International Advantage

At this year’s Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS), Navistar will be touting its full line-up of MaxxForce® brand engines. Among them is the MaxxForce 15, which will make its market debut in several vehicles as part of the industry’s most complete integrated truck and engine portfolio.

Taking place March 31-April 2 in Louisville, Ky., this year marks the 40th anniversary of the world’s largest truck show. At the Navistar booth, attendees will see firsthand how the company’s integrated approach to product development has resulted in truck and engine combinations that meet the needs of every application.

The centerpiece of the booth will be the MaxxForce Stage, with displays of engines ranging from the V-8 MaxxForce 7 engine to the big bore MaxxForce 13 and 15. “We’ve elevated the MaxxForce message, literally,” explains Heather Street, integrated marketing manager, Navistar.

For long-haul operators, Navistar will continue to spread the word about the many benefits of its flagship International® ProStar®+ with the MaxxForce 13 big bore engine. This winning combination is the undisputed leader in fluid economy, or the total consumption of diesel fuel and DEF (the urea-based solution required for competitive trucks using SCR technology to meet 2010 emissions).

During tests, the ProStar+ and its in-cylinder MaxxForce Advanced EGR system outperformed leading SCR-equipped contenders by 1 to 2.5%. The truck is also 700 to 1,000 pounds lighter than the competition, a vital factor for today’s weight-conscious fleets. Those key market advantages will come to life at the Navistar booth.

Customers that operate in extreme applications—heavy-haul fleets or those traveling steep terrain—will be excited to see the new MaxxForce 15 engine in the International ProStar+ truck, as well as the vocational PayStar® 5900. “For anyone hauling up a mountain grade day-in and day-out, this engine will provide the power and torque you need,” says Street. “For fleets on the West Coast or in Canada, this is a great option.”

Street also emphasizes that the MaxxForce 15 is built on a proven block, with more than a million on-highway units produced since the 1970s.

In addition, the International WorkStar® 7600 vocational truck with a MaxxForce 11/13 engine will be shown for the first time in a new sloped-hood configuration, providing excellent visibility. The hot new International TerraStar™ work truck, the newest entry in International’s medium-duty line-up, is also sure to draw crowds.

Navistar’s leadership in alternative fuel vehicles also will be clearly demonstrated. International DuraStar® CNG (compressed natural gas) and ProStar+ LNG (liquid natural gas) trucks will be showcased alongside the International DuraStar® hybrid and the eStar™, the first purpose-built all-electric commercial truck in its category.

Beyond the truck

Because Navistar’s commitment to its customers goes well beyond the truck purchase, MATS attendees can also learn more about OnCommand™ customer solutions by Navistar. This suite of business tools is designed to minimize downtime and keep fleets running at optimum efficiency. It includes web-based service manuals, VIN-based data, and parts information, online education for technicians, and scalable maintenance and inventory management software.

And to show the scope of North America’s largest commercial truck network, an interactive map will call out the nearly 800 dealer locations, flagging those located on the continent’s busiest routes.

With so many vehicles and so much information packed into the show booth, Navistar representatives will be carrying iPads loaded with the company’s full line of products and services. That means visitors can experience a “virtual” version of the booth offerings instead of having to walk back and forth across the booth space.

“This year, our goal is to enhance the booth experience in as many ways as possible,” says Street. “We’re using technology to bring our story to life in ways like never before.”

For more information on MATS, go to: www.truckingshow.com.

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After the 2010 debut of the International® TerraStar™, the big story at this year’s NTEA Work Truck Show is the launch of a 4x4 version of the tough and fuel-efficient new commercial work truck.

“With the 4x4 TerraStar, we’ve rounded out our offerings for the [Class 5] market,” says Heather Street, integrated marketing manager, Navistar. “It really complements our current portfolio of products for government, utility, energy, food and beverage, and other fleets.”

The International booth at the annual gathering hosted by the National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA), taking place in Indianapolis, Ind. March 8-10, will feature many vehicles powered by the 300-hp MaxxForce® 7, a 6.4-liter, V-8 turbodiesel engine purpose-built for the medium duty market. Among the highlights: an International TerraStar 4x4 crew cab and an International DuraStar truck.

“The MaxxForce 7 is a more durable engine than previous iterations thanks to its compacted graphite iron block,” Street explains. “It’s a rugged engine that’s ideal for medium truck owners looking for increased reliability, longer engine life, and greater residual value.”

Built with a high-pressure common-rail fuel system that enables precise fuel dosing, injection timing and optimal combustion, the engine delivers in-cylinder reduction of emissions, and is also one of the quietest running diesel engines in the industry. Compared to typical gray iron, the CGI block brings increased durability and lower noise without added weight. In fact, at just 1,225 pounds, the 2010 MaxxForce 7 V-8 can add payload and axle capability to your operation.

“This V-8 is a significant product upgrade, as we meet the market’s challenge for big power from an efficient, reliable and durable platform,” adds Jim Hebe, Navistar senior vice president, North American sales operations.

Also on-hand will be a Workhorse® truck built by Workhorse Custom Chassis, LLC (a Navistar company).

