After logging more than three million test miles, Freightliner LLC has begun delivering demo trucks with ’07 engines to fleet customers nationwide.

“These trucks have been thoroughly tested for durability and dependability at our engineering facilities, on test tracks and on North American highways pulling loaded trailers. We’ve tested them on mountain roads and run them in the heat of summer and the cold of the winter,” said Steve Morelli, EPA ’07 sales and marketing manager for Freightliner LLC.
Larry Dutko, EPA ’07 general manager for Freightliner LLC, has been working closely with engine manufacturers to ensure the ’07 engines perform optimally in Freightliner, Sterling and Western Star vehicles. “The cab of the trucks will remain the same, but we’ve had to make some changes to the wiring harnesses and adjustments to accommodate the slightly larger ’07 engines,” Dutko said. The ’07 engines also will add an exhaust aftertreatment device – replacing the muffler assembly – for filtering out particulate matter in the exhaust.
The public was able to view Freightliner LLC vehicles with ‘07 engines at last week’s Mid?America Trucking Show. Trucks on display included a Freightliner Century Class® S/T with a Detroit Diesel Series 60 engine, a Columbia with a Caterpillar C15 engine, a Sterling AT9500 113-inch BBC with an MBE4000 engine, and a Western Star 4900 EX with a Detroit Diesel Series 60 engine.
Freightliner LLC’s service division is equally prepared for 2007. District service managers have been trained and by the end of 2006, all Freightliner LLC dealerships and Freightliner ServicePoint locations will be certified to work on the ’07 engines.