NewModel

This is a pucker heavy-duty truck-tractor that enjoys the number one spot in the USA.

Remember the good old Ford Louisville - that delightful bonneted beauty which found favour among brick hauliers and the like and was also an early favourite of Pick 'n Pay. Although now long gone, the point the Louisville made was that although our local legislation does not favour bonneted trucks due to the extra length of the cab taking up payload space, there are applications where this configuration does suit. South Africa was bereft of a successor to the Louisville until Tyco Trucks launched its International 7600 a few years ago. The 7600 has had the market to itself since its launch and it is pleasing to see many of these trucks hauling on our roads. Now, however, it has a competitor in the form of the 112-inch BBC (bumper-to-back-of-cab), semi-forward control Freightliner Columbia 112. Patrick O'Leary attended the launch.

Introduced by an excited and delighted Johan Cloete, divisional manager of the Freightliner division of DaimlerChrysler SA at the Zwartkops race track last month, the Columbia 112 adds to the company's armory opening up, as it does, new transport sectors for Freightliner to penetrate.

As is well known, the Freightliner Argosy cab-over model has gained enormous popularity in South Africa. Last year, in a total market of 33 000 sales of trucks over 3 500kg GVM, the extra-heavy sector accounted for a third of all truck sales. Of these, 54% were 6x4 truck tractors.

"And for the first time ever, Freightliner took the lead with our Argosy being the number one seller in the over 400HP 6x4 market with 831 units sold during 2006. What's more, in the first two months of this year, we maintained our lead by increasing our market share by another 1%," says Cloete, adding that Freightliner currently boasts a market share of 20% in this segment.

This is a far cry from five years ago when, in Cloete's own words, "the plan we put forward for Freightliner made it look like we were all smoking East London Green or Durban Gold. But the plan worked and we're now going further by kicking off this year with a bang via the launch of our new Columbia 112." Given all this, he predicts that 2007 "will be the year of the Freightliner."

As background to this statement, he says one must not consider the Columbia to be a medium sized truck-tractor being put to work in the heavy market sector. "There are no guises here. This is a pucker heavy-duty truck-tractor that enjoys the number one spot in the heavy-duty truck tractor segment in the USA."

He admits, however, that it will not suit all needs such as, for example, those operators going for maximum length taut-liners. "We don't see it as the truck tractor of choice for highway operations from say Johannesburg to Namibia. It's a niche market product and for those operators looking for maximum payload on a 12,5m or 13m trailer, this vehicle is it."

The fact that he is not making excessive claims points to a focused approach which takes market segmentation into mind. This is good news for it will ensure the avoidance of future operator disappointments arising as a result of false promises made on the sales floor. FleetWatch has written time and again that selecting the correct vehicle for the job is the first step towards a successful transport operation.

"In essence, the Columbia 112 is designed to be an efficient partner for medium distance operations, bulk haulers, inter-city delivery and distribution operations," says Cloete.

OK - so that's where it's positioned. But what are we looking at there? Let's start with the cab. The accompanying pictures show how it looks so I'm not going into poetic descriptions of its design and styling. Rather, let's accent the practical aspects incorporated into the cab.

Here she is! The Freightliner Columbia 112 seen in the photographs in tanker and semi-tipper guise. It's a good looking, feature filled, niche market product.

Accent on aerodynamics
With fuel costs soaring all around the world, design engineers have placed increasing accent on aerodynamics for the simple reason that by reducing wind resistance, you achieve improved fuel consumption. In this respect, the Columbia 112 scores big Brownie points.

If you take a look at the cab in the photographs, you'll see that the hood is sloped so as to reduce wind resistance. Also take a look how the windshield is swept back - again with the intention of reducing air drag. Now take a look at the bumper and check out how it wraps around the corners - again boosting fuel efficiency by reducing air drag.

If you stand in front of the truck, it looks almost like the front of one of those 'bullet' trains used in Japan, which just have to be the most aerodynamic 'vehicles' in the world. This tells you that the design guys have done their job well in their intention to have the Columbia 112 slice rather than fight its way through the air.

Lingering on the cab for a moment, I refer to two other practical design aspects which will please operators. The first pertains to the fact that the windshield is split into two. This is not a 'looks' or 'nice design' feature but is rather intended to save costs for the operator. Should the windshield be damaged and need replacement, instead of having to fork out huge bucks for a massive windshield, one merely replaces the damaged section.

Similarly with the bumper which is a three-piece design intended to minimise repair costs by allowing individual section replacement. There is nothing worse on a truck than a bashed bumper as it makes the whole truck look tatty. Yet many operators let it be as they are loath to fork out on an expensive full replacement bumper. On the Columbia 112, only the bashed section gets replaced. A nice touch in this world of high cost replacement parts.

Two cab derivatives
Still on the cab, two derivatives are available - a day or a single sleeper cab version, the latter with easy walk through access. "It is not a double bunk sleeper as you find in the classical long haul trucks such as the Argosy but it is incorporated for when a driver might have to sleep a night out," says Cloete.

As the photographs show, the Sleeper Cab features a wrap-around privacy curtain for overnight stops and a cargo net with a secure locking mechanism. Both cabs are designed to maximise space and comfort with ample storage space. 

