lot of sense for me.”

The Shogun 360 is the junior burger of the Shogun range - having the smaller displacement 7.7-litre six-cylinder from the Daimler Truck portfolio - but it gets along nicely with 360hp and 1400Nm of torque at the ready. It is teamed up with the 12-speed Automated Manual Transmission (AMT) with crawler mode that Stephen described as smooth, responsive and quick-shifting. “The fuel economy is excellent, loaded or not.”

He was encouraged to choose the Fuso partly because of a 1998 FV549 Fuso that never missed a beat. “I had that truck for 14 years and hardly put a spanner on it. I loved that truck!”

Additionally, the manufacturer warranty that came with the Shogun 360, covering the truck for five years or 500,000km (whichever comes first) was also a big plus, just in case something does go wrong.

“The warranty was significantly better than the other trucks I was considering, by quite a margin,” Said Stephen, reckoning that a decent warranty is something every truck should come with. “I’m of the view that if you buy a new truck, you shouldn’t have to put your hand in your pocket, other than for servicing, for years.”

Now that he’s had it on the road for a few months, how does he rate the Shogun?

“Ten out of ten,” the 65-year-old says without pause. “As well as the great fuel economy there’s all the latest safety gear like Adaptive Cruise Control, Emergency braking, Lane Departure Warning, and heaps of other stuff. And the Hill Start System is great. I wouldn’t hesitate to get another one.”

Whilst the ‘Junior Burger’ Shogun 360 suits Stephen’s needs, there’s also an 11-litre version, or if you want a burger with the lot, there’s the 13-litre which has 510hp, making it the most powerful Japanese truck in Australia.

AUSTRALIAN CONTAINER GIANT ADDS 50th MERCEDES-BENZ-ACTROS

ACFS Port Logistics recently took delivery of its 50th Mercedes-Benz Trucks Actros.

The largest privately-owned container logistics operator in Australia, which runs 15 warehouses around the country, received the special Mercedes-Benz Trucks model at its Port of Brisbane facility.

AFCS Port Logistics Fleet and Compliance Manager, Alan Guest, was there to receive the keys for the special truck from Daimler Trucks Gold Coast’s Brock McGarity.

ACFS Port Logistics, which moves a remarkable 1.2 million TEU (Twenty Foot Equivalent Units) every year, has another 50 Actros units on order, such is its confidence in the truck and the support of Daimler Trucks Gold Coast team.

Safety sits at the top of the ACFS list of priorities, while efficiency is also prominent.

Alan was instantly impressed when he trialed an Actros in 2019, with both the standard safety features and inherent fuel efficiency of its Euro 6 engines standing out. ACFS operates a mix of 530hp 13-litre and 580hp 16-litre Actros models.

“The Actros delivered significant fuel savings over the truck it replaced and it continues to deliver fuel numbers that are absolutely brilliant,” he said.

In order to cut emissions and fuel use even further, Alan has always enabled the Actros models to switch off their engines after three minutes of idling. It is a measure that saves a vast amount of fuel and emissions over the whole fleet.

As for safety, the Actros comes with the full swathe of safety systems including the fifth generation radar/camera Advanced Emergency Braking System (AEBS) called Active Brake Assist, which can now automatically perform full emergency braking for vehicles and pedestrians.

ACFS adds its own task-specific safety items on top of the suite of standard safety features including five cameras and data telemetry system, as well as fitting its trailers with all the latest features including electronic aids.

“Safety is critical for ACFS. The level of standard safety in the Actros is welcome because we want to do everything that we can to maintain the safety and wellbeing of our people and those they interact with.”

The cabin, which features two large high-resolution tablet screens and a modern ergonomic layout, has been well-received by drivers, as has the performance of the Mercedes-Benz Trucks engines and the 12-speed AMT transmission.

“The comfort and the features are just sensational and the drivers just love them,” Alan said. “Drivers and all of them, love them. That is quite amazing when you think about it.”

The 50th Actros is one of two trucks that ACFS operates as an A-Double, which is able to carry 80 pallets to leading supermarkets from the Port of Brisbane.

ACFS is also looking a range of other higher productivity combinations including a trial of AB Triples.

It is also actively investigating zero emission transport solutions and is especially interested in the battery electric, hydrogen fuel cell technology being developed by Daimler Truck.

FUSO BEER TRUCK

“Quick, quiet and efficient.”

