Three Years Rolling
FREIGHTLINER Team Run Smart
It’s hard to believe that it’s been a little over three years since I started driving Celeste, our 2022 Freightliner Cascadia®. After introducing you to her specs and current standings, we’ll cruise through some of the different routes she powers through on the regular.
Celeste by the Numbers
Celeste is powered by a Detroit DD15® engine that drives with 455 horsepower and propels forward using 1,850 pound-feet of torque. Her Detroit DT12® automated manual transmission with overdrive handles seamless shifting like a pro. In the back, a Detroit rear axle with a 2.61 ratio creates smooth cruising, and the 6x2 axle configuration gives the right balance of pull and efficiency for the kind of runs we do. She also has a Hendrickson OTPIMAAX liftable pusher axle, which adjusts on the fly to help with traction and load distribution.
The big goal for Celeste was to be able to average over 10 MPG while cruising at speeds up to 75 MPH where safe, posted and beneficial to the operation. This project was simply called “Project 70+/10.” It took some time, but my goal has been successfully achieved. Below, you can get the rundown of Celeste’s performance thus far. It’s important to note that “70 average miles per hour” indicates my average cruise speed setting, not the average speed itself.
On the Road
Celeste always meets the different demands of routes, from lighter to heavier loads. My best fuel mileage route is a run I call the “Garden State Express.” It takes me from Laredo, TX, to Swedesboro, NJ. Once I deliver to Swedesboro, I have a short hop to Newark, DE, where I pick up my return load to Laredo.
The freight has been pretty light going to Swedesboro. Coming back, it’s extremely lightweight since the return load carries insulation. This combination has allowed Celeste to fully flex the versatility of having the Hendrickson OPTIMAAX liftable pusher axle, working in tandem with the trailer that also has a lift axle.
Having lift axles on the truck and trailer has afforded me the ability to operate on only three axles for the last five consecutive weeks. Keeping axles off the ground not only saves fuel but also saves on tolls, as the charges are based on how many axles are on the ground. Since Celeste has a 6X2 configuration, this allows her to run with more fuel efficiency and cut down drag because there’s only one differential being powered.
I also operate another route which I call the “Queen City Express.” It takes us from Laredo, TX, to Charlotte, NC, and back. The freight on this route is more moderate compared to the lighter “Garden State Express.” For Queen City, Celeste pulls a load with a gross combined vehicle weight (GCVW) that falls somewhere between 60 and 65 thousand lbs.
The third route that I commonly take is one we call the “Motor City Express.” This heavier-load route takes me right through the West Virginia Mountains. Starting from Laredo, TX, we move to Charlotte, NC. I unload and reload at the same location then deliver in Quincy, MI. After a short, empty hop over to Redford, MI, I pick up my load and head back to Laredo with a GCVW between 75 and 80 thousand lbs.
Conclusion
Day in and day out, Celeste surges through these routes just like she did three years ago. The ride is still great, and the only thing that rattles in the truck is my coffee pot.
As for maintenance, the only thing that we did was replace the radiator due to a freak stone that impacted the core. Oil changes are at 75,000-mile intervals, and no make-up oil has been needed. Also, the rear axle lube was done as scheduled last winter (see more). Of note, I am still on my original DAVCO fuel filter along with the original disc brake pads.
Trucks sure have come a long way from when I first started in the trucking industry in 1983. There would have already been some major complications overhauled by those trucks by the time they reached the mileage Celeste is at now. It really is amazing to see what you can accomplish when you’re behind the wheel of a truck that doesn’t let you down.