Re: Ok, NOW I wanna drive a truck for a living!
Yeah I've been working pretty closely with International lately and agree that thing is plain scary. Somebody decided they were going to grow the Owner Operator market which has never been their strength. I can't imagine any fleets buying those. There is a new twist too as the only way you can get a Caterpillar Truck engine anymore is going to be International. The C-15 (C15, 3406E etc. etc.) engine has always been a favorite of Owner Operators and they just inked a deal for an International branded "Maxxforce 15" with Cat. So maybe it will workout. Personally I think it's butt ugly . . .
Lot's of changes been going on in the truck biz . . . International also manufactures a German designed (MAN) 11 and 13 liter engine here now. International has always had their own mid-range engines, but these are the first branded "heavies" for them. There has been an ongoing evolution of the truck business to 100% "vertical" engine supply (build your engine like a car) as opposed to "horizontal" supply that has been the norm for US truck manufacturers other than Mack which had their own and offered, CAT, Cummins and Detroit Diesels over the years. Started when Volvo came in with their own engines. Now Freightliner (Mercedes engine, owns Detroit Diesel), PACCAR (KW and Pete) has a DAF engine, Volvo has Volvo, International has their "own", Mack has Volvo (Volvo owns Mack). Cummins is really the only independent supplier of truck engines left and they have some sweet deals, but we'll see . . .
