Freightliner Showcases MT-45, S2G Applications

Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp (FCCC; Gaffney, S.C.) showcased new product innovations at the Work Truck Show last month, including its LPG MT-45 chassis.

The chassis itself has been around for a while, but it now features twin autogas tanks to increase the range of the vehicle. They are dual 16×53-in. side-mounted LPG tanks with 60 gallons of total volume (shown below, center right).

“On the MT side, we’re continuing to have good success, especially at the larger end of the spectrum with UPS and larger fleet buyers,” said Kevin Erb, director of public relations for FCCC’s ad agency, Ferguson Advertising.

Speaking with BPN following the Work Truck Show, Erb also discussed FCCC’s S2G box truck displayed at its booth. In addition, an S2G unit outfitted with a flatbed and crane on its back was part of the Green Truck Summit’s Ride and Drive event. The company is pleased with the sales numbers and interest in the various S2G applications, including the propane bobtail and the box truck, although he noted propane marketers and companies using the S2G in various applications are taking a cautious approach, with many purchasing one, two, or three at a time.

“Of course you want to have the big orders go through, but by and large, we’re hearing very positive things.”

He noted that because the S2G is a unique product, the company is still addressing some issues on the service side. FCCC is working hard behind the scenes with its dealer network and customers, getting its technicians up to speed on repairing the vehicles. FCCC’s 24/7 Help Line (800-FTL-HELP) is available for customers who need any form of assistance, whether it is basic operational questions, or assistance finding repair facilities and coordinating repairs.

But some areas of encouragement include the interest in the S2G chassis from the beverage delivery industry. That industry sees the fuel efficiency and affordability benefits of the vehicle and is also seeing opportunity with the walk-in van product. People sometimes think of a Mickey truck from Mickey Truck Bodies when they think of the beverage body truck. Freightliner is also seeing opportunity with walk-in vans that are pallet-loaded and ready to drop off. Those options help eliminate some driver retention or Workers’ Compensation issues because drivers do less bending and heavy lifting.

The Los Angeles Unified School District’s (LAUSD) order of 30 dedicated propane S2G box trucks was another positive development. The district, which has been operating propane-fueled school buses for several years, contacted its local Freightliner dealer looking for a propane-fueled box truck to deliver food and equipment to schools within the district. The order included a challenge for Freightliner, however. The district needed steps built behind the passenger side door where the 60-gal. fuel tank is traditionally located. Freightliner figured out a way to move the fuel tank to the other side of the vehicle to meet the needs of the customer.

“We completed the design for them and built them a couple units initially, and after reviewing those first units they ordered another 28,” said Ron Anders, account manager, western region, for FCCC.