On the comfort side, the fully adjustable air suspended Bostrom driver and passenger seats feature a tiltable seat squab and adjustable lumber support for maximum driving comfort and control. "The driver is a person we regard as being most important as he sits in control of an investment that could top R1.5-million. As such, we ensure his 'office' is as comfortable and practical as possible," says Cloete.

On the safety front, the cab structure complies with the crash test standards of the European ECE and is built to be reliable and durable having been tested over millions of km on shaker test and test tracks in the US.

The Columbia's cab also features a host of components and options designed to create a comfortable working and living environment, including anti-glare cabin lights. Inside the cab, the wrap-around dash is mounted low to increase visibility, controls and switches are easy to reach, and the LED back-lit instruments are easy to read. A 21-setting HVAC system provides fresh, filtered air at temperatures designated by the driver.

"Freightliner was the first brand in South Africa to introduce air-conditioning as standard into our cabs and everyone thought we were crazy. However, our decision was the right one. Not only do the drivers love it but it also contributes to them improving their productivity while operating in our stiflingly hot climate," says Cloete. Way to go guys!

But driver comfort is not only limited to the inside of the cab. It goes further than a comfortable seat and in this case, both ride and handling are enhanced by a taper leaf front spring suspension rated at 6 300 kgs. Rear suspension is Freightliner's bullet proof Airliner. The Airliner has been operating on thousands of Freightliner Argosy's and its durability and reliability is unchallenged.

Single engine derivative
Looking under the bonnet we have an interesting development. As is well known, Freightliner has, on its Argosy, offered operators a choice of engines. For the Columbia 112, however, you're looking at a truck which has a single engine derivative in the form of the Caterpillar C12 410/1550, a high performer which develops up to 317 kW and 2 101 Nm of torque and peaks at 425 hp @ 1 800 r/min.

"This is the first time Freightliner has offered a single engine derivative," says Cloete. "We did an analysis and there was only one engine that met our design criteria and that was the Caterpillar C12 410/1550." That this decision has thrilled the guys at Caterpillar was clearly evident by the full Cat team being present at the launch with wide smiles permanently etched onto each face. Without doubt, this is going to boost not only Caterpillar sales but also its image in this market.

This engine has so many features with just its electronic capabilities being enough to take up a whole page. Electronic self-diagnostics, electronically tabulated total fuel consumption in hours and kilometers, electronically tabulated total idle time, fleet information software (FIS) capability, user-selectable, reprogrammable vehicle operating parameters such as speed limiting, engine rpm speed limiting, cruise control and a host of other features make this engine one that is sure to impress and add value.
 

Driver comfort has been catered for in every way starting with the low mounted wrap around dash to increase visibility through to the plush and comfortable sleeping quarters in the single sleeper cab.

A marvel of modern engineering
Also under the bonnet working in harmony with the engine is a marvel of modern engineering. I refer to the Eaton-Fuller 10-speed Smartshift in the latest Gen3 iteration guise. Combined with the Eaton Fuller Solo clutch - which is only used at starting and stopping of the vehicle - this transmission puts a whole new spin onto the art of truck driving.

I really, really, REALLY wanted to go into the vehicle performance, safety and operational cost advantages offered by the Smartshift but I can see the bottom of the page coming up at me which means space is getting 'min'. I will, however, cover this is a separate article in our next edition.

In the meantime, to give a 'taster', let's just say that the ease of operation and smooth handling provided for the driver by this transmission via the Smartshift lever on the right of the steering wheel is such that at the launch, people who had never been in a truck before got behind the wheel of the Columbia 112 and drove it effortlessly around the Zwartkops race track without even flinching. This was all due to the Smartshift. It's push-button stuff rather than push-grind stuff. It's really amazing as you'll see in our next edition.

On the braking side, the Columbia is fitted with anti-lock braking (ABS) and a Jacobs engine braking system as standard. "The Columbia's safety systems are as advanced as those of the Argosy," says Cloete. Freightliner was, by the way, the first brand in South Africa to introduce electronic engines and ABS as standard. 

The Freightliner Columbia 112 comes with the standard Freightliner warranty of 12 months unlimited km and 24 months or 400 000 km on the drive train. Production will be in CKD (completely knocked-down) kits and starts in the second quarter of 2007 at Ikhwezi in East London. 

Our prediction? It's going to be a winner. However, we have a few questions which space does not permit us asking here. One relates to the long-term availability of parts - particularly cabs - given that Freightliner is launching its new Columbia range in the USA in a month or two. But, we'll get to that in our next edition. In the meantime, let's say that this is a 'lekker lorrie'.

It was a happy day for Kenneth Dunn (left), director of international sales for Freightliner in the USA and our local head of Freightliner at DCSA, Johan Cloete.   Potential customers like Len Eicker, commercial director of FleetAfrica, a Super Group company, expressed delight at the ease of driving brought about by the Eaton-Fuller 10-speed Smartshift in the latest Gen3 iteration guise.
The introduction of the Freightliner Columbia has made happy men of guys like Barrie Ferreira, dealer principal of Sandown Commercial Vehicles, as it is sure to increase dealer sales.

"This is for storage space as well as for hanging on when you're being driven by a guy like your technical correspondent Dave Scott," says Freightliner's Johan Cloete	Playing with the toy you manufacture is such fun as Kenneth Dunn, director of International Sales for Freightliner in the USA found out when he took to the Zwartkops race track behind the wheel of the Columbia. Our guess is that truck drivers and operators are going to enjoy it as much as he did.