Class-leading products deserve an industry-leading finance program. That’s why Freightliner Trucks and Daimler Truck Financial have teamed up to offer the Driven to Succeed Finance Program, with money-saving incentives on eligible dealer stock Freightliner Class 6 or 7 vehicles financed by December 20th.

The program offers one of two financing incentive options to qualifying customers looking to purchase Freightliner Class 6 or 7 vehicles:

Our goal is to help drive our customers’ business toward success, helping many afford the new industry-leading vehicles they need through financing incentives.

“The value of this program truly is in the financing,” stated Grant Hummel, Medium Duty Product Manager, Freightliner Trucks. “Customers can get a consumer rate for a commercial product.”

“When you have a great product like the Freightliner M2 106, which can do a variety of different jobs, you really need a financing program that’s second-to-none,” Hummel emphasized.

For more information, visit daimler-truckfinancial.com, freightlinertrucks.com or see your local dealer.

Q4 2014

Customer Source

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Small Business Credit Meets Needs Quickly

Customer Spotlight — ATS Logistics

New Overnight Payment Address

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The Driven to Succeed Program: Consumer Rates, Commercial Products

*Actual rates, terms, down payment and program eligibility will be determined by Daimler Truck Financial’s Credit Team, based upon creditworthiness of customer. Daimler Truck Financial reserves the right to modify or terminate the program at any time with no notice.

“At Daimler Truck Financial, we are focused on providing the best commercial financing options for the best products in the market for our customers. This is what we do.”

Jeff Watson, Brand Manager, Marketing, Daimler Truck Financial

NEWSLETTER FOR CUSTOMERS OF DAIMLER TRUCK FINANCIAL

Adding the industry’s most advanced fuel saving technologies to the industry’s toughest trucks, Western Star recently unveiled the all-new 5700XE. “XE – which stands for extreme efficiency – summarizes exactly what this new truck is all about,” said Michael Jackson, General Manager, Western Star Trucks. “By blending legendary Western Star ruggedness together with aerodynamic innovations and the fuel efficient Detroit powertrain, we have built a powerful solution that is the best of both worlds – and unlike anything else on the road today.” The Class 8 on-highway truck is ideal for owner-operators and small to medium fleets in truckload/LTL, bulk, refrigerated, long-haul and manufacturing applications. The 5700XE features a 126-inch BBC with a set-back axle, and is available in a range of spacious and lightweight sleeper configurations.

The 5700XE builds on proven aerodynamic technologies developed by Daimler Trucks North America and adds the Western Star edge to set it apart from other trucks. All-new features, such as an aerodynamic hood, roof, chassis and cab fairings, reduce drag and increase fuel efficiency. “This is a new model for Western Star, but creating a financial solution suited for small and medium fleet target segments is where Daimler Truck Financial excels,” stated Jeff Watson, Brand Manager, Marketing, Daimler Truck Financial. “We can provide lines of credit without the fees that banks typically charge, because we want to make it easy for customers to buy the 5700XE.”

Full production on the 5700XE will begin in 2015. For more information about this new Western Star, visit the 5700XE website, allnew5700.com.

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Western Star Introduces the All-New 5700XE

Detroit Diesel Corporation (Detroit) has recently announced their integrated Detroit™ Powertrain, featuring the Detroit DD15® engine, Detroit DT12™ transmission and Detroit axles. Available starting in January 2015 for the Freightliner Cascadia® Evolution and later in 2015 for the new Western Star 5700XE, the Integrated Detroit Powertrain provides state-of-the-art component communications that seamlessly work together.The powertrain features the flagship DD15 engine, with a new downsped rating of 400hp and 1750 lb/ft. This downsped rating enables the engine to turn at lower RPMs regardless of road speed, ultimately reducing fuel consumption and friction. Because it delivers the necessary torque at these low RPMs, the engine is able to deliver the power drivers demand.“Downspeeding improves fuel economy by shifting usable power and torque to a lower RPM range,” said Brad Williamson, Manager, Engine and Component Marketing, Daimler Trucks North America. “To match the new engine rating, Detroit engineers developed a new axle ratio and tuned the transmission electronics to ensure all of the calibrations fit together perfectly to deliver the integration and performance customers demand.” Williamson summarizes: “The Integrated Detroit Powertrain will give our customers the edge they need to lower their real cost of ownership.”

