Freightliner’s Severe Duty Trucks Now with Natural Gas Options
Since 2008, when Freightliner began to offer natural gas-powered trucks and tractors, the company has sold more than 3500 of them. They continue to expand their portfolio of natural gas vehicles. As of 2015, you’ll be able to spec a Freightliner 114SD severe-duty truck with a factory-installed Cummins Westport ISX12 G heavy-duty engine that runs on either liquefied natural gas (LNG) or compressed natural gas (CNG).
The 114SD has been available since 2011 with a 9-liter Cummins Westport ISL G natural gas engine, so now you will have two options to capture the economies of natural gas even for your toughest applications.
Freightliner says the new configuration is ideal for mixer, crane and sewer vac operations. The ISX12 G is a 12-liter engine rated up to 400 hp and 1450 lb ft of torque. For compressed gas, you can choose two tank sizes – 60 diesel-gallon-equivalent (DGE) or 75 DGE. These tanks are also factory-installed, mounted behind the cab.
The 114SD is built on Freightliner’s severe-duty platform with a steel-reinforced aluminum cab. The chassis is designed to ease body uplift and you can spec a variety of vocational rear suspensions and frame options up to 4.4 million RBM.
Freightliner has also recently introduced LNG/CNG options for the popular Cascadia 113 Business Class truck commonly used for LTL and regional hauling applications.
114SD chosen by the home team
Freightliner says the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has ordered 67 114SD severe-duty trucks in a total of 15 different vehicle configurations. The trucks are manufactured right in NCDOT’s back yard, at Freightliner’s Mt. Holly Truck Manufacturing Plant.
Because the 114SD is tough and versatile, it is well-suited for a number of different applications, says Freightliner Truck director of product marketing, Mary Aufdemberg. “Our team worked collaboratively with NCDOT to meet all of their specific requirements. We are proud that our North Carolina-manufactured trucks will be used throughout the state.”
NCDOT’s new fleet of 114SD trucks will come with Cummins engines and dump bodies and snow removal equipment manufactured by another home-grown company, the Godwin Group. Located in Dunn, NC, the Godwin Group has worked with NCDOT for more than three decades.
Godwin Group president Pat Godwin, Jr. summed it up: “This is a great day for North Carolina. These trucks are from the people, by the people and for the people of North Carolina.” He says it demonstrates that manufacturing is alive and well in the state.