With its enhanced safety features and a driver-focused design, the Freightliner EconicSD waste collection truck is a modern, innovative solution for the refuse segment.
“Market demand for the Freightliner EconicSD has exceeded our expectations and confirmed our premise that there was a critical need for this vehicle in the refuse segment. We have already sold our first round of trucks,” says Richard Saward, General Manager, Vocational Sales for Freightliner Trucks. “Every indication is that this industry has been underserved on safety and technology. For this reason, we believe the Freightliner EconicSD is a game changer in waste collection.”
A first for the brand’s vocational lineup, the Freightliner EconicSD comes standard with the Detroit Assurance suite of safety systems – which includes active brake assist, adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning and side guard assist.
The Detroit Assurance suite of safety systems includes side guard assist which utilizes radars to sense objects on the side of the truck and alerts the driver.
Notes Saward, “Many of our on-highway fleets throughout North America have already experienced the benefit from Detroit Assurance, and we’re proud to bring these innovative safety technologies to neighborhood streets.”
The vehicle’s expansive windshield and enhanced mirror system both reduce blind spots and provide panoramic views for outstanding visibility at every turn. When combined with the truck’s lower seat orientation, drivers have clear views of their surroundings. 
A low-entry design eases entry egress, while an optional lowering feature on the front axles further decreases an already low step-in height.
The Freightliner EconicSD’s low-entry concept – which includes an optional kneeling function on front axles – makes getting in and out of the cab safer and easier. With a low step-in height of only 19-in. and a low floor height, through-cab access is easier for both drivers and passengers. And, with options like a pneumatic bi-fold door with full-length tinted glass on the passenger’s side and an optional built-in camera system with blind spot views, the Freightliner EconicSD was designed for next-level safety and driver comfort.
Inside the spacious cab, an intuitive and ergonomically designed digital instrument cluster further enhances the driver experience. The suspended driver’s seat features multi-axis adjustment and heating capability for comfort. Adding to the driver’s experience, the vehicle’s wheel cut provides superior maneuverability, especially in urban and neighborhood environments.
“We took into consideration what would most benefit the driver, passengers and other drivers and incorporated those features into the Freightliner EconicSD. As customer demand indicates, this vehicle has been thoughtfully engineered to meet the day-to-day challenges of the refuse route,” says Saward.
