Freightliner Argosy

The Freightliner Argosy is a model line of cabover trucks produced by the American truck manufacturer Freightliner. Introduced in 1999 as the replacement for the FLB cabover, the Argosy is a Class 8 truck, currently in its second generation.

Freightliner Argosy
2008 Freightliner Argosy Evolution 6x4 as a B-double prime mover in New Zealand (note grille being flushed with bumper vents between headlights)
Overview
TypeTruck
ManufacturerFreightliner Trucks
(Daimler Trucks North America)
Production1998–present
Model years
  • 1999–2006 (North America)
  • 1999–present (export)
AssemblyUnited States: Cleveland, North Carolina
Body and chassis
ClassClass 8 truck
Body styleCOE
  • 63-inch daycab
  • 90-inch mid roof
  • 101-inch mid-roof
  • 110-inch midroof
  • 110-inch raised roof
Layout4x2
6x4
Powertrain
EngineCummins 500/6 IL
Cummins 620/6 IL
Series 60 470/6 IL
Series 60 500/6 IL
Cummins 530/6 IL
Transmission18-speed Eaton-Fuller UltraShift - PLUS
18-Speed Eaton-Fuller Autoshift Eaton-Fuller 10 speed, 13 speed, and 15 speed.
Chronology
PredecessorFreightliner FLA/FLB/FLC/FLT

Following the 2006 model year, Freightliner withdrew the Argosy from its model line in the United States and Canada, making it the final Class 8 cabover semi-tractor sold in North America.

The Freightliner Argosy is produced by Freightliner in its facility in Cleveland, North Carolina; since 2007, production is exported nearly exclusively to South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.

Model overview

The Argosy made its debut as a 1998 concept vehicle as a cabover derived from the Century Class conventional. Along in an effort to develop a successor to the FLB cabover, the concept was optimized for trailer lengths of up to 58 feet, effectively reducing highway truck traffic.[1] Along with the use of shared body components (doors, windshield, grille, and headlamps), the Argosy adopted telematics from the Century Class, facilitating electronic braking, messaging capability, daytime running lights, and traction control.[1]

First generation (1999–2011)
2011 Argosy, standard base model

Entering mass production in 1999, the Argosy adopted virtually all the features of the 1998 concept vehicle.[2] While offered solely with the axle below the driver (in place of the usual set-forward or set-back front axle), several cab configurations were produced. Along with a 63-inch BBC daycab, cab lengths of 90 inches, 101 inches, and 110 inches were offered, with a mid-roof sleeper and a raised-roof sleeper (110 inches only).[2] While sharing a 2-piece windshield configuration with the Century Class as standard,[1] a 1-piece windshield with 3 windshield wipers was an option.[2]

On all sleeper-cab variants, the Argosy was offered with electrically-powered pivoting entrance steps.[1][2] In contrast to many American cabover trucks, the engine intrusion inside the cab was largely eliminated, raising the floor only three inches between the seats, with the gear shifter integrated into the dashboard console.[2] As with conventional-cab trucks, drivers were able to walk into the sleeper cab.

In 2006, the Argosy received an optional minor facelift, which replaced the original Century Class sourced grille with a new unit that was flushed with the bumper vents. Later, the cab corner vents were also updated. The interior received minor revisions as well, and chassis fairings were improved for greater fuel efficiency. This model was marketed as the Argosy Evolution.

Second generation (2012–present)
2012 Argosy

In 2012, a second generation of the Argosy was introduced. While retaining the basic cab structure of the previous generation, the second-generation Argosy shifts its design influence from the Century Class to its replacement, the Cascadia. Continuing to use the original doors also shared with the Century Class, Columbia, and Coronado, the second-generation Argosy adopted a similar dashboard configuration as the Cascadia; in place of the two-piece grille derived from the Century Class, the Argosy received its own single-piece grille (loosely previewing the 2018 Cascadia).

While produced in the United States, the second-generation Argosy is sold primarily for export. Since 2007, all North American sales of the Argosy have consisted of glider truck kits, a combination of a newly constructed body and frame with customer-supplied drivetrain (engine, transmission, driveshaft, and axles).[3][4]

Export use

As part of its development, the Argosy was intended to comply with European crashworthiness standards, becoming one of the safest trucks tested of the time.[1] As cabovers remained popular in markets outside North America, Freightliner continued to produce the Argosy for export markets, developing right-hand drive versions for South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.[5]

Along with offering right-hand drive, export versions of the Argosy offer several configurations not offered in North America, including twin-steer front axles (largely used on Western Star severe-service trucks), grille/bumper guards, and axle layouts configured for road trains (unused in the United States and Canada).

  • First-generation Argosy in South Africa
  • Argosy crew-cab in Chile
  • 2006 Argosy 8x4 twin-steer flatbed towing trailer in New Zealand
  • 2007 Argosy 8x4 twin-steer in New Zealand transporting flatbed trailer
  • Second-generation Argosy towing tanker in South Africa

References
  1. "Freightliner Trucks". 1999-04-28. Archived from the original on 1999-04-28. Retrieved 2018-09-04.
  2. "Freightliner Argosy (brochure)" (PDF). 2005-10-31. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2005-10-31. Retrieved 2018-09-04.
  3. "Models". dtnaglider.com. Archived from the original on November 28, 2012. Retrieved September 4, 2018.
  4. "Glider Kits" (PDF). freightliner.com. Archived from the original on August 24, 2014. Retrieved August 1, 2015.
  5. "1,100 jobs: Freightliner workers laid off in 2009 will be first hires". January 13, 2012. Archived from the original on February 18, 2012. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
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