Integrated Detroit Powertrain — Unsurpassed Fuel Economy

In 1986, the Gianoukos brothers, Jimmie, Andy and Tony, started their Atlantic Transportation Services business as a courier service, delivering lost luggage for several airlines at Charleston International Airport. They started with one truck. Now, 28 years later, that business has transformed into a large warehousing, transportation and freight management company, ATS Logistics, Inc., located in North Charleston, South Carolina.Although the company’s initial growth started with their warehousing business, the brothers quickly realized there was opportunity on “both sides” of the warehouse. So in the mid-1990’s, they set up both a local intermodal operation to haul containers to and from the Port of Charleston, and added a brokerage division to help their warehouse customers deliver their domestic freight to various points in the U.S. and Canada.“Our brokerage customers, although pleased with our full range of services, wanted more from us,” states Jason Gianoukos, Vice President-Finance, ATS Logistics, Inc. “They were looking for carriers that owned their own equipment and therefore could provide the reliability and responsibility they needed from their carrier partners.”Based on that need, in 2011 and 2012 ATS purchased 42 used Freightliners to expand their trucking division, giving them 48 company-owned trucks. “Although we now had a fleet of our own trucks,” continued Gianoukos, “we knew we needed to eventually run newer, more fuel-efficient equipment to make this part of our business successful long term.”When the time came to buy new, fuel-efficient trucks, the brothers were in the process of expanding their warehousing business—constructing a new, state-of-the-art, 140,000 square foot warehouse and distribution center. “We knew it would be difficult to purchase and finance the new trucks we needed at the same time of this warehouse expansion,” stated Gianoukos. “That’s when we got in touch with Triple-T.”

“We’ve been working with ATS since the five years we’ve been in our Summerville, South Carolina, location,” states Mike McDede, sales professional for Triple-T Freightliner, the local Freightliner and Western Star dealer. “We sold them their used Freightliners as they were expanding their trucking business, so when the time came for a purchase of new, fuel-efficient trucks, we were ready to help.”Triple-T immediately provided ATS a Cascadia Evolution demo unit. They were impressed. “We then contacted DTF,” stated Stewart Brown, President, Triple-T Freightliner. “Knowing that ATS was involved in a major construction project, we felt that putting together a truck deal that included financing would place them in a more advantageous position. We felt that DTF could provide the flexibility to meet their needs.”When Dimitri Gamvrellis, District Finance Manager, Daimler Truck Financial, got involved in the deal, he sprang into action. “I knew it would take a customized finance solution to put this deal together, given their warehouse expansion efforts going on,” he stated. “We worked hard and were able to structure a loan that fit their needs very well.”ATS ended up purchasing 24 Cascadia Evolutions with the Detroit drivetrain. “Because of Daimler Truck Financial, we were able to finance our new Cascadias with excellent terms,” commented Gianoukos.The Cascadias are working great for ATS. “Our fuel economy and maintenance expenses are everything we expected them to be, and more,” states Gianoukos. “We are saving thousands of dollars a year per truck in both fuel and maintenance costs. We expect to save over two million dollars in expenses over the five-year term.”From a one-truck beginning to a large warehousing and transportation company, ATS, with its new Cascadia Evolutions, is poised for even more future growth and success.

