2019 Cascadia XM Radio?

Correct...

It's actually Daimler Trucks: which is Freightliner, Western Star, Detroit Diesel, Alliance Truck Parts etc...

Daimler AG owns Daimler Trucks, in turn, they own Mercedes Benz... Which used to be Daimler Chrysler until they sold Chrysler.

Why do I know this useless banter? I run loads for all of the above...

But I have to agree... all the "improvements" are pretty useless at best. (As I sit in a 2019 myself)

But to the OP, as stated before, the head unit will have to be bought with XM in order to have the antenna pre installed from Freightlliner

 

The antenna won't be pre installed unless they wanted it and since it doesn't have satellite radio. No reason they would build the truck with it and not put in satellite radio.

The puck antenna can be hooked to roof with some strong tape. My company truck shop had some and they ran the antenna wire down back of cab. Then drilled small hole in floor under passenger side box. The antenna wire was run thru plastic or between plastic and come out right by passenger side seatbelt bolt on the floor and between the plastic.

I got cheap dash unit they sell at truck stop that plug aux wire into truck radio.

 

Yeah I deal with WS all the time, I know who is who and how the company is organized. It is amazing what they own and how you can get information you need when you know where to look.

BUT ... you know guys, my grandfather had a saying about people trying to find solutions to a problem when it is so simple to solve - they are taking the long way around the barn when the doors are wide open.

BIG DEAL the head unit doesn't have XM radio, MORE BIG DEAL if it doesn't have an input jack, this was spec'd by the internal buyers group at Penske and was done as a package of maybe 30 or 50 trucks at a time. It is not saving 46¢ as you think, there is a lot more involved in it and remember Penske isn't the problem, your company is for not asking for it. AND if they said they did, they are lying.

So here is what the OP needs to do.

Go to ebay, and buy one of these -

Wireless Hands-free Car FM Transmitter Radio Modulator Car MP3 Player USB Charge | eBay

OR

3.5mm FM Transmitter In-Car Wireless Radio Adapter Hands-free for iPhone Samsung | eBay


Then go out and get an XM radio for a car, set it up, stick the antenna somewhere until you get an external one, plug one of those units into the output jack of the XM unit and you are good to go.

I've used these before, exactly how I described it, I had one of those little puck antennas on the truck for four years before I put a larger one on and the only time I had issues was with tunnels.

EDIT - you can go to Alibaba or even a truck stop to get these little FM transmitters. Some work really well, some suck, so be prepared to have your patients tested.

 

New cars don't come with CD players, they are becoming obsolete and it has nothing to do with being cheap per se.


It's Time To Say Goodbye To The CD Player In New American Cars

 

I agree. What’s a mid spec’d fleet truck cost today? $150-$160k and they want to omit a $50 option? Should be standard equipment, regardless of the radio requested.

 

The factory has nothing to do with accessories or interior packages. That's all determined by the purchaser. There are many different sound/interior options. Blame Penske/your company for ordering the cheapest.