Truck Topics
Test Drive: Freightliner of Knoxville's "960 Express Cruiser"
It was a bright, sunny September day when Expediters Online dropped into Freightliner of Knoxville to meet with Expediting Truck Specialist, Jon Mosier. We were there for a road test of the new "960 Express Cruiser," a truck that made its world debut at the Expedite Expo 2003 this past August, garnering positive reviews from the show's attendees.
A collaborative effort of the dealership and sleeper manufacturer Bentz Transport Products of Ft. Wayne, IN, this 33,000 GVW truck has raised the level of the expediting truck in terms of comfort and efficiency.
Based on the successful Sterling Acterra truck, the highlight of the unit is the integrated roof, 96" Bentz-built sleeper. The dealership says that this new sleeper is the first premium fully integral unit offered on a medium duty truck that does not void the original cab warranty.
Keith Bentz, president of Bentz Transport Products, states, "Freightliner of Knoxville had requested that we build this type of sleeper, and with their support, we brought this integrated roof model to the market. The marketplace wanted a stand-up cab, and with this roof cut-out and with the standard Bentz quality built-in, we've answered both calls with one shot."
A little Sterling background
Sterling was founded by Freightliner LLC in 1998 as a new subsidiary with its own distribution network for its line of Class 5-8 trucks. Headquartered in Willoughby, OH, Sterling manufactures its Acterra line in St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada.
In 1999, Sterling introduced the Sterling Acterra, a complete new line of medium-duty trucks that has increasingly gained acceptance by the expediting truck buyer. Freightliner of Knoxville was the first expediting truck dealer in the mid-south to get on the Acterra "bandwagon," and they began offering the truck in 2000.
One of the most popular powerplant options available in the Acterra is the Mercedes-Benz MBE900 Series 6.4 liter/280HP engine and this is the engine that powered our test vehicle. This engine produces 800 ft/lbs of torque at 1250 rpm and it also meets all of the required emissions standards in North America, including the EPA/CARB regulations.
The Mercedes engineers say that the MBE900 engine is designed to run up to 500,000 miles before major overhaul by design features that include:
-An advanced engine protection system, including standard idle shutdown.
-Comprehensive off-board diagnosis via Freightliner's SERVICELINK® that provides service technicians with everything they need to know to check out the engine.
-Three valves per cylinder. An optional fourth valve acts as decompression valve, aiding in braking performance that reduces brake wear.
-MBE900 6.4L engines idle at 600 rpm (4.3L - 700rpm). Engine electronics are protected, to prevent unauthorized tampering with engine operating parameters.
The exterior
For those expediters accustomed to the "Plain Jane" look of the average Medium Duty truck, the chrome on the grill, front bumper, roof mounted air horns and other parts add a welcome touch of style to the appearance. Chrome wheels on the front and rear complete the custom look.
Equipped with a 22-foot Hercules cargo box, a side view of the truck presented a very sleek profile with a smooth sight-line transition from the top of the sleeper to the front of the cargo box. This sleek appearance was highlighted by the tasteful accent decals extending from the hood to the rear of the sleeper. Under the side fairings reside a pair of polished aluminum tanks.
The cab
The Sterling Acterra features a Class 8 cab, or as Mosier refers to it, "the old Ford Louisville" cab. It's the same cab that equips the Sterling tractors and dump trucks. It's roomy and spacious, with the kind of automotive-type styling that's found its way into working trucks over the last several years.
The cab and sleeper share the same air-ride system and this truck featured the Freightliner-designed Ezy-Ryder seats that provided a wealth of adjustment options. A Mercedes Benz exhaust brake switch is mounted on the dash within easy reach and equally convenient are the cruise control buttons mounted in the steering wheel. Other convenience options included tilt wheel and power windows and locks.
The "960 Express Cruiser sleeper"
"Freightliner of Knoxville is offering this 96" sleeper with refrigerator/freezers, sinks, microwave, inverters and TV/DVD," says Keith Bentz. "Also, their in-stock units feature a 48" lower bunk with our "Dyna-bunk" which is a foldout underneath the bed.
