Experts from Daimler’s Freightliner, Western Star, and Detroit brands provide an in-depth look at their latest vocational trucks, highlighting the advanced features that enhance productivity and efficiency on the job site.
Planning Your Fleet for 2025: How Daimler Truck North America is Leading the Way
As you map out your fleet strategy for 2025, the first step is figuring out exactly what you need from your next truck. How will it handle job site demands? Will it meet operator expectations? And most importantly, will it align with your financial goals? Key factors in today’s truck-buying decisions include power, capacity, technology, and operator comfort. Among the top OEMs, Daimler Truck North America (DTNA) has been evolving its lineup to better serve its customers. Through its Freightliner, Western Star, and Detroit brands, DTNA designs, engineers, and manufactures medium- and heavy-duty trucks that prioritize performance and innovation.
Freightliner: Versatility Meets Productivity
Freightliner’s vocational truck lineup, spanning Classes 5-8, is built for a wide range of applications—from construction to waste management. These trucks are engineered for maximum efficiency, safety, and adaptability, making them a reliable choice for various industries.
Western Star: Tough Trucks for Demanding Jobs
Western Star has spent more than 50 years building high-performance, heavy-duty trucks tailored for specialized jobs. With the introduction of the X-Series, it has raised the bar with even more durability and capability, ensuring these trucks can tackle the toughest challenges.
Detroit: Powering the Future
Detroit provides cutting-edge diesel and electric powertrains, safety systems, and connected vehicle solutions for both Freightliner and Western Star models. The Detroit DD Series engines, DT12 automated manual transmissions, and integrated axles deliver a complete powertrain solution, customized for both highway and vocational applications.
A New Approach to Vocational Trucking
At World of Concrete 2025, Samantha Parlier, DTNA’s Director of Brand Marketing and Operations, highlighted the company’s diverse lineup, showcasing everything from the compact M2 106 service truck to high-capacity twin-sphere cranes.
Over the past five years, DTNA has shifted its vocational strategy by positioning Freightliner and Western Star as complementary brands rather than competitors. Freightliner focuses on lighter-duty Class 6-8 models, while Western Star specializes in rugged, heavy-duty work trucks. This strategy benefits customers by streamlining operations, since both brands share a common electrical system, making up fitting and maintenance easier.
Vice President of Vocational and Medium-Duty Markets Aaron Scates emphasized this advantage: “By standardizing key elements like electrical architecture, powertrains, and safety systems, we simplify diagnostics, up fitting, and driver training.”
Smart Technology & Enhanced Features
DTNA’s commitment to meaningful innovation is evident in its feature-rich truck designs. “We don’t add technology just for the sake of it,” Scates explained.
The Western Star X-Series and Freightliner Plus Series bring major upgrades to interior design, powertrains, and safety. One standout innovation is the Quick Fit Electrical System, powered by the Custom Hardware and Electronic Configurator (CHEC) tool. This allows up fitters to program truck functionality with factory-installed switches, cutting installation time and improving efficiency.
Raul Pena, who leads the CHEC team, emphasized its impact: “With the Quick Fit System and CHEC tool, operators can control all truck body functions directly from the dashboard, reducing downtime and simplifying operation.”
Inside the cab, a 7-inch interactive touchscreen integrates Apple Car Play, Android Auto, and a factory-installed backup camera—an essential feature DTNA aims to standardize across all models for improved safety.
The Detroit Assurance safety system further enhances security with radar and high-definition cameras that enable Active Brake Assist (ABA), Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), and Side Guard Assist (SGA). These systems provide real-time object detection and automated responses, reducing collision risks and improving overall safety.
Choosing the Right Truck: What Matters Most?
Selecting the right truck depends on the job at hand. As Samantha Parlier explains, “A mixer truck operator focuses on weight savings to maximize payload, while a dump truck operator may prioritize power over weight capacity.” The key to making the best choice is understanding your business goals before engaging with a manufacturer.
The Shift to Automated Transmissions
One of the biggest trends in vocational trucking is the shift from manual to automated manual transmissions (AMTs). DTNA’s DT12-V transmission, specifically designed for vocational applications, features:
- Brake Hold Mode – Holds the truck on an incline until acceleration is applied.
- Rock-Free Mode – Helps dislodge stuck wheels.
- Creep Mode – Enables precise low-speed movement.
- Paver Mode – Ensures smooth operation with paving machines.
- Off-Road Mode – Optimizes shifts for rough terrain.
- Power Launch – Enhances takeoff performance under heavy loads.
While automatic transmissions remain popular, AMTs like the DT12-V provide better efficiency and control, making them an increasingly attractive option. “It makes training easier, reduces fatigue, and helps attract more drivers,” Scates noted. “Automatics and AMTs are the future of vocational trucking.”
DTNA’s Market Growth & Future Outlook
DTNA’s vocational transformation has driven significant market growth. In Canada, the company climbed from sixth to third place in market share, surpassing competitors like Peterbilt, International, and Volvo. In North America, DTNA saw a 39% year-over-year growth in 2024 and has doubled its market presence since 2019.
Scates confirmed, “Since launching the X-Series, we’ve doubled our heavy vocational market share—and there’s still more to come.”
DTNA will showcase its latest innovations at Work Truck Week (Booth 1121) in Indianapolis, Indiana, from March 4-7, 2025.
