The Freightliner FLD: Workhorse and Styling

In this Video I'm going to talk a bit about the Freightliner FLD 120. In 1987, when it was released, it was an extremely innovative truck and went on with years of success. It is still a favorite for owner operators because of its maneuverability and its roomy engine compartment that makes it easy to work on.

[@elljay4587]

I still have 2 of them, spares for when the new ones have the inevitable emission issues.

[@danielcadnum7214]

Former Freightliner mechanic here from northern Ohio. So, IMO these in their time were superior to the other class 8 trucks in these areas. One the electrical systems and wiring had little or no electrical issues compared to the other Class 8 competitors, two frames seemed better and didn’t corrode or crack like the others did, three with the Detroit Series 60 and a 13 speed you had a truck that worked like no other. 😊

[@jim-zx7gz]

Super easy to work on ..parts were cheap...I liked how easy it was to access the electrical buzz bar with all the breakers in a row

[@brianhoppenrath8379]

I had a ‘99 I bought new and drove for 24 years until I retired, 3,250,000 miles and sold it for $12000 still running great. Series 60 with 13 speed.

[@truckerdaveandred6731]

I've had a couple of these back in the day and they by far have been my favorite trucks ever. I absolutely love a Freightliner fld. I'd love to get another one

[@pcap2700]

The FLC is an awesome truck too liked them much better than the fld they the had the best interiors and dashboards dont forget the glitter steering wheel they also had a nice front grille with the double round head lights just a beautiful truck

[@7viewerlogic670]

Agree, FLD120 was a great truck. Rode very well with even just a 42 inch bunk one piece with the cab. Nice size hood to sit behind but set-back front axle made them maneuverable. Dash, doors, side skirts and old style grills would self destruct if you didn't keep up with them. Detroit 12.7 were reliable, powerful, and efficient. With dual straight pipes behind the bunk they were the loudest with Jake brakes on.

[@VanceBrown-r7v]

A loud Jake brake means it really works, you could stall your motor out.

[@danimal0921]

I bought a '99 FLC-132 in December 2004. It had 492,xxx miles on it. I ran it as gently as I could in an attempt to get as many miles out of it as I could. At 734,xxx the tip on my #5 injector dropped off and beat the thunder out of the piston, sleeve, and head destroying everything in that hole. About 2 weeks and $14,000 later, I had my baby back making more money with it. At roughly 1,250,000 miles, I was forced to sell it when my health took a very sudden nose dive and put me on disability. I would gladly give just about anything to get that money maker back, but the dude that bought it said that it was headed to Argentina to pull a bull rack. I sure do miss those days...

[@kevint6672]

Anyone remember Munson Transport? They come to mind anytime I see an Fld.. Love the channel.

[@briansmith9720]

There's an older gentleman who loads steel at my work at least once a week and I always give him heck about his beautiful FLD. I've always been a Pete/KW man so I told him all a FLD is good for is making money lol. I drove one for about 3 weeks while my truck was getting a out of frame overhaul and made me reconsider my next truck purchase. I think it's the best truck Freightliner ever produced.

[@richardeckert6130]

I had a fld with n14 and 42 in flat top great truck be safe my friend

[@7viewerlogic670]

What transmission did you have?

[@richardeckert6130]

15

[@richardeckert6130]

Sorry 13 speed

[@7viewerlogic670]

@@richardeckert6130 Nice, that would be a very good combo. Those N14's were a little touchy on the accelerator, always wondered if they would be tough to use the splitter with no clutch.

[@scottycollins1829]

Gr8 Episode Mr Rob 🎥📹📽📢📢📢📢📢🎯🔊🔊🔊🔊🔊🔊🔊

[@reversingglobalwarming9431]

Most spacious truck convenient for bringing your kids on the road during summer breaks

[@bobbyirvin2712]

The Freightshaker FLD was my favorite tractor of all time They were truly a beautiful truck

[@truckercowboyed2638]

These are the Freightliners i remember going down the interstate as a kid going to Disneyland.....the nose and flat silver grille, and Rounded roof was a nice design compared to the squared off Cabovers in the early 90s....

