Freightliner Unveils New Coronado Models Aimed at Severe Service, Vocational Markets
This story appears in the Oct. 12 print edition of Transport Topics.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Freightliner Trucks showcased its latest entry in the severe service and vocational truck markets Oct. 6, when it introduced new heavy-duty dump truck and tractor models at the International Construction and Utility Equipment Exposition here.
The Coronado SD models will replace Freightliner’s FLD SD models, which will be phased out at the end of 2009 in the United States and Canada, company officials said.
Freightliner officials said the Coronado was engineered for severe environments such as construction, heavy and specialized hauling, logging, wrecker trucks and mixer trucks.
Some of the standard specifications for the dump truck include an aluminum cab measuring 122 inches, bumper to back of cab with either a setback or set-forward front axle, depending on application; an Eaton Fuller 10-speed manual transmission; and a choice of a Detroit Diesel DD13, DD15, DD16 or Cummins ISX engine. All engine choices will use selective catalytic reduction to meet upcoming diesel emission regulations.
The truck will be available with several size containers for diesel exhaust fluid, the water/urea mixture required by SCR systems to function. A gauge in the cab will alert the operator when the DEF is low and must be refilled. If the DEF runs out when the engine is on, the truck will not operate above 55 mph and will lose 25% of its torque power. The engine will not shut down without DEF, but after 20 hours of operation without DEF, the truck will decelerate to a maximum speed of 5 mph, Dave Bryant, vocational sales manager, told Transport Topics.
Other features include chromed steel air intakes mounted on either side of the gently sloping hood; additional manual, automated and automatic transmission options from Eaton and Allison; and a range of frames, strengths and wheelbases. The standard axle ratings are 12,000 pounds for the front and 40,000 pounds for the rear, but other ratings are available.
The Coronado SD includes a single, large air filter with improved filtration capability, the company said. Precleaners that spin dust and heavy water particles out of the air and away from the engine also are available as an option.
Freightliner will add vocational medium-duty and alternative-powered trucks in the future but company officials did not say when they may be introduced.
While Freightliner officials said the Coronado SD truck and tractor were not developed mainly to replace vocational models with the Sterling Trucks nameplate, parent corporation Daimler Trucks North America announced last year that it would shut down the Sterling brand because of lack of sales and replace those trucks with Freightliner models.
