February 10, 2016 Vol. 13 No. 3

The venerable PayStar is gone, replaced by the new International HX Series, a line of heavy vocational trucks and tractors aimed at severe-service work. They’re the company’s first new vehicles since 2010. And they look suitably tough to me.

There are four models, with set-forward or set-back steer axles and long or medium-length hoods. You can order one  now, with delivery starting in April.

“The launch of the HX Series is an opportunity for International to recapture a leading position in the vocational market, a segment we previously led,” said Troy Clarke, Navistar president and CEO, at the recent Las Vegas introduction.

The four HX models include: 

The HX515 is a 115-in. bumper-to-back of cab truck with a set-forward steer axle. Its primary vocations including concrete mixer, construction dump, refuse/roll-off and crane carrier. Offered only in 6×4 trim, front or rear PTOs are available.

Its brother, the HX615, also comes with a 115-in. BBC, in this case with a set-back steer axle in truck or tractor form. It will serve similar vocations plus construction dump and platform. Only a rear PTO is offered.

The HX520 is a 120-in. BBC set-forward axle truck or tractor with primary vocations covering heavy-haul, construction dump, and platform stake/crane.

And the HX620, with the same BBC and a set-back axle, is also available as a truck or tractor. But with this one you can get a front axle rated up to 22,000 lb and tandem rears to 70,000. A 69,000-lb tridem version is also offered. Like the HX520, it can be ordered with dual external air cleaners.