International Advantage

Winter is fast approaching, which means it’s time to winterize your fleet. We tapped Butch Warren, service manager, for Beltway International Trucks in Maryland, for some time-tested advice on how to keep trucks moving amid cold starts and icy, snowy conditions.

The most common misstep when it comes to winter maintenance, says Warren, is simple shortsightedness. When a breakdown occurs while out on the road, far too many fleets opt for a simple Quick Lube instead of choosing the dealer’s more thorough “A” Level service. Checking the differential and the transmission fluids, inspecting the radiator and fan drive belts, checking the air tanks for excess water build-up and replacing the air dryer cartridge all come standard as part of the “A” service at any International dealer. Rather than purely treating the issue at hand, this more detailed inspection can help eliminate another potential problem down the road.

“For example, it’s important to check the air dryer when the temperature drops,” Warren says. “If you get water in the air system, all of sudden your air brake systems could freeze up. Some customers don’t change the cartridge until there’s a failure. The key is keeping that truck up and running and profitable as long as you can.”

Maintaining your fuel quality is also essential. Ensure your trucks are getting “winter blend” diesel (a mix of 1D and 2D). Consider incorporating diesel fuel conditioner, which cleans fuel injectors, disperses water in the fuel system and helps with lubrication. And always keep the fuel tank topped off at the end of the day to reduce the collection of condensation. “In the winter, any water in the fuel will gel and that will shut you right down,” says Warren. “And there’s nothing worse for a driver than to be down and out on the side of the road in the cold weather.”

A truck’s add-on accessories—especially equipment such as APUs and MaxxPower™ battery-powered HVAC units—get a serious workout in cold weather. Of course, being stuck without heat in the winter due to an accessory system failure can be more than an inconvenience—it can be dangerous.

Make sure that APUs receive a thorough maintenance check before winter arrives. And even though MaxxPower battery-powered HVAC systems include a load-shedding device that shuts down non-essential hotel loads to converse battery power, Warren warns against being too reliant on that safeguard; HVAC and other electronic systems also need to be thoroughly inspected. Many drivers install power converters for hotel loads like microwaves and CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) machines directly to the truck battery, and if they’re installed improperly, a short can occur and knock out the truck’s entire electronic system.

“It’s best to have the shop install truck accessories to ensure the loads are dispersing properly,” he says. Additionally, wiring that’s not routed correctly can result in a pinched wire and, ultimately, a direct short in the system.

Remember, in general, every part of the truck gets a bumpier ride during the winter. The roads are rougher, causing more vibrations and chaffing of wires throughout the vehicle. So take a good look at the wiring throughout the entire engine and chassis to make sure everything is secured and wires aren’t rubbing against anything. Check the belts often, as well as the tire pressure, which tends to drop along with the temperatures. Together, all of these preventative actions can help your trucks continue to run smoothly all year long.

For more preventative maintenance tips, visit: International Trucks Maintenance

With the recently released MaxxForce® 15, International® trucks are now available with engines that cater to every conceivable power and application need. The 15-liter powerhouse joins a line-up that already includes a broad range of integrated offerings from a mid-range V-8 to a big bore 13-liter.

According to Tim Shick, vice president, North American engine sales, Navistar, one of the advantages of the new engine offering is that customers with the need for upwards of 450 horsepower can choose between a 13-liter and 15-liter option, depending on their unique requirements. Businesses focused primarily on fluid economy can select the lighter MaxxForce 13; those that want brute strength along with performance can opt for the heavy-duty MaxxForce 15.

“Fleets that need the power of a 15-liter for steep grades and the heaviest of loads will get all the performance they need from the power output and torque output of the MaxxForce 15,” says Shick.

Currently available in the International® ProStar®+, the International PayStar® and the International 9900i, the MaxxForce 15 offers vocational ratings from 450hp to 550hp and On Highway ratings from 435hp to 500hp. And with peak power at 1,600 RPM, its off-the-line responsiveness is best in class. The engine’s 3-year, 350,000 base warranty is also 33% longer than the competition.

