WARRENVILLE, Ill. — Navistar has secured its position as the exclusive truck provider to US mega-fleet Heartland Express.

Navistar says it inked a deal with the company to deliver an unspecified number of International ProStar+ tractors with EPA2010 MaxxForce 13 engines.

“Receiving another significant order from a major customer like Heartland Express continues to demonstrate the confidence of the marketplace in the performance and fuel economy of our 2010 MaxxForce Advanced EGR engines,” said Jim Hebe, senior vice-president, North American sales operations, Navistar. “Our 2010 ProStar+ will build on that reputation with even more driver comfort features and the fuel economy, performance and no-hassle approach of our Advanced EGR MaxxForce 13 engines will help deliver real-world results to Heartland’s bottom line.”

Navistar points out its International ProStar+ is 700 lbs lighter than the original ProStar and its MaxxForce 13 is 600 lbs ligher than a competitive 15-litre engine, providing a potential weight savings of 1,300 lbs over a ProStar with a 15-litre engine.

“Having fuel-efficient, cost-effective trucks that are embraced by our drivers is a top priority for us,” Russel Gerdin, chairman and chief executive officer, Heartland Expres. “This agreement with Navistar will ensure that we have the most complete fleet of fuel-efficient and driver-friendly trucks in the industry for years to come.”