The Freightliner Century Class is a Class 8 truck produced by Freightliner from 1996 to 2010. The first model of the C-Series family of conventional-hood trucks, it replaced the FLD conventional of 1987 and was built as a day cab or with a rear sleeper.
Freightliner Century Class at a glance
| Type | Class 8 aerodynamic conventional |
|---|---|
| Production | 1996–2010 in North America; export to 2020 |
| Predecessor | Freightliner FLD conventional |
| Cab | day cab or sleeper |
| BBC length | 120 inches (C120) |
| Headlamps | four separate units |
| Telematics | engine data logging, optional messaging, telephone and fax |
| 2000 update | Century Class S/T (Safety and Technology) |
| 2005 update | enlarged grille, composite bulbs |
| Replaced by | Freightliner Cascadia |
| Export successor | Columbia CL112 and Cascadia |
based on one source
History of the Freightliner Century Class
Background
Freightliner changed hands in 1981, passing from its founder, the trucking company Consolidated Freightways, to Daimler AG. In 1985 the company introduced the Business Class range, whose FLC 112 mated a Mercedes-Benz low-cab cabover body with an all-new conventional chassis, and in 1991 the Business Class grew with the medium-duty FL-Series, again using a Mercedes-Benz cab on a Freightliner hood chassis. Although the main FLD120 was an aerodynamic conventional, its underlying structure dated back to 1977. In the early 1990s the C-Series became the first Freightliner family designed from the ground up by Daimler, and although it was not marketed in Europe, the Century Class was developed to meet European crash-test requirements while cutting maintenance points and fuel consumption.
Century Class C120
Introduced in 1995 for 1996 production, the Century Class shared the 120-inch BBC length of the FLD120 and was recognised by four separate headlamps. It was among the first large trucks to make wide use of onboard telematics, with engine data logging, optional messaging and optional telephone and fax systems. For 2000 the truck became the Century Class S/T, S for safety and T for technology, adding a driver’s side air bag and improved seat mounting restraints; it was also offered with a Driver’s Lounge and a Backpack option, a fibreglass hump on the outside of the sleeper that added storage space between the bunks.
Facelift and the end
For 2005 the Century Class S/T was facelifted for the first time. To feed the air intake of engines meeting new emissions rules, the grille intake grew considerably and extended into the bumper, and all headlamp, driving and fog lamp bulbs were replaced by replaceable composite units for better visibility and easier service. Despite the larger, freer-flowing grille, Freightliner reported no aerodynamic penalty. The Century Class was retired in North America for 2010, replaced by the Cascadia, but stayed in production for export through 2020, when it was replaced by the Columbia CL112 and the Cascadia.
Design and features
- European crash standards: the C-Series was developed to meet European crash-test requirements.
- Early telematics: data logging, messaging and even telephone and fax were on the options list.
- Four headlamps: the most obvious way to tell a Century Class from the Columbia and Coronado.
- S/T safety package: driver’s air bag and stronger seat mountings from 2000.
Freightliner Century Class versions
- Century Class C120 (1996): the original 120-inch BBC truck.
- Century Class S/T (2000): safety and technology package with air bag.
- Driver’s Lounge / Backpack: sleeper options with extra storage.
- 2005 facelift: larger grille and composite bulbs.
- C120 designation: the model was also known by its 120-inch BBC as the Century Class C120.
The Century Class was replaced by the Cascadia, and its cab structure was shared with the Coronado and the Argosy cabover. More trucks are in the Freightliner collection.
Sources
- Freightliner Century Class, English Wikipedia: history, C120, S/T, facelift, export