The durability of the MaxxForce 15—built on a legendary block and head casting with billions of accumulated miles—makes it a wise investment for many businesses. The proven engine, coupled with components from the MaxxForce 13 including a Bosch high-pressure common rail fuel system and proprietary electronics and calibration, was designed to provide years of reliable use across hundreds of thousands of miles. And the engine has been tested to withstand every extreme imaginable: from the heat of Arizona to the bitter cold of Alaska. In total, the MaxxForce 15 has traveled 5 million test miles since 2009.

Shick notes that, while many customers will keep the engine as part of their own long-term strategy, the range of power outputs available for the MaxxForce 15 means some owners may choose to purchase the engine at a lower power rating and then up-rate it with higher power for the resale market.

“The engine has the cooling systems to absolutely handle the higher outputs,” he says. “And unlike some competitive engines, it can be up-rated without the need for hardware changes. That makes the whole process less expensive and less time consuming.”

The MaxxForce 15 also boasts a best-in-class MaxxForce engine compression brake that slows the vehicle in the 1400-1600 RPM sweet spot. When cruising, the engine delivers a 100 horsepower advantage versus the competition, providing extra braking performance when it’s needed most.

But more than anything, the MaxxForce 15 once again demonstrates the commitment of International to provide solutions tailor-made for its customers’ specific needs. With a wide-ranging engine portfolio and a wide selection of both on-highway and vocational trucks, International is helping keep North American businesses driving forward like never before.

For more information on how to find the truck and engine combination that fits your needs, visit:15-liter brochure

With interest rates at current lows and used truck trade-in values reaching new highs, new truck buying conditions are expected to be better this year and next than they have been in the past three to four years. To help you understand the options available for financing your equipment, we spoke to the experts from Navistar Capital, a GE Capital program.

Question: What are the primary benefits of financing a truck through Navistar Capital versus a local bank?

Answer: Navistar Capital takes what banks traditionally do—provide financing—and tailors a solution for the customer. You’ll work closely with a team of credit and documentation specialists, along with your sales representative, as they guide you through the financing process from application to closing so that you can quickly acquire equipment and keep your business running smoothly. Our solution avoids the cookie cutter approach to financing by listening and finding a solution that gets customers into the truck they need.

Q: What are some advantages of working with one lender for equipment purchases and another for a business’s working capital?

A: In today’s economy, diversifying your sources of capital is more important than ever. Using Navistar Capital for equipment financing and your local bank for day-to-day working capital needs increases your diversification. This allows you to maximize your financing capacity and reduces your risk if a lender pulls out of the industry, leaving you searching for a new one. Leveraging Navistar Capital as your equipment financing source gives you comfort that you’re working with a company that has been financing trucks for more than 35 years.

Q: What are some of the factors a truck buyer needs to consider when determining the right financial product for his business?

A: You need to work with a reliable, value-added financing source—one that knows your business, your industry and your equipment as well as the importance of responding quickly to opportunities—in order to find the right financing product. Here are the main products offered by Navistar Capital, and the benefits of each:

1. Retail Finance Contract

If your business is looking to own equipment to build equity, you should consider a retail finance contract. Benefits include: Competitive rate with flexible repayment schedules (including accelerated payments; skip payment plans to meet changing cash flow needs with seasonal business; and balloon financing alternatives); financing up to 100% of the sale price; and pre-approved lines of credit.

2. Fair Market Value (FMV) Lease

If you’re looking to maximize cash flow and owning the equipment is not as important as avoiding worry about trade-in values, an FMV lease could be the right solution. Benefits include: Lower down payment (typically one month’s rental payment is needed to start your lease); fixed monthly payments that are lower than traditional retail financing; and options to purchase, renew or return at lease expiration.

3. Terminal Rental Adjustment Clause Lease (TRAC Lease)

A TRAC lease makes sense if you’re looking for low monthly payments to maximize your cash flow or you’re simply looking for a low payment to ease your expenses. At the beginning of a TRAC lease, you and Navistar Capital agree upon the TRAC amount, an estimate of the equipment’s value at the end of the lease. Having an agreed-upon residual amount upfront takes the guesswork out of the equipment’s market value at lease expiration.

