Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/649008
44 | Overdrive | March 2016 Severe Service International Truck last month unveiled its first all-new vehicles since 2010. The International HX Series, four vocational trucks slated to replace the company's PayStar series, is an aluminum cab Class 8 vocational unit designed with driver comfort features in mind. Troy Clarke, Navistar president and chief executive officer, said the HX Series' launch is key to the com- pany's attempt to recapture share in the vocational mar- ket – a segment the company previously led – by offering a "premium" model. The HX Series is avail- able in both set-forward and set-back front axle models in either short or long hood: • The HX515 is a 115- inch BBC set-forward-axle straight truck with primary vocations including con- crete mixer, construction dump, refuse/roll-off and crane. This truck features Navistar's N13 engine. • The HX615 is a 115-inch BBC set-back- axle truck or tractor with primary vocations including construction dump, concrete mixer, platform stake/crane and refuse/roll-off. This truck features the N13. • The HX520 is a 120-inch BBC set-forward- axle truck or tractor with primary vocations includ- ing heavy-haul tractor, construction dump and platform stake/crane. This truck features Cummins' ISX15 engine. • The HX620 is a 120-inch BBC set-back- axle truck or tractor with primary vocations includ- ing heavy-haul tractor, construction dump and platform stake/crane. This truck features the ISX15. Each model features a huck-bolted frame and crossmembers engineered to help minimize vibration and maximize structural integrity. An available 12.5-by-.5-inch single rail delivers 3.5 million RBM at 13 percent less weight than a 10-inch rail, allowing room for a heavier load, Navistar said. Each truck features a three-piece Metton hood designed to resist cracking, and doors with stainless- steel piano hinges for added strength. The tow pin is rated at 150,000 pounds for extreme recovery towing. A 40-degree wheel cut on both right and left turns is designed for improved ma- neuverability, while angled fenders facilitate greater wheel clearance to help power through challeng- ing terrain. The hood's low angle helps provide added front forward visibility, while a large rear window allows for more rear visibility. The HX Series is equipped with the new DriverFirst Cab Air Suspension, designed with 52-inch springs to facilitate a more comfortable and quieter ride. Inside, contoured door handles add hip room, and storage space and a central console are angled for easier reach to controls. There also is easier access to cup holders and the overhead console. The standard tilt/telescop- ing steering column adjusts to accommodate any size driver. Gauges are designed and positioned to deliver optimal visibility and vital information at a glance. – Jason Cannon International Truck Co., InternationalTrucks.com PayStar successor debuts The HX Series is International's first completely new truck introduction since 2010. Photos by Tom Jackson Driver comfort and productivity were the goals in the cab design.