[@phmoffett]

I really enjoy your videos on old trucking companies. I worked in the railroad industry in the late 70's and early 80's when deregulation turned the railroad industry upside down with mergers and acquisitions. Lots of good folks lost their good jobs. I'd like to request program content on the following: The Sunset of the ICC & Deregulation in Trucking. Lee-Way history. Demise of Texas Intrastate Giants Central Freight and Merchants Motor Lines. Thankyou.

[@3069mark]

My first conventional was a FLD mid-roof. Can't remember what year it was but the company put me in it in 1997. I think it had the Cummins engine. It was red & white. I really liked that truck. I sure was happy to get out of the IH cabovers. LOL.

[@lodilogistic5089]

I own a FLD 112 with a Cummins M11. Air and all still works. Great truck.

[@Donald-jm4hi]

Local Private end dump company bought half dozen retired Tyson FLD's early 1990's and ran them another 15 yrs. A good solid built truck

[@potato-zf9ng]

Great video, sir. I like the idea of specific equipment history videos.

[@truckingresources4240]

Thank you for your feedback. I definitely want to do some more about these specific models.

[@davidallen3873]

My most favorite was the fld mid roof. I wish I would kept one. They were liteweight and durable. I started with flc and finished in a fld mid roof we bought new every year

[@arthanza112]

My dad drove one for an O/O at TSMT (Flat-Top) and another at Barbour Truvking of Iowa Park Tx.(Condo) Another fallen flag. Hell, I've driven a few Classics XL ❤❤❤❤

[@brandoncherry1651]

The fld still today was one of my favorite trucks i drove ....vs a freightliner classic or pete379 or pete 388

[@53step]

I ran a classic for awhile I loved the cockpit myself it was a S&H truck they were decked out back in the day

[@pogveteranar9415]

Like these trucks, started at a mega carrier and a local company took a chance on me and hired me on automatic restriction and all. Anyways, a 98’ FLD 120 with a 10 speed is what I learned on. Only complaint was how dim old trucks headlights are.

[@erik9685]

Daimler-Benz AG owns Frieghtliner. I work for a rather large trash company and some of the rolloff "business class" 2006 had Mercedes and Cummins they were equipped with a 10 speed eaton fuller transmission. Personally i liked the Mack Granite for rolloff operations. I drove a 2005 till 2017. 997,000 city miles. You can't kill those trucks. I believe 2005 was close to the last year before Volvo took them over

[@frankstrohmyer9106]

The FLD 112 had a Cummins M 11 and Detroit 11.1. C.R. England a bunch of 112's red cab and red frames, cool looking trucks compared to now. Freightliner had to play catch up with Kenworth's introduction of the T600A (Anteater) that came out in 1985. Every truck maker was behind Kenworth by two years.

[@macolincoln7157]

Nice Datsun

[@JimmyD6977]

All i will buy is a Peterbilt now. Thats because the fld is gone. Very aerodynamic and efficient even if you cant see it.

[@MattBerg-t3w]

I love a nicely specd classic xl or a fld120 but when they came out with the shiny rosewood dash with all the gauges mmm I like lil

[@mtvjackass74]

When they came out with the condo sleeper it was lights out for the other brands….

[@classicxl]

A truck I always wanted to drive a fld120 with the big condo sleeper. Instead my first truck was a 2003 century with schneider unit 59278

[@truckingresources4240]

The Century's were nice trucks. I drove one for a while but I liked the FLD a Whole lot more!!

[@Hondabill]

My early years was cabover internationals got to drive fld for a short time it was riding in a car compared to cab overs

[@truckercowboyed2638]

And now the century and Columbia are as old now as the FLD was when they were brand new in the early 2000s.... Now the Cascadia is the workhorse

[@brianhoppenrath8379]

What does race have to do with this?

[@cobraspottedwolf8791]

Bumper to the back of the door

[@wyatt12358]

I had one. they rode nice but doors were built cheap. headlights were put together cheap. The columbias were absolute CRAP.

[@arthanza112]

One thing about the Freightliner FLD. It got ugly as it got older, (fiberglass and plastic) but, you COULDN'T KILL THAT TRUCK!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