Cargo Transporters has now received half of its 120 Fifth Generation Freightliner Cascadias.
Cargo Transporters is continuing its investment in modern equipment with the delivery of the 60th truck in a 120-truck order of Fifth Generation Freightliner Cascadias.
The more than $23 million investment will replace 120 older trucks in the Cargo Transporters fleet and introduce some of Freightliner’s latest safety, driver-assistance, and comfort technology to the drivers behind the wheel.
There is also a strong North Carolina connection to the project. The new Cascadias are being manufactured at Daimler Truck North America’s Cleveland, North Carolina plant, located approximately 50 minutes from Cargo Transporters’ headquarters in Claremont.
Investing in Safety Through Technology
Safety has long been a cornerstone at Cargo Transporters, and the Fifth Generation Cascadia brings another generation of technology designed to support drivers on the road.
The trucks are equipped with the Detroit Assurance Suite of Safety Systems featuring Active Brake Assist 6. Freightliner says the system uses a combination of cameras and radar to help identify potential hazards around the truck and provide driver alerts or braking assistance in certain situations. Daimler Truck North America
The Fifth Generation Cascadia expanded the system’s capabilities with additional short-range radar sensors, an updated forward-facing camera, and improved detection of vehicles and pedestrians in a wider variety of situations. Daimler Truck North America
For Cargo Transporters, however, those systems are intended to do exactly what their name suggests: assist the driver.
“We are so proud to be able to offer these kinds of advanced trucks to our drivers,” said Cargo Transporters Chairman John Pope. “Helping to make their lives in the truck less stressful and giving them tools to make better decisions is an important part of this investment.”
Technology can provide additional information, visibility, and assistance, but it does not replace the trained and licensed CDL-A driver behind the wheel. Freightliner similarly notes that Detroit Assurance systems are designed to assist attentive drivers rather than replace driver judgment or responsibility. Daimler Truck North America
Built With the Driver in Mind
The investment goes beyond active safety systems.
The Fifth Generation Cascadia was developed with an increased focus on driver visibility, comfort, and usability. Freightliner has introduced features including an updated braking system, redesigned LED headlights, improved aerodynamics, and additional driver-assistance technology throughout the platform. Daimler Truck
Cargo Transporters has also configured its new trucks with equipment and amenities intended to make life behind the wheel and time spent resting more comfortable.
“These trucks also include other enhancements to make the drivers’ downtime more comfortable while resting,” Pope said.
That focus is especially important for drivers who may spend several days at a time in their trucks. The cab is not simply where the workday happens. During a trip, it also becomes a place to eat, rest, recharge, and prepare for the next day.
120 New Trucks, Built Close to Home
The location where the trucks are being manufactured adds another dimension to the investment.
Cargo Transporters is headquartered in Claremont, North Carolina, while the Fifth Generation Cascadias are being produced at Daimler Truck North America’s manufacturing facility in nearby Cleveland, North Carolina.
That means an investment of more than $23 million in Cargo’s fleet is also bringing equipment built here in North Carolina onto the road.
“We are proud to purchase a world-class product manufactured right here in North Carolina by our friends and neighbors,” Pope said.
Once the complete order is delivered, all 120 new Cascadias will have replaced older equipment within Cargo Transporters’ existing fleet.
Continuing to Move the Fleet Forward
Reaching the halfway point means 60 of the new trucks are now part of the Cargo Transporters fleet, with another 60 still to come.
For Cargo, the investment represents more than replacing equipment based on age. It is an opportunity to continue improving the tools available to drivers while adding technology that supports safety, comfort, reliability, and efficiency.
As the remaining trucks arrive, the goal remains the same: provide drivers with equipment that helps them do their jobs confidently while continuing Cargo Transporters’ long-term investment in a modern fleet.
Because newer equipment is not simply about what is parked in the lot. It is about the people who will put it to work mile after mile.
