Freightliner has unveiled the fifth generation of its top selling Cascadia truck in the USA, with the new model set to go into production in the middle of next year.
The newest addition to the Freightliner range is said to builds on its legacy of the Cascadia, stating that will feature advanced safety features, increased aerodynamic efficiency and the addition of what Daimler Trucks North America describe as a new business intelligence tools which it says will benefit profitability.
Daimler says the fifth generation Freightliner Cascadia is scheduled to begin production mid-2025. at this stage Daimler Trucks Australia has given no indication when the new truck wil be offered down under..
The new safety features include, Daimler’s Active Brake Assist 6 (ABA6), which it says is now capable of adding automatic braking when detecting vehicles stopped at odd angles, vehicles in curves, stopped vehicles across multiple lanes, as well as recognising both moving, and now stationary pedestrians.
It will also feature Active Lane Assist 2 (ALA2), which it says has, in addition to previous capabilities, Lane Change Assist, that can help mitigate out-of-lane accidents by providing counter steering in case a truck attempts to enter an already occupied lane.
The new Cascadia’s safety suite will also feature Attentive Driver Protection, which monitors driver attention through steering wheel input and can initiate a sequence that keeps the truck centered in its lane when Lane Keep Assist is on and active. This slows the vehicle to a stop and turns on the hazard lights if the driver is not responsive.
The other new safety feature on the new gen Cascadia is Side Guard Assist 2 (SGA2), which is now able to detect and warn drivers about objects on the driver’s side as well as the passenger side of the vehicle, from the cab to the end of the trailer.
The New Cascadia also has an all-new Intelligent Braking Control System (IBCS) that introduces brake-by-wire technology combined with backup pneumatics and employs wheel speed sensors and a chassis-mounted electronic control unit to help provide advanced deceleration control.
Daimler says that IBCS allows for the introduction of Comfort Braking, which provides brake force distribution, lining wear control and performance monitoring. It says that these features ensure smoother, more confident braking, especially in sudden stops, and help to elongate brake pad life through even wear.
The company adds that IBCS also includes Endurance Braking, a feature that it claims provides a seamless blend of the engine retarder and service brakes when the foot pedal is applied, which it says helps to further extend brake life.
The new Cascadia also has a new electronic park brake, that enables Rollaway Mitigation, which it says is designed to automatically apply the parking brake when a driver leaves the seat or opens the door without setting the brake to help prevent costly rollaways and improve safety.
The new truck also features Dual Stage Intelligent LED Headlights, which the company claims offer increased durability and impact resistance. It says they are also engineered to melt ice and eliminate condensation in minutes, while also having an increased beam pattern, auto high beam feature and easier beam adjustment capabilities, they enhance visibility, safety and driver comfort.
The fifth-generation Freightliner Cascadia will also feature Daimler’s factory-installed MirrorCam System, which eliminates glass mirrors replacing them with more aerodynamic mini camera arms. The cameras are mounted high above the doors and according to Daimler they provide a wide field of view and are equipped with infrared technology and hydrophobic coatings to repel water and other contaminants.
MirrorCam has been featured on Mercedes-Benz trucks here in Australia and having used them and appreciated them T&B News believes they helps to improve visibility, especially at night and during inclement weather, and improve driver comfort by minimising head and neck movement as well as drastically reducing wind noise and improving fuel consumption.
Freightliner has championed the Cascadia’s fuel efficiency prowess, claiming fuel efficiency gains of more than 35 per cent since the model’s first introduction.
The company claims that that this will continued through key aerodynamic improvements on the fifth generation models, which it says will provide additional fuel economy benefit of around 1.9 per cent.
The new truck includes a new hood design, a redesigned A-pillar deflector, three-piece front wheel well closeouts, a hood-to-bumper seal, and new bumper air ducts that direct airflow around the underbody and tires to increase efficiency. Daimler will also have a new Max Aero Bumper available as an option, which it says bring greater efficiency without sacrificing ground clearance, durability or serviceability.
The new gen Cascadia announced in the USA will offer a full lineup of engine options to suit a range of operational needs for fleets including Daimler’s own Detroit DD13 and DD15 engines, with ratings up to 505hp and 2500Nm of torque.
In America it will also be available with Cummins X15 and X15N, which is the first natural gas engine designed specifically for heavy-duty and on-highway truck applications. The Cummins options will be available for Cascadias in North America from 2026 with power ratings from 400 to 605 hp and torque from 1,966 to 2,779 Nm .
The new Cascadia will come equipped with what Daimler says will be ‘advanced technology enabling new and established business intelligence tools’.
These tools will include the newest connected telematics platform powering what Daimler has labelled, ‘Detroit Connect’, which it claims brings on-the-road benefits for drivers, as well as more real-time information relayed back to fleet managers.
The new Cascadia will also feature new electrical architecture which Daimler says enhances cybersecurity and enables faster processing speeds.
The Detroit Connect suite includes Detroit Connect Video Capture 2.0, which the company says automatically records and captures data during safety events or when initiated by a driver, and will provide fleet managers with remote access to insights on driver behaviour and potential risks. The company says these videos will be available in near-real-time through what it describes as an improved user interface within the Detroit Connect Portal.
Another new feature on the next gen Cascadia will be Remote Lock and Unlock which Daimler says has been derived from fleet manager feedback and brings the ability to lock and unlock vehicles on demand, which it says reduces roadside assistance costs and increases vehicle uptime.
The new truck will also include a Geofencing feature that will allow operators to create custom-defined geographic areas within the Detroit Connect Portal and will receive notifications when vehicles enter or leave the designated area.
The new truck will also have a a subscription service called Detroit Connect Safety Plus, that promises to allow fleet managers to remotely track and receive notifications about the status and health of the Detroit Assurance safety systems.
As well the new Cascadia will also feature Premium Remote Parameter Updates, that Daimler says will expand the number of parameters available for update over the air from seven to more than 50.
“The fifth generation Freightliner Cascadia is more than just a truck, it’s a complete freight transportation solution designed for those ready for what’s next. It combines purposeful technologies for exceptional safety, efficiency and profitability, and it’s ready to meet the needs of each of our customers’ unique businesses,” said Carson.