A Freightliner Cascadia has been welcomed into to a mixed Taree fleet with instant results.
Family business Ken Blanch Transport carts bricks, rooftop steel, fertiliser and timber up and down the eastern seaboard from its Mid North Coast base and has a nine-truck fleet made up of American and European models from four different manufacturers.
Owner Ken Blanch said he has been impressed with the Cascadia, especially when it comes to fuel.
“This is the best fuel consumption I’ve had from a bonneted truck,” he said.
The Cascadia is replacing another bonneted truck and the fuel saving in comparison is noticeable.
“It does 600m per litre better and that is quite significant,” added Blanch.
The 126 Cascadia is running a single trailer at 44 tonnes, for a return, on average, of 2.4km per litre.
Blanch explained that he was attracted to the Cascadia thanks to its 16-litre Detroit DD16 engine and spacious cabin, which the driver appreciates on longer runs.
With the help of Steve Pinkstone at Mavin Truck Centre, Blanch specified the Cascadia with the 560hp/1850ft-lb version of the 16-litre Detroit DD16 linked to a
DT12 fully automated 12-speed transmission.
The Cascadia, ordered with the 48-inch cab, features a full-suite of integrated safety technology that is new to the conventional truck class, including a radar and camera-based Advanced Emergency Braking System (AEBS) that can automatically detect, and fully brake for, moving pedestrians in addition to vehicles.
It also has radar-based adaptive cruise control and a lane departure warning system in addition to Electronic Stability Program and a driver airbag.
The Ken Blanch Transport Cascadia also comes with the four year/800,000km manufacturer warranty and five years/500,000km of complimentary servicing that is standard with all Cascadia models rated below 110 tonnes.
The company was founded by Blanch in 1989 with just one truck, a Ford LNT 9000 — a far cry from the cutting-edge Cascadia.
When asked about the difference between the two trucks, Blanch said, “Trucks have come a long way.”