Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) has named Randy DeBortoli as chief engineer of product validation engineering, where he will steer the strategic development of Freightliner and Western Star trucks.
DeBortoli has been with DTNA for almost 30 years. Recently, DeBortoli served as the chief engineer of chassis and vocational engineering, playing an instrumental role in the introduction of the all-new Western Star 49X. DTNA says DeBortoli and his team steered the 49X’s achievements in driver comfort, ergonomics and safety.
DeBortoli has also held roles as chief engineer of cab systems, director of engineering for Western Star, program manager for EPA 2010 emissions standards and custom engineering manager for the former Sterling Trucks Corporation. DeBortoli, who is based at DTNA headquarters in Portland, has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from University of California, Davis.
DeBortoli is succeeding Al Pearson, who is retiring from DTNA after almost 40 years at the company. DTNA says Pearson’s achievements at DTNA have included the development of the new Freightliner Cascadia; developing innovations to deliver customers a fuel economy improvement of 5% every two years; and overseeing the construction of DTNA’s validation facilities like the High Desert Proving Grounds in Madras, Ore., and the industry’s first full-scale heavy-duty wind tunnel in Portland.