Four Freightliner Cascadias have exceeded the expectations of a Newcastle container hauler.
Tony McGrath, who runs McGrath Newcastle, hadn’t considered running Freightliner trucks until a supply issue with another brand meant he bought his first Cascadia through Daimler Trucks Newcastle and salesman, Phil Mason.
It performed so well that Mr McGrath ordered three more.
McGrath Newcastle now has four 126 Cascadia models in the fleet, which feature the range-topping 600hp 16-litre DD16 engine, teamed up with the latest generation 12-speed automated manual transmission (AMT).
Having had a positive Detroit experience previously, Mr McGrath thought the engine would perform well - and he was correct.
Two of the trucks running as 79.5 tonnes A-doubles between Sydney and Newcastle are returning best-in-fleet fuel economy of 2km per litre despite the high drag profile of the two 40ft shipping containers on the back.
“The fuel is good,” says Mr McGrath. “It is better than the other trucks in the fleet.”
The Cascadias have also been well-received by the McGrath Newcastle drivers, many of whom were fans of other trucks in the fleet before the Freightliners arrived.
“They have been very, very positive about the Cascadias,” he says.
“Once they drive a Cascadia, they are asking if they can stay in them, which is certainly a good sign.”
Mr McGrath says he thinks the comfort of the 126 Cascadia is one of the major reasons it is winning over the drivers.
“It is a lot of more comfortable than the other trucks we have in the fleet; that is clear.”
Mr McGrath knows a lot about customer service. In fact, he still delivers for one of the two customers he had when he first started his business all the way back in 1980.
So, it makes sense that the excellent service from Daimler Trucks Newcastle is another reason he is happy with his Freightliner ownership experience.
“We need to be supported so that we can deliver for our customers,” he says. “So far, the guys at Daimler Trucks Newcastle have been excellent.”
The 126 Cascadias also deliver when it comes to safety and Cascadia is the only conventional truck in Australlia with a driver’s airbag.
It also has a raft of active safety features including an Advanced Emergency Braking System (AEBS), Lane Departure Warning (LDW) and Adaptive Cruise Control as standard, while customers can also select the Side Guard Assist (SGA) system, which ‘looks’ down the left hand side of the truck and warns a turning driver of objects that may be difficult to spot.