When my friends and family found out I had been chosen to represent Freightiner's Team Run Smart, to say the least, they were very excited for me. When I found out I would be receiving a brand new Cascadia Evolution for use in my own trucking business, I was more ecstatic than you could imagine! This revolutionary new truck from Freightliner has been built with both driver comfort and the bottom-line in mind. The cavernous cabin along with revolutionary technology make this truck an asset to anyone's trucking business. After the team of pros had been formally announced, the main question from my friends and family became, "When do we get to see it?" I can now say, she has arrived!
I chose the name "Silver Lining" based on the gray cloud that seems to hang over a lot of heads that I sometimes see out there on the road. We are in an industry where we work long hours, are away from home often, and have to live in a rolling bunkhouse. Due to this, I often see many people with a negative outlook or a gray cloud hanging over their head. The way I look at this truck is as if she is a silver lining in any gray cloud, able to shed new light on even the gloomiest perspective. I also choose to call the truck "she" because I spend as much or more time with it as my wife, so in my mind it is my other wife!
The smooth external body lines on this truck are complemented by its luxurious interior. Step inside to find a vast amount of living space. The lack of a traditional shift knob allows for easy maneuvering around the front of the cab without having to contort into shapes the human body should not have to endure to get around the stick. A look towards the sleeper gives you a classy, warm feeling of a rolling home away from home. The quilted back panel along with wood grain accents, make for a comfortable place to hang my hat. "Silver Lining" is also equipped with the ParkSmart system for maximum key-off comfort. It includes a fuel fired heater combined with a battery operated A/C with its own bank of batteries. Since my primary operating area is California, this feature will save me from idling fines and keep me nice and cool on the 90 degree+ days I will soon be experiencing this Spring and Summer.
I have already realized that when I open the hood, people come from around the yard to see the beautiful Detroit Diesel DD15 under the hood. This precision powerplant draws a crowd easily and I love explaining some of the cool features this engine has such as the variable-speed water pump, relocated fuel and oil filter, and the easy-access fuse box. Pair it with the smoothest automated transmission I have ever felt, the Detroit DT12, I am now armed to attack the costs of doing business!
There are definitely a lot of options on this particular truck to try and maximize fuel economy with the "Evolution" package. One of my favorite features on this particular setup are the wide-based singles from Michelin that will allow for less rolling resistance, which I have had great success with using in the past. There are also other options such as all-around disk brakes, OnGuard collision warning and smart cruise, as well as e-coast technology. I welcome all questions and comments regarding "Silver Lining", as they will only help me further learn about this marvelous piece of machinery.
As you can see, it has received the seal of approval from the real boss and assistant, my wife and daughter. If you see me out there, don't be shy! Come on over and I'll give you the grand tour of the most innovative and efficient truck on the road. Stay tuned for my future blogs on the impact it is having on my bottom line, performance updates, as well as more in-depth accounts of its many features!