Freightliner VIN Decoder

Decode any Freightliner VIN free in seconds. Enter the 17-character vehicle identification number from your truck into the decoder above and get the model, model year, chassis configuration, GVWR class, engine, assembly plant, and recall status instantly, with no sign-up and no credit card.

This page is the Freightliner VIN hub: Freightliner-specific WMI codes, the brand’s assembly plant codes, a position-by-position guide to reading a Freightliner VIN, where to find the VIN on the truck itself, and how to check recalls for the Cascadia, M2, Coronado, and eCascadia.

About Freightliner

Freightliner traces its roots to 1929, when Leland James set up a truck-manufacturing division inside his trucking company, Consolidated Freightways, in Portland, Oregon. It was formally incorporated as Freightliner Corporation in 1942. Daimler-Benz AG purchased Freightliner from Consolidated Freightways in 1981, and in December 2021, Daimler AG spun off its truck and bus division as the independently listed Daimler Truck Holding AG. Freightliner is now built by Daimler Truck North America (DTNA), headquartered in Portland, Oregon, alongside sister brands Western Star, Thomas Built Buses, and Detroit.

DTNA’s final assembly for Freightliner Class 4-8 trucks centers on Cleveland and Mount Holly, North Carolina, with additional assembly in Saltillo and Santiago Tianguistenco, Mexico. Freightliner built trucks in Portland from 1942 onward, but DTNA announced in 2026 that it’s winding down assembly there and shifting production to its Carolina plants. A separate subsidiary, Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation in Gaffney, South Carolina, builds specialty stripped chassis for RVs rather than the Cascadia, M2, or Coronado line. Freightliner’s best-known current models are the Cascadia (its flagship Class 8 tractor, including the battery-electric eCascadia), the M2 106/112 medium-duty conventional, and the Coronado.

Freightliner WMI codes (positions 1-3)

The first three characters of your VIN, the World Manufacturer Identifier (WMI), identify the manufacturer, country, and vehicle type. Here are the WMIs assigned to Freightliner, per Freightliner’s own VIN coding reference and NHTSA’s vPIC database:

If your VIN begins with any of the codes above, it’s a genuine Freightliner. An “incomplete vehicle” WMI (1FV or 3AL) means the truck left the factory as a cab and chassis, finished later by a second-stage manufacturer, common for vocational trucks and specialty chassis.

How to read a Freightliner VIN: position by position

Every Freightliner VIN built since May 2000 follows the ISO 3779 17-character standard. The 17 characters split into three blocks:

Here is what each position means specifically on a Freightliner.

Position 4: Chassis configuration

Unlike a passenger car, a Freightliner VIN dedicates a full character to axle configuration, since a truck’s chassis, not its body style, is what customers spec. Position 4 encodes the axle arrangement (4×2, 6×4, 6×6, 8×4, 10×6, and so on) and whether the unit is a straight truck or a truck-tractor. A glider kit, a new cab and chassis paired with a remanufactured drivetrain, gets its own code.

Positions 5-6: Model, cab, and GVWR class

These two characters jointly identify the model, cab style, and GVWR class. This is where you’ll see the Cascadia (day cab and sleeper variants in 113″-126″ lengths), M2 106/112 in medium- and heavy-duty trim, Coronado, 108SD/114SD severe-duty models, and the battery-electric line, coded internally as “Electric M2 106” and “Electric P4” (the eCascadia’s factory designation). GVWR rides on the same two characters, from Class 4 (14,001-16,000 lbs) through Class 8 (33,001 lbs+), so one model can carry several codes depending on how it’s specced.

Positions 7-8: Engine, fuel, and brakes

Positions 7-8 identify the engine family, fuel type, displacement, and brake system (air, hydraulic, or air-over-hydraulic). Freightliner has used engines from Detroit Diesel, Cummins, Caterpillar, and Mercedes-Benz, including the Detroit DD15 and DD16, the Cummins X15 and L9, and the medium-duty Mercedes-Benz/Detroit MBE900-series.

Position 9: Check digit

The check digit is the most important single character in any VIN, calculated from the other 16 characters using a fixed weighting table and modulo-11 math. If even one character is mistyped, the check digit won’t match, and any compliant decoder or fleet-management system will flag it as invalid.