There are no exposed rivets on the outside of the cab, which gives a very clean appearance. In addition, the cab and sleeper are suspended on an advanced air-ride system."
To add to Keith Bentz's description, the interior of our test truck's sleeper exhibited "top-drawer" fit and finish, with ultra-smooth upholstery and great-looking, spacious oak cabinets with a blond finish. The stand-up height that might be a little short for an NBA player, but was more than tall enough for my 6-foot frame.
Mosier tells us that Bentz is also building an 84" model of this integrated sleeper, but because of the very modest difference in price between the 84" and 96", Freightliner of Knoxville will stock only the larger sleeper. He says that the 84" can be special ordered.
Mosier adds, that Bentz will be happy to custom-build different interior plans on the "960 Express Cruiser" sleeper.
Road test
After meeting with Jon Mosier, we did a quick pre-trip walk-around and we were ready to go. The test route Mosier had chosen presented a good "sampler" of both highway and secondary road conditions.
The truck had very satisfactory acceleration from a dead stop, which we were grateful for when trying to pull out of a side road into heavy truck traffic! The Eaton Fuller 6-speed with overdrive shifted in a tight, precise manner and I don't believe I missed a shift during the entire test (a record for me).
There is an abundance of power from the MBE900. It has a smooth and strong pull at both ends of a wide power band that eliminated a lot of shifting. Mosier has had the opportunity to put a few miles on the "960 Express Cruiser" in the past few weeks, including a run up the well-known Jellico hill on I-75, just south of the Kentucky-Tennessee line.
He says, "I don't encourage anyone to exceed the posted legal limits, but I was surprised to find myself running up the hill at 75 mph in sixth gear, with no apparent strain at all. Once I became aware of how fast I was going, of course I backed it down to the proper speed."
That same power served us well moments later when we were pulling onto I-40 and attempting to merge into heavy traffic. We were up to speed in no time, actually passing the right lane traffic before the end of the ramp.
This engine didn't seem to require constant shifting to stay in the engine's comfort zone. Admittedly, we were performing the test drive with an empty cargo box, but Mosier says that he notices very little difference in performance between empty and upwards of 7,000 lbs. in the back.
I have to confess; I get a little nervous taking a straight truck or tractor down some two-lane country roads - too big a truck for too little road. Thankfully, this Sterling Acterra required only a small amount of wheel correction to keep it in my lane. On the highway, the truck tracked true; in a hands-off-the-wheel test, it remained headed in a relatively straight line.
Braking was of course, top shelf - the truck stopped with no pull to either side - every time. The truck is equipped with front wheel ABS. Mosier points out the exhaust brake efficiency: "Mercedes engineers came up with a special throttle valve exhaust design maximizes engine braking power, so of course that saves your air brakes and components."
"This truck truly does offer comfort, affordability and durability," says Mosier. "Because of its Class 8 heritage, I feel this is an 8-10 year truck. We've seen many Class 7 owners who have moved up to a Class 8 type truck for the bigger truck's reliability."
The "960 Express Cruiser" comes with a two-year, unlimited mileage warranty. Also available is a 5-year, 300,000-mile warranty for $1,025. Mosier states that financing for this unit can be arranged to suit the needs of the owner-operator.
The price for this truck is $82,500.
"For those who prefer automatic transmissions, we have a number of trucks ordered with Allison Automatics, and they will be here at Freightliner of Knoxville very soon."
The "960 Express Cruiser" is, without question, the equal of just about any expediting-specific truck on the road today. It's built on a world-class platform, with a sleeper unit produced by one of the finest aftermarket manufacturers. This truck deserves a second and third looks by anyone in the market for a Class 8-style work truck with performance and style.
Jon Mosier
Freightliner of Knoxville
I-40/I-75 @ Watt Rd., Exit 369
800 443-2324
[email protected]