Elliott Equipment Company Picked the Freightliner M2 106 to Power its First Digger Derrick
Freightliner Trucks Severe Duty Newsletter
Elliott Equipment Company recently developed the D105, its first digger derrick for the electric utility, construction, and maintenance industries. It has a 107-foot sheave height, 20,000 foot-pound high-torque digger system, a digging radius of up to 41 feet, and digging depth of up to 16 feet — and it’s powered by a Freightliner M2 106.
“One of the main reasons we chose this chassis is that Freightliner now offers a 6x6 18,000-lb.-rated factory-installed front-drive axle on the M2 106,” said David Phillips, manager of global business development & marketing at Elliott Equipment Company. “This makes it possible for us to install larger equipment like the D105 on this chassis. Plus, with a factory 6x6 offering, this chassis is very price competitive and flexible for our needs.”
The new D105 is designed specifically for the utility, transmission, construction, and maintenance industries. Digger derricks fit into a specific market niche for the utility customer whose primary work is installing transmission lines and storm cleanup. The utility market is the fastest growing market in the industry right now, and digger derricks are popular because they increase flexibility.
“With growth in the utility and construction industry there’s a need for taller tip heights, more powerful diggers, and wider digging radii for these projects. It was driven by customer demand,” said Phillips. “The D105 is a monster machine, and we set it up primarily for the Freightliner chassis because of its excellent flexibility for on- and off-road work.”
The M2 106 packs a Cummins® ISL 350 HP engine and an Allison 3000 series automatic transmission. It is constructed from corrosion-resistant aluminum reinforced with e-coated steel for a lightweight cab that is extremely tough. The chassis offers versatility and good fuel economy, which are important when working on different terrains. Freightliner also makes it easy to customize the M2 106 to unique business needs.
“Over the years we’ve worked a lot with Freightliner engineering and sales to develop product packaging and options designed to make our installation process easier,” said Phillips. “Things like the body builder interfacing, electronic systems in the chassis, frame setup and arrangement, and exhaust — all of those things make a big difference in how we install. We find it really easy to work with Freightliner.”
Based in Omaha, Nebraska, Elliott Equipment Company has been building telescopic aerial devices and cranes since 1948, and they have a global distribution network that sells and rents the equipment.
A rear view of the Elliott D105 digger derrick.
“Over the years we’ve worked a lot with Freightliner engineering and sales to develop product packaging and options designed to make our installation process easier. Things like the body builder interfacing, electronic systems in the chassis, frame setup and arrangement, and exhaust — all of those things make a big difference in how we install. We find it really easy to work with Freightliner.”
– David Phillips, Manager of Global Business Development & Marketing at Elliott Equipment Company