At the Alternative Clean Transportation (ACT) Expo in Long Beach, California, Freightliner Trucks announced that its new 114 Severe Duty (SD) set-back axle (SBA) truck will be available with natural gas technology. Designed for severe duty segments such as construction and other markets, the new 114SD SBA is a lightweight yet durable truck ideal for heavy-duty vocational applications.
The 114SD SBA natural gas truck expands Freightliner’s proven alternative fuel product offerings. The company already offers the industry’s only turn-key conventional chassis natural gas solutions, and along with units sold under the Sterling brand, will have more than 1,000 trucks in customer hands by the end of 2011.
Designed for vocational and municipal customers such as dump, refuse and sewer vacs, the factory-built 114SD SBA natural gas truck will include the lightweight Cummins ISLG natural gas engine, which is designed for superior fuel economy, performance and dependability with near-zero emissions. The truck will also be equipped with the Allison 3000RDS transmission, which includes patented torque converter technology that results in improved startability at the launch of the vehicle, full power shifts, and a better performing engine.
“Natural gas is quickly becoming the fuel of choice for the refuse market, and has started to gain traction with municipal customers,” said TJ Reed, director of product marketing for Freightliner Trucks. “Based on our conversations with customers in other vocational segments, there’s an increased interest in natural gas, particularly with the recent spike in the price of diesel fuel.”
Continued Reed: “The Freightliner 114SD natural gas truck offers these customers the complete package – a rugged truck equipped to tackle the toughest of vocational jobs – that also benefits fuel economy and the environment.”
Introduced in early 2011, the 114SD SBA is part of Freightliner’s expanded SD vocational product line, which provides a smart business solution for vocational customers who are looking for a combination of toughness and efficiency. With a wide range of options and body-specific chassis layouts, the SD product line enables vocational customers to “Work Smart” in any application.
Production will begin on the natural gas 114SD SBA in December 2011.
