Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/751200
34 commercial carrier journal | november 2016 ProStar's successor International's LT Series provides 7 percent fuel-efficiency improvement BY JASON CANNON N avistar Chief Executive Officer Troy Clarke often says his company builds the most driver-friendly truck on the highway, so it only makes sense that he doubled down when it came time to overhaul the compa- ny's flagship on-highway truck. Many of the refinements that went into International's LT Series, which the company unveiled last month in Las Vegas, were gleaned from feedback provided by more than 400 drivers. Adding a crowd-sourced element to the design process of a truck that eventually will replace the company's ProStar is in step with Clarke's pro-driver charge. Denny Mooney, Navistar senior vice president of global product develop- ment, said it also hones the company's focus on building a truck that can become a tool for driver recruitment and retention, since driver feedback now predicates many pur- chasing decisions. "We've had fleets tell us that if the drivers don't want to drive your truck, we're not going to buy your trucks," Mooney said. "Driver retention equals cost of ownership," added Jeff Sass, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Navis- tar. Sass said keeping drivers in the seat has begun to trump fuel economy and efficiency benefits due to the investment in the driver's equipment and training. "Everything we're doing today is for the driver." I recently was able to take the LT for a quick spin around Navistar's proving grounds in New Carlisle, Ind., to get a feel for the final product's driver friendliness. e company borrowed many of the LT Series' exterior elements from its SuperTruck project, a multimillion-dollar joint endeavor with the U.S. Department of Energy. Upgraded aerodynamic features include an aerodynam- ic-contoured hood – with 4 inches added to the slope – T E S T D R I V E : I N T E R N A T I O N A L L T Aerodynamic refinements on the LT Series include a more contoured hood that slopes 4 inches lower and a three-piece front bumper. The redesigned interior features a driver display that offers up to 15 customizable digital gauges. In response to driver feedback, the air horn was relocated to its traditional intuitive position over the driver door.