Daimler debuts fifth generation Freightliner Cascadia
Truck maker Daimler Truck North America LLC (DTNA) unveiled the new fifth generation Freightliner Cascadia.
On Tuesday, October 15, Portland, Oregon-headquartered DTNA officially rolled out the new Freightliner Cascadia, with production set to begin in mid-2025.
Key features of the updated Cascadia include additional fuel economy benefit of 1.9%, engine options including the Detroit DD13 and DD15 now and Cummins X15 and X15N natural gas engines for trucks built in 2026, and a host of driver assist safety features, including:
- Active Brake Assist 6 (ABA6) is now capable of adding automatic braking when detecting vehicles stopped at odd angles, vehicles in curves, stopped vehicles across multiple lanes, and recognizing both moving – and now – stationary pedestrians.
- Active Lane Assist 2 (ALA2), in addition to previous capabilities, now features Lane Change Assist – which can help mitigate out-of-lane accidents by providing counter steering in case a truck attempts to enter an already occupied lane.
- Attentive Driver Protection – when Lane Keep Assist, a feature of ALA2, is on and active – this monitors driver attention through steering wheel input and can initiate a sequence that keeps the Cascadia centered in its lane, slows the vehicle to a stop and turns on the hazard lights if the driver is not responsive.
- Side Guard Assist 2 (SGA2) is now able to detect and warn drivers about objects on the driver side as well as the passenger side of the vehicle, from the cab to the end of the trailer.
The fifth generation Cascadias also come with a suite of “business intelligence tools” which bring “on-the-road benefits for drivers, as well as more real-time information relayed back to fleet managers.” These include:
- Detroit Connect Video Capture 2.0 automatically records and captures data during safety events or when initiated by a driver, providing fleet managers with remote access to valuable insights on driver behavior and potential risks. Videos are available in near-real-time through an improved user interface within the Detroit Connect Portal.
- Remote Lock and Unlock is a new feature derived directly from fleet manager feedback and brings the ability to lock and unlock vehicles on demand, reducing roadside assistance costs and increasing vehicle uptime.
- Geofencing allows customers to create custom-defined geographic areas in the Detroit Connect Portal and receive notifications when vehicles enter or leave that area.
- Detroit Connect Safety Plus is a subscription service that allows fleet managers to remotely track and receive notifications about the status and health of Detroit Assurance safety systems.
- Premium Remote Parameter Updates expands the number of parameters available for update over the air from seven to more than 50.
“Since its original introduction in 2007, our customers have purchased more than one million Freightliner Cascadias, making it the most driven Class 8 truck on North American roads,” said David Carson, senior vice president of sales and marketing, Daimler Truck North America. “When we set out to develop this newest version and build on its legacy of excellence, we listened closely to our customers and what they, their drivers and their fleets needed. More safety features, greater efficiency and increased profitability is what we heard, and it’s what we’re proud to deliver.”
“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,” continued Carson.