More efficient: The Cascadia’s dramatically sculpted exterior reduces aerodynamic drag to an unprecedented minimum. Your payoff: excellent fuel economy that increases your profitability. More productive: Lightweight aluminum construction and weight-saving components boost your payload potential with each and every truckload. Built-in reliability, ease of maintenance and drivability maximize uptime and keep you moving forward. A better life on the road: A wide, spacious and quiet cab,superior ride and handling characteristics, excellent visibility, and a selection of comfortable living environments merge to produce an unparalleled driving experience.

Here are some of the many quality features that help provide you with a safe, productive, and efficient truck:

Driver safety was a top priority in the Cascadia’s development, resulting in a cab design so rigid and strong it meets or exceeds stringent Swedish and European ECE R-29 crash test requirements.

The Cascadia’s large but lightweight cab features aluminum sidewalls that are stamped and rounded with a “tumblehome” design to create a stiffer structure devoid of buzz, squeak and rattle.

Pedestal-mounted, lightweight aero mirrors are exceptionally stable for minimum vibration. Hood mounted mirrors were included in the factory design to maximize the viewable blind spot area. These mirrors rest on a secure, built-in hood support placed forward to reduce splash from road spray. In designing the mirror mounting, over 100 different positions were tested to define the optimum viewing of the rear, and minimization of blind spots.

The curved three-piece bumper is aerodynamic and lightweight to reduce fuel costs. If the bumper is damaged, only the damaged section needs to be replaced, reducing repair time and costs.

Aerodynamics designed to deliver on your bottom line: From bumper to back-of-cab, the Cascadia’s graceful wind-swept lines produce the lowest coefficient of drag of any Freightliner ever conceived, more like a sports car than a long-distance highway hauler. The lightweight yet strong aerodynamic bumper directs airflow smoothly into the radiator, around the tires and under the chassis to reduce turbulence. A large, laid-back grille optimizes cooling efficiency as it guides air along the low, sloped hood, sleek fenders and curved windshield, onward over the truck and trailer. Unique, shorter side extenders are angled outward slightly to preserve aerodynamic performance and increase maneuverability. Lexan® covered headlights, pedestal-mounted aero mirrors and optional full length chassis fairings complete the package. The practical benefit of such an intelligent and aesthetic design is industry-leading fuel economy.

The Cascadia’s set-back axle position and up to 50-degree wheel cut produce a short turning radius and excellent maneuverability – qualities a driver can really appreciate in tight docking situations.

Rack and pinion steering, a Freightliner innovation in heavy duty trucks, is available on the Cascadia. Through design research and development, our engineers developed a steering system that’s more responsive and provides tighter control. Rack and pinion steering is much more precise than integral gear systems, and because it utilizes a reduced number of parts and pivot points, it offers more accurately controlled wheel direction, reducing driver fatigue and boosting driver comfort.

The Cascadia’s smart electrical design features system activation modules (SAM) that allow you to specify many things about how your trucks run on the job. With SAM, you can request that certain parameters be set for different operating conditions. For example, a fleet that wants the brake lights illuminated whenever the engine brake is activated can do so by having this parameter set. SAM can also make sure that your lights always go on along with your wipers to address visibility concerns. Heated mirrors can turn on automatically when a preset outside temperature is designated, or automatic door locks can engage at a certain speed. With traditional wiring systems, these functions would have to be specifically hard-wired to operate this way. SAM is dedicated to increasing the options available to fleets and substantially reducing the cost of implementing them.

The Cascadia’s automotive-style wraparound dash puts switches and controls well within reach for decisive activation via strong, soft touch paddles. Backlit gauges, in three available packages, are easy to read day or night. Steering wheel mounted controls – for cruise, marker lights, engine brake and optional Driver Message Center – facilitate safer, less stressful operation. The steering column tilts and telescopes, furthering personalized and precise adjustment. The dash is mounted low and combines with a large windshield, sloped hood and broader mirror coverage to offer excellent all-around visibility. Then there are the things you can only experience while underway. The positive feel and control from the rack and pinion steering, for instance. State-of-the-art climate control with 20 percent greater airflow than typical systems. The Freightliner SmartShift® control is mounted on the steering column and controls the optional automatic transmissions. This provides hands-on-the-wheel control and frees up space between the seats. All of this, combined with the hush of a uniquely quiet cab, and your driving experience will completely change.

The Cascadia needs less service than most, thanks to more reliable components with longer service intervals and thoughtful design details that keep a truck on the road – where it belongs. The optional roped-in windshield, for example, can be replaced within half an hour. Headlamps are standard items, widely available and easy to access without tools. A rugged three-piece bumper offers replaceable end caps. The hood and fender assembly is composed of three discrete sections that are easier, faster and less expensive to repair. And shorter breakaway aerodynamic side extenders reduce the risk of cab damage. The hood opens wide for easy engine access, and fluid reservoirs can be checked at a glance. Here again, SAM (system activation modules) provides technicians with a wealth of diagnostic information to quickly and accurately monitor, troubleshoot and repair the electrical system. Exposed fasteners put wiring, gauges and other behind-dash items readily at hand. Electrical wires are color coded and numbered for easier circuit tracing. A Power Distribution Center locates all fuses and circuit breakers in a single location behind the glove box. Convenient service doors provide direct entry to the HVAC system. Batteries, positioned close to the starter and alternator for minimum voltage drop, are a cinch to replace. The quick-to-service ingenuity beneath the Cascadia’s sleek aerodynamic exterior means more time on the job, less downtime in the shop and more money in your pocket.

If it's time to increase your productivity it's time to visit us at TEAM Truck Centres and view the new Freightliner Cascadia.