What Grads of Dispatcher Schools Can Learn From Daimler’s Electric Cascadia

Yet another trucking company has stepped in to compete with Elon Musk and his Tesla Semi. At the Portland International Raceway, long-time class 8 truck manufacturer Daimler unveiled an electric version of its popular Freightliner Cascadia. The truck, dubbed the eCascadia, will be released along with the smaller eM2. The eCascadia may not have as much range as the Tesla Semi, and may take longer to charge, but it demonstrates Daimler’s mission to engineer and manufacture practical heavy-duty trucks that meet growing interest in all-electric tech.
The eCascadia has much to show new graduates of dispatch courses. Here’s a little more about this all-electric truck’s specs, features, and hauling capacity.

The eCascadia Is a Testament to Daimler’s Innovation and Reliability

What makes the eCascadia so remarkable is how it builds off of Daimler’s many years of engineering and manufacturing expertise concerning heavy-duty Class 8 trucks. In fact, it prides itself on having produced top-tier trucks, with its flagship product, the Freightliner Cascadia being one of the best-selling commercial trucks in the United States. Taking some of the DNA from its prized jewel, Daimler got to work on creating an electric counterpart that would deliver on power and reliability, and is part of its overall vision of an all-electric trucking fleet.
The horsepower of Daimler’s eCascadia is a solid 730. That’s not as powerful as the Tesla Semi’s estimated 1,000 horsepower, but as professionals with dispatching training know, it’s not just about power but also dependability. Daimler is just getting started, and there’s still plenty of room for growth.

Grads of Dispatching Training Working in Local Shipping Will Appreciate the eCascadia

Daimler has brought its years of experience to bear on the eCascadia, which has been designed in large part with short hauls in mind. Even start-ups like Thor Trucks understand the importance of designing trucks that would be practical for local shipping companies. The eCascadia would be great for drayage, as well as food and beverage deliveries that involve shipments over shorter distances.

The range and hauling capacity of the eCascadia is by no means sub-par. The eCascadia can haul heavy loads of up to 80,000 lbs for a range of 400 km on a single charge. Once the eCascadia recharges back to 80 percent capacity it can go for another 321 km, but it will take at least 90 minutes for that charge to occur. That’s 30 minutes longer than the Tesla Semi’s proposed charging time. However, given that the eCascadia is meant for more dedicated and predictable shipping routes from warehouses to ports, dispatchers may not mind this setback as much.

The eCascadia Also Means a Significant Cut in Fuel Costs

A 90-minute charging time doesn’t have to be perceived as a downside to the eCascadia if graduates of dispatcher courses consider how it could help them cut fuel costs. Moreover, with shipments happening more locally they won’t need to have an electric truck that can travel 800 km per charge when 100 or even 200 km will do. In fact, the eCascadia can perform several round trips of up to 240 km per day, return to depots and charge overnight to be ready to continue delivers the next morning.
The eCascadia also benefits from regenerative braking, meaning that whenever the truck applies its brakes it can send energy back to its batteries in the form of electricity. Trucking companies will then be able to save plenty of money on fuel expenses while still making the same profits. With the possibility of major fuel savings for local and regional distribution companies, it’s possible that many trucking fleets will get an electric makeover.
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