PORTLAND, OR - Freightliner Trucks, a North American heavy-duty truck manufacturer serving GVW Class 3-8 trucks, will be the first OEM to introduce Allison Transmission's new Load-Based Shift Scheduling (LBSS) transmission feature. Freightliner Trucks will offer the new technology to enhance fuel economy and performance on its Freightliner Business Class M2 and heavy-duty trucks.  This feature is currently available on Freightliner models in limited production and will be phased in across Freightliner product over the coming months.

Using advanced estimation technology to calculate real-time vehicle load and operating grade, the Allison LBSS feature automatically selects the appropriate shift schedule for the task at hand. Its ability to automatically shift based on actual payload and grade optimizes truck fuel economy while maintaining high productivity capability, even during heavily loaded situations.

While the Allison LBSS feature is calibrated to operate primarily in the economy mode for maximum fuel efficiency, it automatically selects performance mode when conditions require it.

The new LBSS feature will be available in every Allison transmission offered on Freightliner products, and is one more example of Freightliner's commitment to helping customers optimize the performance, productivity and fuel economy of their trucks.

The alignment with Allison Transmission, a leader in medium- and heavy-duty commercial transmissions, continues Freightliner's ongoing product improvement initiative and is an example of brand's vision and commitment to expanding its coverage of the vocational market.

"By concentrating the company's technical and marketing resources on more a focused vocational model line-up, Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) expects to drive further innovation in safety, environmental impact and user productivity across all segments," said Chris Patterson, President and CEO of Daimler Trucks North America.

 "Freightliner covers a myriad of vocational applications and has earned a respected name in vocational markets through continual investment and dedication to building the trucks that customers want based upon knowing the unique demands under which they operate," said Melissa Clausen, Director - Product Marketing Freightliner Trucks. "Equipping our trucks, with the new LBSS transmission feature will serve our customers in a broad variety of vocational applications."

The Business Class M2 offers maximum option versatility and covers a wide range of vocational applications common to GVW Classes 5-8, and supports a wide range of bodies and chassis mounted equipment including complex utility bodies, refuse applications and very customized fire and emergency trucks.

"Daimler's decision to follow a more focused vocational strategy allows Freightliner Trucks to re-double its commitment to building market leadership across new "green" product lines by increasing the fuel efficiency and performance of clean diesel trucks, with smart technologies like the new Allison LBSS feature, as well as development of new hybrid and natural gas vocational truck solutions," Clausen said.

"We are also committed to strengthening the brand's development with new low-lifecycle-cost severe duty trucks and products that will deliver the power and fuel efficiency of the highly regarded Detroit Diesel DD13 and DD15 engines with BlueTEC SCR emissions control technology beginning in 2010."

Given its current product offering and future plans, Freightliner Trucks has been recognized across the industry for delivering a host of new configurations and options that provide maximum coverage as well as customer satisfaction across all vocational segments.