2017 Cascadia: Driver Comfort & Safety Too
New Cascadia Elite Interior Cockpit Package shown in Saddle Tan and Black. Photo Courtesy of Freightliner.
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New Cascadia Elite Interior Cockpit Package shown in Saddle Tan and Black. Photo Courtesy of Freightliner.
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Drivers like or dislike trucks for all sorts of reasons, but it the truck isn’t comfortable, quiet and roomy, chances are your drivers might be on the lookout for something better. With recruiting and retention front of mind, Freightliner says the interior of the new Cascadia received more design attention than any previous Freightliner truck.
“We wanted to develop a truck that drivers are proud to drive,” says Kary Schaefer, general manager, product marketing and strategy, Daimler Trucks North America. “We think of it as a tool to attract and retain good drivers, so our goal was to make the Cascadia a truck drivers would want to drive.”
Out front where you can’t really see the improvements, the steering and handling have been improved with the driver in mind. A new front suspension with long taper-leaf springs provides a smoother ride and improved roll stiffness. Also, the steering gear was pushed farther forward to help improve steering precision. Drivers will notice the improvements in sure-footed handling and less jarring when running on rough pavement.
The engine and cab mounts were redesigned as well to provide a quieter environment with less vibration transmitted into the cab structure from the chassis. The engine tunnel cover is now constructed using Quiet Steel technology to keep engine noise out of the cab
Engineers have also used, for the first time, an insulating technology familiar to anyone who has ever worn a winter coat: 3M’s Thinsulate, known for its thin structure and very good thermal and acoustic insulating properties. It’s optional, but it’s hard to imagine fleets operating in northern climes deleting this from the option list.
Inside the cab, drivers will find a striking new dash layout and gauge cluster in the A-panel, …Read the rest of this story