Customer Spotlight — ATS Logistics – Financing Growth and SuccessFrom the Front Line: Small Business Credit Meets Needs Quickly

Recently, Customer Source had an opportunity to talk with Brandi Kuykendall, Small Business Credit Manager, Daimler Truck Financial. The department she manages is comprised of 17 individuals who make credit decisions for commercial vehicle customers for many Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) brands, including Freightliner, Western Star, Thomas Built Buses and Sprinter. You may not hear about this Daimler Truck Financial (DTF) department when applying for a commercial loan, but this group of individuals is working with your dealer to provide quick and

timely approval of your finance application. “The Small Business Credit department is definitely fast-paced,” Kuykendall states. “We receive about 2,500 customer applications and finance about 85 million dollars of commercial vehicle business every month. It certainly keeps us busy and motivated.”

Growth in Volume and Service Application and approval volume is up over 30 percent in 2014. One of the major reasons for this is the growth of vehicle sales and financing to vocational customers. DTNA dealers have a great line-up of superior vocational products, and DTF is focused on supporting these products. “This has definitely increased the number of applications and approvals in our department,” states Kuykendall.To better respond to the increased volume of vocational credit applications, Small Business Credit created a team of senior vocational analysts to help support this business growth. As the most seasoned members of the Small Business Credit Department, the vocational senior analysts understand the unique needs of vocational customers and the various types of financing options.

Ongoing Training Focused on Your Needs Training is also an important part of the success story of Small Business Credit. The entire team is cross-trained in the different customer segments. In addition, all team members spend time each year visiting dealerships and trade shows to better understand our customers’ needs. “We realize we can gain a tremendous amount of knowledge by reaching out and talking with our dealers and customers about their businesses,” stresses Kuykendall.

Every Experience Matters There is a very focused customer service philosophy built into the processes of the department. Kuykendall states: “We believe every experience matters, so we have developed a team commitment to communicate effectively and to listen to our dealer and customer needs. We like to go above and beyond what might be considered a normal customer expectation because we know our customers are waiting for a response.” “Our goal is to work with our dealers and customers in getting the information needed to provide a fast approval turnaround,” states Kuykendall. She points out that by providing complete documentation, a customer can help to increase the speed of a credit decision. Here is a list of documentation needed:

• Complete Owner-Operator/Vocational application including a signed Authorization to Conduct a Credit Investigation

• Employment information with contact names and numbers• Credit reference information with contact names and numbers• Complete specs for used unit• MSRP/Invoice for new unit• Desired term and down payment• Line of Business for Vocational Customers

In summary, Kuykendall states: “Even though we primarily work with dealers, we know there is a customer behind every transaction. Our goal is to provide first class service along with a financing solution to meet the needs of each and every commercial vehicle customer.”

“With DTF’s creativity in structuring a competitive finance package that truly benefited this customer, we now have a very prominent company running trucks that other customers in our territory see every day. We consider putting this truck deal together to be a crowning achievement for Triple-T in Summerville, and look forward to a long-term relationship with ATS Logistics.”

Tim Matt, Dealer Principal, Triple-T Freightliner

“Without DTF’s help, ATS would not be running new trucks and attracting so many drivers. DTF took the time to understand our business and as a result, has truly helped us grow our company.”

Jason Gianoukos, Vice President-Finance, ATS Logistics, Inc.

To learn more about the new Integrated Detroit Powertrain, go to demanddetroit.com.

NEWSLETTER FOR CUSTOMERS OF DAIMLER TRUCK FINANCIAL

Q4 2014

Customer Source2477 Deerfield Drive Fort Mill, SC 29715

©2014 Daimler Truck Financial is a business unit of Mercedes-Benz Financial Services USA LLC. All rights reserved.

New Overnight Payment Address

Effective November 1, 2014, the overnight payment addresses for Daimler Truck Financial have changed. Please document these changes below in your records.

Non-fleet customers mail overnight payments to: Mercedes-Benz Financial ServicesRPC-MBFS-5260961 N. Weigel AvenueElmhurst, IL 60126-1029

Fleet customers mail overnight payments to: Mercedes-Benz Financial ServicesRPC-MBFS-5261961 N. Weigel AvenueElmhurst, IL 60126-1029

Customer Source is a publication of Daimler Truck Financial. Contact us at dtf@dtfoffers.com.

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