As environmentally conscious business practices are becoming more economical, companies are making the switch to alternatively fueled fleets. Companies are often forced to convert their fleet vehicles on their own as few manufacturers offer alternative fuel work trucks and vans straight off the assembly line.
Converting a fleet is costly and, although proven to pay off in the long run, can be a headache for fleet owners, managers, and drivers. Luckily some manufacturers have seen the potential of alternative vehicles and are offering their vehicles with alternative fuel options. Freightliner is one of those manufacturers and offers the 114SD NG, powered by natural gas.
ALTERNATIVE POWER
Heavy-duty customers are heavy-duty customers for a reason: heavy-duty power, of which this natural gas engine has plenty. The Freightliner 114SD NG is powered by a Cummins Westport ISL G 8.9-liter engine, which offers 320 hp and 1,000 lb-ft of torque. Pair the engine with the choice between a manual Eaton Fuller transmission, an automated manual Eaton AutoShift or Eaton UltraShift, or an automatic Allison 3000 or 4000 Series. The Allison 3000 Series is standard.
No two businesses are alike, that’s why the 114SD NG is available in a 114-inch day cab, a 140-inch extended cab, or a 162-inch crew cab for specific needs. The front axle in the 114SD is rated at 12,000 lbs, and the rear axle is rated at 40,000 lbs. In total, the 114SD Natural Gas has a GVWR of 62,000 lbs. Heavy-duty power? Delivered.
QUALITY IS STANDARD
The Freightliner 114SD Natural Gas has several great features as standard offerings. Enjoy a corrosion resistant, 114-inch BBC steel-reinforced aluminum day cab with a strong fiberglass hood that is contoured for pre-cleaner and snow door and a hood-mounted splashguard. The 114SD features a radiator mounted, molded-in color front grille with signature styling. The front grille, bumper, primary mirrors, headlight bezels, and engine air intake grille are trimmed in black, and the truck features a wide cab for easy installation of the truck’s control tower.
OPTIONAL FEATURES
Unfortunately, standard offerings don’t meet the need of every business. But thankfully, Freightliner has plenty of available options for its 114SD NG. The Freightliner 114SD NG is available in a variety of wheelbases with frames and frame reinforcements to meet severe-duty needs. Buyers can choose steer axles rated from 12,000 to 22,000 lbs and single drive axles from 21,000 to 38,000 lbs. Choose rear suspensions from Hendrickson and Chalmers or Freightliner’s AirLiner and TufTrac.
Freightliner’s trucks are built with upfits and specific applications in mind. Front engine, rear engine, and transmission power takeoffs are available as well as three under-cab-mounted batteries with clear back-of-cab packaging. There are multiple exhaust aftertreatment options and pipe routings available as well as cylindrical or rectangular fuel tanks, and buyers of the 114SD NG have a choice of removable and/or frame-mounted front tow devices—great features for any application.
Owners and upfitters will appreciate the ease of upfitting, but drivers will appreciate the way the 114SD NG looks. Owners who choose a bright accented front grille with chromed grille surround, headlight bezels, and engine air intake grille get a sleek truck with a sleek look to complement.
EXPERIENCE THE NG
Along with appreciating the exterior of the 114SD NG, drivers will enjoy many features inside the cab. Enter through wide door openings (65-degree door swing) with low step-in height that improves driver safety upon entering and exiting the cab, not to mention optional grab handles with rubber inserts that ensure additional safety.
The cab features a 2,500-sq-inch one-piece windshield and a 63×14-inch rear window for optimum road and jobsite visibility. And depending on wheel equipment, the Freightliner 114SD NG has a wheel cut of 50 degrees, adding jobsite maneuverability to jobsite visibility.
The driver’s area is ergonomically designed to feature easy-to-read LED-backlit gauges, an automotive-style dash, and controls within easy reach of the driver. If your application requires additional switches and knobs, an expanded dash instrumentation is available with switches and controls to meet almost any vocational application.
Company owners looking to make the switch to an environmentally conscious and fiscally responsible option without the headache of converting their own fleet can look no further than their local Freightliner dealer.
With heavy-duty power, quality standard and optional offerings, and a cockpit that any driver will appreciate, the Freightliner 114SD NG is a great go-to for alternative power in a heavy-duty package.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Find out more about the Freightliner 114SD NG, visit www.freightliner.com.
MODERN WORKTRUCK SOLUTIONS: APRIL 2019 ISSUE
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