4. Rebate Lease

The mechanics of the rebate lease is very simple. At the beginning of a lease, it’s difficult to know exactly how many miles you will use a truck before your lease ends. Whether you over-estimate or under-estimate, our rebate lease helps you lower costs and gives you great flexibility: If you over-use the equipment, you’ll pay overage charges that are lower than today’s industry averages; if you under-use the equipment, you’ll receive a direct cash rebate.

Q: What are some of the ways to improve the chances of success when applying for financing?

A: The good news is that many lenders are actively seeking new opportunities to put their money to work. When reviewing a credit application, they’re interested in a variety of factors beyond a company’s cash flow and credit history. To increase your chances for success, reach out to lenders early and build relationships before applying for a loan. Be transparent when demonstrating the issues facing your business. And finally, create a forward-looking business plan that shows how you’ve overcome obstacles and solved problems—and how you plan to grow your business.

For more information on financing options, visit: Navistar Capital.

For more information on the Turn-in-Three payment solution, which offers customers a fixed monthly payment over six years, full warranty coverage and a new truck after three years, visit: Turn-in-Three

The International® TerraStar® work truck continues to demonstrate why it’s the kind of truck you can build your business around. Built with commercial grade components by a commercial truck maker, this is a vehicle that delivers toughness, reliability and efficiency in an easy-to-maneuver package.

Rugged and easy to operate, the TerraStar is getting the job done—no matter what that job happens to be. The truck can be found moving along construction sites, being called upon as a utility truck or fire and rescue vehicle, and operating as a light snowplow, to name just a few of the applications leveraging its many assets.

Businesses throughout North America are taking advantage of benefits such as the truck’s best-in-class visibility. With 38% more visibility than the competition, it can help keep drivers—and those around them—safer. Plus, the massive cab provides 20% more volume than the nearest comparable truck, with an optional crew cab that can transport six in comfort. The TerraStar also features the 300 horsepower and 6.4-liter MaxxForce® 7 V-8 engine, which delivers excellent fluid economy and 660 lb-ft of torque.

“This is a truck purpose-built for medium-duty workloads,” says Randy Oetting, director of product and pricing development, Navistar. “It’s unique in that it’s a Class 4/5 that offers the advantages of a Class 6 truck in a lighter package. Anyone who could use the durability and reliability of a real-deal commercial grade work truck is going to find what they’re looking for with the TerraStar.”

Customers love the truck’s flexibility as well. The TerraStar offers levels of customization only found with commercial trucks, with the ability to add components as needed instead of being limited to off-the-shelf packages.

Tim Bauman, owner of an Interstate Batteries distributorship in the Toronto, Ontario area is finding the TerraStar to be a perfect fit for his needs. His customers—which include independent garages, major auto service providers, and end-users—often need additional sales inventory beyond what was delivered during Interstate’s regular route deliveries. For this application, Bauman requires a truck that’s quick and nimble, but tough enough to haul upwards of 8,000 pounds of heavy battery stock and other equipment.

Previously, Bauman utilized a Ford Super Duty to handle this “hot shot” delivery service. Unfortunately, over a two-year period, that truck suffered premature brake wear-and-tear and other issues, resulting in 60-plus days of downtime.

“The bottom line is, the truck was not built to handle the work that I do,” Bauman says.

Since February, Bauman has relied on the TerraStar. He’s found the truck—equipped with a four-bay body from Mickey Truck Bodies—to be more than up to the task, starting with the rugged chassis and its best-in-class 80,000 PSI frame rails huckbolted for strength and durability.

Bauman says he’s been particularly impressed with the turning radius and visibility of the truck. “We drive into a lot of industrial complexes where there are a lot of narrow spots and tight turns,” he says. “The maneuverability is much better [than our previous truck].” And he appreciates that the cab offers plenty of room for drivers to house a computer and printer as well as point-of-sale material.

Perhaps the biggest compliment to the toughness of the TerraStar is the fact that Bauman has the confidence to occasionally run it as a route truck, where it as no problem pulling heavier loads.

“It handles its everyday duties really well with respect to reliability, toughness and durability,” says Bauman. “And it even has the ability to step up and temporarily cover the workload of a larger truck.”

And most importantly, the truck has had zero maintenance issues. “The drivers are happy with it, and I’m happy with it. It’s doing everything we ask it to do—and then some.”

For more information on the International TerraStar, visit International Terrastar.