Position 10: Model year

The 10th character maps to a model year on a repeating cycle used across the entire North American VIN standard, including Freightliner. Skim the chart below to translate yours:

The letters I, O, and Q are never used in any VIN, including Freightliner, because they look too similar to the digits 1 and 0.

Position 11: Assembly plant

The single character at position 11 identifies the specific factory that built the truck. Per Freightliner’s own VIN coding reference:

Positions 12-17: Serial number

The final six characters are the production sequence number assigned to your truck as it rolled off the line, making every Freightliner VIN globally unique.

Where to find the VIN on a Freightliner

Freightliner trucks are heavy commercial vehicles, and federal VIN-placement rules treat them differently from cars. Under 49 CFR 565.15, the windshield-visibility requirement applies only to vehicles with a GVWR of 10,000 lbs or less. Every Freightliner Class 4-8 truck is built well above that, so there’s no windshield VIN plate to look for. Instead, look here:

• The certification/compliance label on the driver’s side door frame or hinge pillar, visible when the door is open. It lists the VIN, GVWR, GAWR, and date of manufacture
• The VIN stamped into the top flange of the left frame rail, typically over or near the front axle
• The vehicle’s title, registration, and dealer service records

The 17-character VIN standard covered here applies to Freightliner trucks built on or after May 2000. For older trucks, use our classic car VIN decoder guide.

Check Freightliner recalls and safety information

Freightliner recalls, like all US motor vehicle recalls, are tracked by NHTSA. Because Freightliner trucks operate as commercial motor vehicles, fleet owners should also know FMCSA’s separate role in roadside inspection and maintenance compliance. The fastest way to check a specific Freightliner:

1. Decode the VIN with the tool above to confirm the model, model year, and GVWR class
2. Look it up at DTNA’s official recall campaign portal or NHTSA’s recall database; NHTSA holds recall authority, while FMCSA governs how carriers maintain and inspect vehicles in service
3. Contact your nearest DTNA-authorized Freightliner dealer for the free recall repair

Recalls are repaired free of charge regardless of vehicle age, mileage, or ownership history.

Frequently asked questions

How do I decode my Freightliner VIN?

Type the 17-character VIN from your Freightliner’s door-frame certification label, frame rail stamp, or title into the decoder at the top of this page. Results return in seconds and include model, model year, chassis configuration, GVWR class, engine, assembly plant, and open recalls. No registration is required.

Where is the VIN on my Freightliner?

Unlike a car, a Freightliner’s VIN isn’t required to be visible through the windshield; that rule only applies under 10,000 lbs GVWR. Check the certification label on the driver’s door frame or hinge pillar, and the VIN stamped into the left frame rail near the front axle.

Is the Freightliner VIN decoder free?

Yes. VinDecoderPlus decodes every Freightliner VIN free, with no sign-up or credit card. Full vehicle history reports, including title records, accident history, and odometer history, are available as an optional paid upgrade.

What does the VIN tell me about my Freightliner?

A VIN decode confirms the original factory configuration: model (Cascadia, M2, Coronado, eCascadia, and others), axle configuration, GVWR class, engine and brake type, model year, assembly plant, and any recall actions issued against that VIN. It does not record current mileage, accident history, or ownership chain. For those, you need a paid vehicle history report.

What’s the difference between 1FU and 1FV in a Freightliner VIN?

Both are WMI codes assigned to Daimler Truck North America. 1FU marks a complete vehicle certified at the factory. 1FV marks an incomplete vehicle, a cab and chassis shipped to a second-stage manufacturer to be finished before it’s road-legal. Mexican-built Freightliners use the equivalent codes 3AK and 3AL.

Can a Freightliner VIN be faked?

The 17 characters can be retyped, but the check digit at position 9 makes silent tampering nearly impossible: one changed character breaks the math. The VIN is also independently stamped into the frame rail, so a cloned door label won’t match the frame. If you suspect a cloned VIN, our guide how to check if a car is stolen by VIN walks through the next steps.

Decode any Freightliner VIN free

Type your 17-character Freightliner VIN into the decoder at the top of this page and get a full breakdown instantly. To learn more about VIN structure in general, see our guides:

• How to read a VIN number
• What every character in a VIN means
• Classic car VIN decoder (pre-1981)
• VIN decoder vs. vehicle history report