Freightliner has added two new transmission options for its 122SD vocational truck line as well as a new seat and tire pressure monitoring system option for its Cascadia and Cascadia Evolution products.Both announcements were made this week at the Great American Trucking Show in Dallas.The 122SD can now be spec’d with Allison 4700 Rugged Duty Series (RDS) and Oil Field Services (OFS) automatic transmissions. Both transmissions feature 2nd Reverse (“deep reverse”) in addition to the standard reverse; automatic shifts, which automatically and smoothly make the right shift at the right time; and greater startablity, which uses less torque to launch and go, the company said.The 122SD with either transmission is available with Detroit DD13, DD15, DD16, and Cummins ISX heavy-duty engines.“Our severe-duty customers have demanding jobs that require powerful, heavy-duty solutions that won’t compromise productivity,” said Mary Aufdemberg, director of product marketing for Freightliner Trucks. “Allison’s specialized transmissions meet those exacting requirements and, when paired with the 122SD, provide a smart solution for extreme jobs.” In addition to the new transmission options, under-the-passenger-seat battery mounting is now available for all 122SD day and sleeper cab configurations. This option provides additional space for body builders by freeing up valuable rail space. Freightliner also announced that the Bose Ride system II truck seat suspension and the SmarTire tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) from Bendix CVS are now in production for the Cascadia and Cascadia Evolution truck models.The Bose Ride system II seat suspension features advanced technologies that are said to reduce fatigue and pain. The system uses sensors and a regenerative electromagnetic motor to counteract the shaking and jarring experienced by many drivers. It features a Ride Control selector which enables drivers to customize their ride; enhanced seat-top ergonomics for improved driver comfort; and a built-in driver orientation module for new and slip seat drivers.SmarTire provides real-time pressure and temperature status on an in-vehicle dash display, instantly informing the driver if there is an issue with a tire. A wheel-mounted sensor accurately captures tire temperature and pressure – along with a deviation value that shows the amount of over or under-inflation from each tire’s cold inflation pressure (CIP) – for earlier warning of a potential problem, and valuable time to react to the issue before it results in a failure. “Through our partnerships with companies like Bose and Bendix we are adding to our extensive selection of driver- and productivity-focused options, with the ultimate goal of helping our customers achieve the best results,” said Aufdemberg.
