Delivery Truck has low cab-over-engine design.

Press Release Summary:



Built for fuel economy, Sterling 360(TM) offers construction that facilitates driver entry and egress with ergonomic step position, offset door hinges, and 73° door pivot. Cab has over 90 ft³ volume and seats 3. With 4.5 in. cab-to-body clearance that facilitates upfitting, maneuverable truck is built with straight configuration made from steel rated at 51,200 psi. Truck is powered by 175 hp, 4.9 L turbo diesel engine and features 6-speed automatic transmission.



Original Press Release:



Sterling Truck Corporation Unveils the New Sterling 360 for a Dependable Business Solution



New low cab-over-engine model completes Class 3-8 product line, offers leading fuel economy

ATLANTA... Sterling Truck Corporation is pleased to unveil today its new low cab-over-engine truck - the Sterling 360TM. Introduced at the NTEA Work Truck Show (March 1-3), the Sterling 360 design allows for leading fuel economy in a low cab-over-engine truck as well as the industry's easiest entry and egress, biggest cab, outstanding maneuverability and visibility, and a body builder-preferred design.

With the tagline, Better All AroundSM, the versatile Sterling 360 offers a complete, value-added package including expert customer support, easy financing, and body upfitting options. It also enhances customers' bottom line by offering significantly better fuel economy, which can save $600 a year or more over competitive models. All of these factors make the Sterling 360 one of the best overall low cab-over-engine trucks on the market.

"As we welcome the new Sterling 360 to the product family, we also strengthen our commitment to the growth of the brand," said John Merrifield, Senior Vice President of Distribution, Freightliner Group. "Sterling is now the only truck OEM to offer customers a full line of Class 3-8 vehicles, which allows us to reach a wider customer base and provides us with a platform for future product introductions."

The Sterling 360 will be available at select Sterling dealers across North America. Classes 4 and 5 will be rolled out in spring 2006 and Class 3 in mid-2007.

Leading Fuel Economy

In today's competitive business environment, it's imperative for business people to stay ahead of the competition and keep their company productive and profitable. In tests conducted at an independent third-party testing facility, Transportation Research Center (TRC) Inc., the Sterling 360 has proven to have leading fuel economy in a low cab-over-engine truck.

"We took the test results from TRC Inc. and used a conservative calculation to show that the Sterling 360 is a smart investment that can save money year after year," explained Merrifield. "It assumes that a customer drives a pick-up and delivery truck with a dry van box, travels 20,000 miles a year on average, and pays $2.50 per gallon of diesel fuel. Under these common circumstances, that adds up to a savings of $600 a year or more with the Sterling 360 over competitive models. Imagine where you could spend the extra money every year!"

Additionally, the Sterling 360 is priced in line with the market leader, delivering an even bigger value to customers. Bottom line savings, plus safety and comfort features like the easiest entry and egress in the industry, make the Sterling 360 a total value package.

Easiest Entry/Egress
With drivers in delivery applications getting in and out of their vehicle numerous times a day, the design of the Sterling 360 provides the easiest entry and egress in the LCOE truck industry. Featuring a door width one inch wider than the market leader, a larger and more ergonomic step position, and a 73-degree door pivot, the Sterling 360 offers the convenience and protection demanded for curbside pick-up and delivery.

Assuring that drivers can effortlessly "walk" into the cab and ease in directly under the steering wheel, the Sterling 360 features an 11.75-inch distance from step to cab, which is up to 4.25 inches less than competitive designs. Offset hinges also allow full access to the larger door opening.

"Business managers and drivers alike will appreciate the easy entry and egress and roomy cab of the Sterling 360," added Merrifield. "While the drivers will benefit from a more comfortable and convenient work environment, managers will value the increased productivity and retention from reduced driver fatigue."

Biggest in Class Cab

With more than 90 cubic feet of cab volume and more floor and belly room than competitive models, the Sterling 360 features the biggest cab in its class. Comfortably seating three, the truck also allows the driver to pass through the cab and exit curbside for added safety and convenience.

The industry-leading dash-mounted gear shift allows for easy mobility inside the cab and features power and brake interlocks with an accessible override button. To ensure driver safety, the transmission control interlocks require electrical power and the service brake must be applied.

For more room and ergonomic seating positions, the Sterling 360 features an industry-leading 1.5-inch steering column tilt. Plus, the distance from the center fuel pedal to the seat base is 16.5 inches, the depth of the cab (fuel pedal to back of wall) is 51 inches and the seatback area (back of seat to wall) is 7.5 inches, which gives more room and comfort to the driver.

Since the back of both passenger seats can be used as a bench space, drivers have more work surface in the Sterling 360. Also, the passenger seats have a fully adjustable seatback angle, allowing occupants to select the position that is most comfortable for them. The driver's seat has a height-adjustable armrest and a wide range of seatback angles.

Outstanding Maneuverability and Visibility

Whether on a crowded urban street or an inner-city construction site, the Sterling 360 features an impressive wheel cut angle for a tighter turning radius and large windshield and windows for front and side visibility.

"We know that congested traffic, narrow streets, cluttered delivery sites, and unpredictable weather are daily challenges for our customers," continued Merrifield. "That's why the Sterling 360 was built to handle a wide variety of demanding jobs in any environment while keeping the driver comfortable so they can focus on the task at hand."

