Mirror set-up – We found the mirrors to be too small and the placement was poor: they were too low for good full-field visibility.The dash set-up – a ‘spacey’ looking new dash configuration, but not enough storage.Some of the features we didn’t particularly like: I guess that’s part of how Freightliner makes money. some of the parts are clearly overpriced. ….a ridiculous price! Working or repairing these trucks even for minor repairs is obviously not cheap, from my own personal experience…. The cost was $89 for a threaded adjustment rod and $144 for the bracket which mounts to the alternator that the adjustment bolt slides through. Recently, we bought 2 pieces of a standard alternator bracket sold by Freightliner. Ii) the parts can be quite expensive if you’re doing your own repairs and if not you can wait days in many cases, to get your rig into a Freightliner shop. I) Their resale value is low because there are usually plenty of used Cascadias available at any given time and If I had to say anything negative about the Cascadia, (or Freightliners in general), it would be that Larger windshield for improved visibility.all very important for owner operators as well as fleet owners. A lighter vehicle will also get better fuel mileage and scale a greater pay load….much desired qualities in a truck nowadays, especially for fleets. I’m sure this feature of keeping the Cascadia interior spacious, yet compact, lends itself to a vehicle that is quite maneuverable and it’s light….it is clearly not a big vehicle, when it comes to Class 8 trucks. On the inside of the Freightliner Cascadia, it is spacious and comfortable, which is rather deceiving when you look at the truck from the outside….Battery shut-off: a small but important feature, so the driver can turn off the battery, for power preservation.Decent storage: I find ample storage to be a problem in most trucks I’ve ever owned.There’s also plenty of power outlets for the many electronic devices that truckers all seem to have now.The bunks have fridges mounted at waist height, so the driver doesn’t need to bend to access the fridge….smart thinking.They believe, and rightly so, that a quieter cab reduces driver stress and fatigue, both when at the wheel driving or in the bunk.Ī well rested and low stressed driver is obviously a safer driver, so they are creating an environment that is conducive to safety…… good thinking. Freightliner has worked hard to reduce cab noise, this year boasting a 50% reduction in road and wind noise, than in previous models.They also swivel, too, which I think is a particularly good feature. The seats are wider, higher and longer than standard seats.Special spring set-up on the hood, for stability and to keep it from closing too hard.The cab and bunk is nice and high too, 84″ in the cab and 90″ in the bunk. The door openings from both the cab and to the bunk are quite large, to accommodate any size driver and makes for easy access.Here’s some of the features of the Cascadia that I like: I think the design team at Freightliner have done a lot of things right. There’s just got to be a good reason why.įreightliner’s goal is to sell trucks and they’re obviously selling more than any other Class 8 manufacturer out there and this has been the case for quite some time. Now, I must first admit, that I’ve never owned a Freightliner, nor am I a Freightliner fan.īut, we’re seeing the Freightliner Cascadia more and more on the road these days… in fact, it may very well be the most commonly sighted rig on the road these days….probably more than any other model of big rig out there, and that’s significant. A close look at the Freightliner Cascadia….At this year’s Mid-America Truck Show, I was able to have a good close look at this popular model of Class 8 highway truck.