WARRENVILLE, Ill. — As promised, International Truck and Engine’s Chatham, Ont. truck manufacturing plant will soon begin building a new conventional heavy-duty highway tractor for 2007.
In a conference call with trucking writers yesterday, Tom Baughman, vice-president and general manager of the company’s Heavy Truck Vehicle Center, said the new aerodynamic truck would be marketed to small and medium fleets. The company wouldn’t offer details on the name or physical features of the truck, but said it would be officially unveiled at the 2006 Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Ken. next March and the Truck World Show in Toronto the following month.

“We’re described as being founded in the small fleet business — not the big owner-operator and to a lesser extent, not a big fleet vehicle,” Baughman said. “We try to operate on small- and medium-sized fleets as the core of this new vehicle. That’s the essence of our business through our dealer organization. We want to build their capability and profitability and we believe that should be the targeted spot for the introduction of the new vehicle.”

Baughman confirmed that the truck would eventually replace the 9400i and the 9200i, although “there will be some product overlap as it’s launched.” He said there are no plans to replace the 9900 series, including the Eagle package.

According to International, the truck focuses on driver comfort, uptime, fuel economy and out-of-motion costs. With the input of dealer and customer advisory boards, as well as 8 field-test customers, the truck will boast “industry-leading aerodynamics,” cab environment, electronics and ergonomics refinements. It will be available in multiple configurations — daycab and sleepers of two lengths, 51 and 71 in. with multiple roof heights.

While the truck will be launched with Caterpillar and Cummins engine offerings, the company will eventually incorporate its 2007 EPA-ready big-bore engine, which is based on Navistar’s German partner MAN Nutzfahrzeuge’s European D20. The company wouldn’t release torque or horsepower ratings, however.

With rising fuel prices, expected loss of fuel economy from upcoming EPA engines, and strict new low-sulfur diesel standards, it’s no secret the company is focusing on minimizing fuel consumption with an optimized powertrain and aerodynamic design. “Aerodynamics is certainly a key feature. With 2007, it allows us to apply an additional benefit to offset any (of the fuel economy) impacts of the engine itself, if there is any,” said Jodie Presswood, senior products engineer.

Engineers analyzed driver tasks, captured hundreds of 36-point body measurement profiles, and performed time and motion studies, International says. With the help of sophisticated computer models, International used the data to design a vehicle that will reduce the possibility of driver discomfort due to the vehicle’s environment – both on the road, and when entering and exiting the vehicle. Designers even went so far as to sleep in cabs and travel to customer locations and truck stops nationwide to interview nearly 1,500 drivers.

Other features include:

Frame construction and suspensions that improve ride and handling; improved interior quality, with a roomier feel and more natural light; a quieter cab interior; improved ventilation and HVAC performance; new improved storage system for drivers’ clothes and other items; and improved seat mechanisms for greater comfort, with a new feature to ease a driver’s muscle aches and pains.

Shipments to International dealers will begin in the first quarter of 2007.

As Today’s Trucking reported last year, the truck was promised to the Chatham plant as part of an agreement with the Canadian Auto Worker union. The union voted in June 2004 to ratify new labour contracts that will now run through June 30, 2009.

The Chatham plant currently produces 9000i Series highway tractors and employs about 650 workers.