Featured Truck of The Month

1949 Freightliner

A Bit of History:

• Freightliner began as a subsidiary of Consolidated Freightways. CF founder Leland James was unimpressed with the trucks currently on the market, so he decided to build his own. For almost a decade Freightliners were only used internally by CF. Eventually, demand for these innovative trucks became so great that Freightliners became available to other customers in 1949.
• This truck is a beautiful example of the first model ever manufactured by Freightliner. They were called “bubblenose” and “shovelnose” trucks due to their distinctive design.
• Our truck was originally operated by Consolidated Freight. It has been restored and is painted in period-correct Consolidated Freight livery.

Fun Facts:

• Cabover trucks have existed since the 1900s, but in the 1930s and 1940s they weren’t a popular choice for over-the-road trucking. The first Freightliner shook up the market – by the early 1950s, most major truck companies had cabover offerings.
• One of the most innovative aspects of the Freightliner’s design was its all-aluminum cab. This weight-saving measure allowed companies to haul more freight.