PORTLAND, OR - Freightliner Trucks, in conjunction with Meritor WABCO, has announced the availability of the OnGuard Collision Safety System for select Cascadia and Century Class S/T fleets.

Developed by Meritor WABCO, OnGuard is a forward-looking, radar-based adaptive cruise control system with active braking for commercial vehicles. New to the North American market, active braking improves vehicle safety by automatically using the vehicle foundation brakes to alert the driver and decelerate the vehicle when a pre-set vehicle following distance is compromised.

The system is an industry-first technology introduced in early 2008 and is designed to improve commercial vehicle safety.

"As a leader in safety technologies, we are pleased to be able to offer this system," said Christoph Hofmann, director of product strategy, Freightliner Trucks. "Any advanced safety feature we can make available on our vehicles is one more step toward improving overall driver performance and safety."

Freightliner Trucks prepped select vehicles for the OnGuard system that applies the foundation brakes in adaptive cruise control mode. In adaptive cruise control mode, automatic foundation brake control distinguishes OnGuard from existing systems, which alert the driver to a potentially dangerous situation through alarms, and engine control.

With adaptive cruise control activated, if the pre-determined "safe" distance is compromised, OnGuard will immediately provide visual and audible warnings to the driver; vehicle deceleration through engine control, retarder control, and most important, foundation braking.

Foundation brake deceleration can be greater than or up to one-third of a full brake application for the vehicle but within safe limits for the driver to take control.

"In cruise control mode, the automatic application of the foundation brakes when a threat is detected by OnGuard is what excited us about this technology," said Ben Smith, on-highway product strategy manager for Freightliner Trucks. "Meritor WABCO is the industry leader in braking technology, and Daimler Trucks is the industry leader in on-highway vehicles, so it's a natural fit."

OnGuard's forward-looking, mono-pulse radar sensor is capable of detecting multiple moving objects at distances up to 500 feet away. It quickly coordinates responses from the engine, transmission, and anti-lock braking systems through communications across the SAE J1939 data network. It provides feedback to the driver through the in-cab dash display, which includes a progressive audible alert.

The OnGuard system has already been installed on more than 500 vehicles and has orders for an additional 400 units.