About Freightliner

Est. in 1940 as Freightways Manufacturing Co. Inc. by Leland James, founder and president of Consolidated Freightways of Portland, Oregon First plant located in Salt Lake City, Utah. Built the 1st true cab over engine trucks to meet Oregon truck length laws.

First Freightliner nameplate appeared in 1941. Company changed name in 1942 to Freightliner Corporation. Closed Utah plant in 1944 during World War II and reopened in 1947 in Portland.

Formed marketing agreement with White Motor Corporation in 1951 to market trucks under the White Freightliner name. By 1960 sales reached 1000 units.

The 1st sleeper tractors were built in 1950.

In 1948 sold first truck outside Consolidated Freightways to Vince Graziano, a Portland produce hauler.

Introduced its 1st conventional truck in 1973. Ended relationship with White in 1975 and built new dealer network. Company's first East Coast manufacturing presence came in 1978 with opening of parts plant in Gastonia, North Carolina.

In 1995, the company purchased its 1st non-traditional truck company, American LaFrance, makers of fire trucks and emergency vehicles. It also entered the custom chassis market with the purchase of Custom Chassis Corporation of Gaffney, S.Carolina, the same year. Went on to purchase Ford Motor Company's heavy truck business in 1997 (later became known as Sterling), bus maker Thomas Built Buses in 1998, and Western Star Trucks and Orion Buses in 2000. Volume in 2000 reached 151,000 vehicles.

Who We Are

Freightliner LLC, a Mercedes-Benz company, is the largest heavy-duty truck manufacturer in North America and a leading producer of medium-duty trucks and specialized commercial vehicles.

Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, Freightliner LLC manufactures, sells and services several renowned commercial vehicle brands. Through the company's affiliates, Freightliner LLC is also a leading provider of heavy-and medium-duty diesel engines and other components. The company's strategic partners in the North American commercial vehicles market include Mercedes-Benz Services, Truck Finance and TravelCenters of America.