The exterior of the cab was also designed with the driver in mind. The roof has a transverse channel behind the clearance and ID lamps to channel water to the sides. Additional runoff is diverted by the drip rail molded to the top of the windshield gasket, providing better vision under adverse weather conditions.

Body Builder Preferred Frame

Just like the other trucks in Sterling's product line-up - the A-Line, L-Line, Acterra ® and Cargo - the Sterling 360 is body builder preferred to get the job done.

For easy upfitting, the truck's shorter cab-to-body clearance of 4.5 inches allows for longer bodies with more load carrying capacity and a greater range of body mount positions for optimum weight distribution and reduced wind resistance. Additionally, with 300 pounds less curb weight than comparable models, the Sterling 360 carries more payload.

As opposed to a tapered frame, the Sterling 360 is built with a stronger, straight configuration made from steel rated at 51,200 psi, resulting in the strongest in class frame. The parallel top and bottom flanges make it easier to mount bodies, and since it's painted both before and after assembly, fastener corrosion and loss of clamping force is prevented. Similar to a Class 8 design, the straight frame also makes wheelbase changes simple because all components can easily be slid to a new location. Plus, the fuel tanks, batteries, fuel lines, exhaust systems, crossmembers, and wiring are all efficiently tucked away and routed for easy maintenance.

To allow the suspension to work through its full range of motion, there must be enough space between the top of the tire and the underside of the body. The Sterling 360 combines a higher frame height of 36.75 inches for a proper frame-to-tire relationship. Unlike many competitors, the Sterling 360 can use standard body mounting techniques.

Ease of Maintenance
In addition to great performance, the Sterling 360 is easy and convenient to maintain from inside and outside of the truck. Drivers can check the brake fluid reservoir through a sight window at the end of the instrument panel inside the cab. If engine maintenance is required, the cab easily tilts forward for accessibility and visibility.

For added safety, the truck offers a triple cab-locking mechanism with a curbside latch, which engages a buzzer and dash warning light if the cab is not locked in the drive position.

Expert Customer Support

A smart solution for today's business owners, the Sterling 360 features expert customer support, an easy purchasing process, and immediate availability.

"We understand our customers don't have a lot of time to devote to buying a truck, so the purchasing process for the Sterling 360 is designed to be quick and easy," Merrifield added. "Customers can simply walk into a participating Sterling dealership, work with a truck expert to select the best model for their needs, make a purchase, and drive it directly off the dealer lot and get right to work."

Sterling's 'work truck experts' will not only help customers during the purchasing process but will also provide support throughout the life of the vehicle. With an extensive dealer network across North America, customers can rely on Sterling for all their support needs. Sterling also offers quick and easy customized financing through DaimlerChrysler Truck Financial.

Customers can also visit Sterling's new Sterling 360 Web site at www.BetterAllAroundTruck.com for all the information they need to select the best truck for their application.

Truck Specs

Ideal for applications such as wholesale and retail services, pickup and delivery, landscaping, and construction applications, the Sterling 360 is available with all the necessary configurations for popular body options like dry van, reefer, and stake applications.

The following are some popular specs and options available on the Sterling 360:

· 4.9L turbo diesel engine with 175hp at 2700 rpm and 391 lbs.-ft. of torque at 1600 rpm

· Standard engine brake

· Six-speed automatic transmission with final reduction gear ratio of 5.285

· GVWRs of 14,050 lbs., 14,500 lbs., and 17,995 lbs.

· Wheelbase and body length combinations of 115 inches and 12 feet; 134 inches and 14 feet; 152 inches and 16 feet; 164 inches (at 14,500 and 17,995 GVWR only) and 18 feet; and 176 inches and 20 feet (17,995 GVWR only)

· Front and rear suspension with laminated leaf springs, shock absorber and stabilizer bar

· 33-gallon side mount fuel tank (standard) and 30-gallon fuel tank aft-mount between rails (optional)

· Optional block heater

· Five exterior paint colors

Standard features include air conditioning, power steering, telescoping steering column, ABS, power door locks, daytime running lights, back-up alarm, crush bars in doors, cold weather starting aid, power take-off opening and drive gear, oil check button in cab, and a Panasonic AM/FM radio with CD player. Plus, the standard exhaust brake is always engaged and comes with an electronic pad wear sensor that alerts the driver when the brakes are worn down. An industry-standard warranty is also available.

Sterling 360 is available at and supported by select Sterling Trucks dealers. Participating dealers can be located by calling 1-800-STL-HELP or by visiting www.BetterAllAroundTruck.com.

Sterling Truck Corporation, based in Redford, Mich., produces heavy- and medium-duty custom work trucks for regional hauling and diverse vocational applications. Sterling is a member of the Freightliner group of companies. Freightliner LLC is a company of DaimlerChrysler, the world's leading commercial vehicle manufacturer.

On the Internet:

Visit the Sterling Truck Corporation Web site at, www.SterlingTrucks.com for additional Sterling Truck news.

Contact:

Jennifer Edwards
503.745.8967
Jennifer@FreightlinerGroup.com

Julie Uehara
216.696.1686 x4422
JUehara@LandauPR.com

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