Good as new? Freightliner broadens Legacy line

TOOLE, Utah (Sept. 4, 2000) — Freightliner Trucks hopes to bleed off a glut of used highway equipment with the addition of a vocational and day-cab version of its Legacy Class line of remanufactured class-8 trucks.

Engineered as true Freightliner production vehicles and built on the Freightliner assembly line, Legacy trucks combine a brand new cab and chassis with a remanufactured engine and transmission and rebuilt rear axles. Drivetrain components are harvested from used class-8 trucks and restored to new-truck condition.

Introduced last week, the Legacy Classic is targeted at vocational operators and regional haulers. Standard components include a remanufactured 12.7-liter DDC Series 60 (430 horsepower) engine, remanufactured Eaton-Fuller 13-speed overdrive transmission and rebuilt Dana-Spicer rear axles (40,000 pounds). Other specifications include a Meritor front axle (12,000 pounds), Freightliner AirLiner suspension (40,000 pounds), 16-inch AeroClad bumper, Freightliner aluminum wheels, and dual stainless steel air cleaners.

The model will be sold at Freightliner Trucks dealerships and Freightliner SelecTrucks used truck centres. The truck is available in both truck and tractor configurations.

The Legacy program is designed to address a used-truck market flooded with similarly spec’d highway tractors. By refurbishing 350,000- to 400,000-mile fleet trucks and reconfiguring them to more popular used truck types, Freightliner is offering the used-truck customer both a warranted truck and one with refurbished components he can actually specify himself: horsepower, drivetrain, and exterior and interior trim levels previously only available on new-truck orders to suit customer needs.

Ultimately, said Freightliner LLC president and CEO Jim Hebe, the aim is for a customer to be able to order a used truck to a list of specifications and with a range of options and have it built and delivered in 45 days.