Sterling History

Sterling was founded by Freightliner LLC in 1998 as a new subsidiary with its own distribution network and distinctive product offerings. Sterling is headquartered in Redford, Michigan, in the Detroit metropolitan area. Freightliner LLC is a Mercedes-Benz company, the world's leading commercial vehicle manufacturer.

Sterling's mission is to be the dominant manufacturer of class 5-8 vocationally-oriented trucks in North America. The company offers truck operators a level of product technology and customer support previously unavailable to vocational truck buyers.

In 1999, Sterling introduced the Sterling Acterra, a complete new line of tough and stylish medium-duty trucks. In 2000, Sterling again caught the industry's attention with the launch of the Condor, the first complete re-design for the refuse truck market in over 20 years.

Sterling's trucks are currently sold in the United States, Canada and Mexico. In addition, right-hand-drive Sterlings are sold in Australia by Sterling Trucks Australia, a division of Mercedes-Benz (Australia), as well as in New Zealand.

Sterling Products and Markets

Sterling targets select segments of the vocational markets. Vocational trucks are those that are called on to do more than haul freight -- they are an integral tool for the truck operator. Sterling's vocational trucks are highly engineered, very rugged, have industry-leading driver ergonomics, and are made to be strong, efficient and productive.

Key markets include:

• construction applications, such as concrete mixers and pump trucks, dump and block trucks, and heavy haul tractors;
• distribution, such as tankers, refrigerated and dry van straight trucks, and day cab tractors;
• urban services, such as refuse, recycling, fire and rescue, snowplough, municipal dump and utility applications.

Sterling offers three conventional models, the A-Line, L-Line, and the Sterling Acterra family. The A-Line consists of Class 8 on-highway tractors with premium diesel power, available as day cab models or with sleepers. The L-Line trucks, ranging from Class 7 to Class 8, include a high-visibility, very manoeuvrable 101"-BBC truck or tractor that is perfect for urban operations, such as pickup and delivery.

The Sterling Truck Manufacturing Plant

All Sterling conventional trucks (those with hoods in front of the cab) are built at the Sterling Truck Manufacturing Plant in St. Thomas, Ontario. Prior to 1998, the plant produced Freightliner-brand trucks. To accommodate production of Sterlings, the plant was expanded by 40%, to 440,000 square feet, while more than $41 million (C$60 million) was invested in new tooling and construction at the site.

More importantly than equipment, Sterling committed to dramatically increasing its workforce in St. Thomas to handle the higher levels of truck production planned for the plant.

The Right Truck for the Job

Through Sterling's custom engineering ability, truck operators receive exactly the right truck for their needs. Vocational trucks frequently have specific requirements based on the job they must perform. For instance, a concrete ready mix truck will operate in an environment completely different from a furniture delivery truck. Sterling's engineering team devises the right combination of chassis configurations and component options for optimum efficiency and productivity. Those custom trucks are then entirely built on the Sterling Truck Manufacturing Plant's assembly line, without the need for post-assembly modification or special treatment.

In addition, Sterling has access through Freightliner LLC's engineering resources to technologically advanced proprietary components and systems. These include: the TufTrac vocational suspension, the AirLiner on-highway tractor air suspension, the SmartShift driver interface for electronic transmissions, Mercedes-Benz 900 and 4000 electronically-controlled engines, and the ergonomically-designed EzyRider seat.