That’s how Fuso eCanter driver Lance Valentine describes the fully-electric BevChain truck he uses to deliver Toohey’s beer kegs to Sydney suburbs. Each day, Lance completes three to four loops out from Linfox subsidiary BevChain’s Lidcombe base, delivering fresh Toohey’s kegs to pubs in a radius of 40km.

Lance plugs the truck into a fast charger when he returns to the BevChain base in order to briefly top up the batteries, and heads out again.

Depending on traffic conditions and route, total mileage for Lance’s daily deliveries could be up to 150km.

“When I get back to the yard after the first run, the battery still has decent range thanks to some regenerative braking,” he says. “With the fast charger, I easily top it up in a very short time and that gives me enough to get out and back without having to worry about range.”

The eCanter uses six liquid-cooled lithium ion batteries mounted in the frame that store 82.8kW/h of electricity and feed a permanent magnet synchronous motor.

As for what it is like to drive the pioneering eCanter, Lance is clear. “It is smoother, more comfortable and there is hardly any noise. It is also really easy to drive.”

The near-silent operation is also a big plus for residents in the areas the Toohey’s kegs are delivered.

“Beyond the fact it is producing zero emissions, the quiet operation is also really important. Driving around heavily populated areas without the noise of a diesel is a big positive when you think about noise pollution in a neighborhood.”

Lance didn’t know what the electric truck’s performance would be like and certainly didn’t expect it to be quick. “I had never driven an electric car, much less a truck, so I didn’t know that they have really good performance and are quite zippy.”

The eCanter’s power output is 135kW and 390Nm of torque can be delivered the moment the accelerator pedal is pressed. Lance also likes using the electric version of engine braking that also recharges the battery when pulling up the truck.

“The regenerative braking is so good that I hardly have to use the brakes. I tend to look ahead and see what I can do to harvest energy with the regenerative braking, like lifting off to charge going down a hill or using the regenerative braking to pull up rather than use the brakes.”

Lance says the truck, which carries a special paint scheme explaining that it is fully electric, gains a lot of attention. As for his role as one of the few drivers to pilot an electric truck in Australia, Lance says it is something to be proud of.

“I’m really happy to drive a zero emissions truck and actually be part of history.”

Editor’s note: Now, if only Lance’s truck carried a decent beer.

ELECTRIC MERCEDES-BENZ ACTROS BOUND FOR OZ AND NZ

Mercedes-Benz Trucks will begin a local evaluation program for the all-electric eActros in Australia and New Zealand early next year.

Initially, four eActros trucks will get to work in Australia and one unit will hit the road in New Zealand, with additional units to follow. The eActros, which has just been launched in Europe, produces zero local emissions and operates near silently.

Daimler Truck has extensive experience with electric commercial vehicles and was the first manufacturer with an all-electric truck when the Fuso eCanter broke new ground when it was launched locally in 2021.

Customers on both sides of the Tasman Sea have embraced the all-electric eCanter, appreciating the near smooth and quiet operation, active safety features, ease of use and original equipment manufacturer backing.

Mercedes-Benz Trucks Australia Pacific Director, Andrew Assimo, says he is excited to start the local evaluation program for eActros as part of a drive towards CO2-neutral goods transport.

“We are excited to conduct this extensive testing program on the roads of Australia and New Zealand for the advanced and innovative all-electric eActros, a truck that represents an exciting new chapter for sustainable road transport in our region,” he said.

“Mercedes-Benz Trucks always makes sure the advanced technology we introduce locally is tailored for our unique conditions and meets the specific requirements of our customers with extensive local evaluation and it is no different with zero emission electric technology.”

Daimler Truck is committed to advancing battery electric technology for trucks and buses, but is also working on hydrogen fuel cell technology that is well suited to Australian requirements of longer distances at higher weights. While hydrogen fuel cell trucks are currently being tested they are still some years away from introduction. Battery electric Mercedes-Benz trucks are already in production and out on the road with leading European fleets.

The focus of the eActros is for heavy-duty short radius distribution and development trucks have been working away in select fleets in Europe since 2018.

At this stage, Mercedes-Benz Trucks is not ready to announce when the eActros will be made available to customers in Australia and New Zealand.

Editor’s Note: I got to drive one of these around Hanover in Germany recently and was impressed. For ‘last mile’ delivery of heavy goods it certainly has a place in the market.