A section of the International booth will also be dedicated to the benefits of the MaxxForce® Advanced EGR (exhaust gas recirculation). All International brand trucks with MaxxForce engines feature this in-cylinder technology to meet 2010 emissions standards. This solution doesn’t bring added costs for diesel exhaust fluid, which is required for SCR, the 2010 solution used by other engine makers. It also doesn’t weigh down the truck with additional aftertreatment systems.

The star of the Green Truck Summit

Additionally, the eStar™, the first purpose-built all-electric commercial truck in its category, will serve as the sponsor of NTEA’s Green Truck Summit. This annual breakout education session shares best practices on the latest alternative fuel vehicles and issues.

The eStar, built through the Navistar-Modec EV Alliance, LLC, the joint venture between Navistar, Inc. and Modec Limited of the United Kingdom, is the perfect vehicle to sit front and center during the Green Truck Summit. It has a range of 100 miles per charge, making it ideal for many urban applications. When it returns to its home base at the end of the day, it can be plugged in and fully recharged in approximately 6-8 hours.

“The all-electric eStar commercial truck is a groundbreaking product,” says Mark Aubry, vice president sales and marketing, e-Star. “We’re proud to share its benefits with fleets interested in this next-generation business solution.”

Other trucks on display in the International booth’s alternative fuel section include a CNG (compressed natural gas) version of the International WorkStar® and an International DuraStar® hybrid.

“Throughout our show booth, visitors will experience how we’re dedicated to the idea of optimization,” says Street. “We not only have the products you need, we provide the support to keep your business running its best.”

For more information about NTEA, go to: www.ntea.com/worktruckshow.

Fuel prices are on the rise. If you aren’t doing everything you can to manage your fleet’s fuel costs, now is the time to start. Here, in the first of an ongoing series of articles on how to improve fluid economy, we look at the importance of choosing the right engine.

At press time, the U.S. average retail price for a gallon of diesel fuel had increased for eight straight weeks to $3.43 per gallon, up nearly 60 cents from a year ago. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the gain is part of a trend of rising prices tracking the increases in crude oil futures.

The EIA claims the rising crude oil prices are being driven by the growth in world petroleum demand, particularly in rising economies such as China and India. It anticipates continued tightening of world oil markets over the next two years, with diesel prices potentially hitting $3.90 per gallon come September.

Rising fuel costs are a threat to the profits of any trucking-related business. But according to Bob Neitzel, marketing manager, Navistar, with so many fleets finally entering the new truck market after a few years on the sidelines, now is the chance to spec a truck and engine that can give you the best possible fluid economy: the total consumption of diesel fuel and DEF (the urea-based solution required for competitive trucks using SCR technology to meet 2010 emissions).

The first step is clearly identifying your needs.

“You need to ask yourself: What are you going to carry? Where do you expect to go? What sort of grades will you be climbing? Do you have to back up steep ramps?” Neitzel explains. “Answering those questions will give you a picture of how much horsepower and torque you need to get the job done.”

For example, to carry 80,000-lb loads, your trucks may require 1700 lbs of torque and 450-475 hp. A 13-liter engine such as the MaxxForce 13® could provide all of the power you need. But heavy haul fleets, or those traveling over mountain grades, may necessitate the added power and torque of the MaxxForce 15 engine.”

The new mantra for any engine purchase, according to the experts, is pick the smallest displacement engine—the fewest number of liters—that will comfortably do the job. And, of course, a lighter engine will use less fuel and help you save money on fuel costs.

“The mentality used to be: buy the biggest engine you can and rate it down in horsepower,” says Tim Shick, director of business and product strategy, Navistar. “Modern engine design is challenging what was once traditional thinking. The biggest single rule of thumb now is: Let the power you need dictate which engine you choose.”

Conventional wisdom says a 13-liter engine is going to be at least a couple hundred pounds lighter than any 15-liter. And considering how many applications are weight-sensitive in today’s market—in most hauling scenarios, you’re going to run out of weight capability before you run out of room in the trailer—the lighter engine could be the smart choice, depending on your application needs.

Once you’ve chosen the right engine, your next step is to look at that engine’s performance and fuel usage curve.

For example, most highway trucks run at a fairly consistent 60 mph over the highway. On big bore engines, optimum fluid economy occurs at around 1400 rpms. “So you want to gear that vehicle for 60 mph and 1400 rpms by choosing the right transmission, rear axle ratio, and tire size. Those all come together to reach that sweet spot of optimal fluid economy,” says Neitzel.

“It requires careful spec’ing, because sometimes you can spec a truck that runs at the right speed, but if you don’t pick the right transmission you might not have a low enough gear to back up,” he continues. “A dump truck is probably going to run loaded at between 35-45 mph—that’s very different than a line-haul truck cruising down the road at highway speed. So you might want to use a different gearing scheme to try to keep that engine performing most efficiently.”

In a future article, we’ll take a closer look at transmission, axle and tire choices. But in general, your dealer should be able to steer you in the right direction during the spec’ing process.