McKillop Contracting lands first Freightliner Cascadia

The cold chain fleet of McKillop Contracting has taken delivery of its first Freightliner Cascadia.

It represents the debut of the all-new conventional truck in New Zealand where the company began its operations 19 years ago out of Dunedin.

The 116 Cascadia will haul refrigerated goods between Christchurch and Invergargill and Dunedin and Christchurch for TSI Logistics on a two-driver rotating shift which will see it travel 1200km daily.

It joins two Freightliner Argosys and two 114 Coronados at McKillop Contracting.

“It is a big step forward, a game changer. The refinement, the driver comfort and the way the engine and gearbox work together is really impressive,” said owner Alex “Tex” McKillop.

The Cascadia, which features a unique vivid green lighting package, was purchased from Trevor McCallum at CablePrice in Christchurch.

This incandescing green lighting aglow beneath the prime mover and engine bay make McKillop Contracting trucks easy to spot on the roads of the South Island.

The Cascadia even features radiant Freightliner branding on the rear cab extenders.

There is also a large amount of stainless steel, which adds additional presence, and plenty of yellow LED lights.

“I just come up with all these crazy ideas and Phil at Fitzsimon Motor and Engineering Services in Christchurch just makes it happen,” said McKillop.

“A lot of work goes into it and the end result is brilliant.”

The McKillop Contracting Cascadia sports a 13-litre Detroit DD13 engine that generates 505hp and 1850lb-ft and is linked to a DT12 12-speed automated manual transmission.

It features the Detroit Connect safety package, with adaptive cruise control and Autonomous Emergency Braking, which can even detect and brake for pedestrians. The Cascadia, which is the best-selling truck in the United States, also features a driver airbag and lane departure warning system.

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