Phil Christman, newly installed vice-president and general manager of International Truck & Engine Corp's severe service division, believes customization needs of the vocational market will increase in the near future, even as tighter emission regulations make such customization more challenging.
A bigger hood and grill on the WorkStar allowed it to accommodate emissions-compliant engines without dropping the radiator between the frame rails, allowing customers to maintain front engine PTO capabilities without affecting the radiator, he said.
“Another big issue is making our vehicles as ‘road ready’ as possible when they leave the factory, so body installation time can be minimized yet integration between body and chassis improved,” Christman said.
He said International's multiplexed electrical wiring, combined with its Diamond Logic electronic control system, allows for faster “plug and play” between the chassis and the body. It eliminates the need to splice into wiring harnesses to make body-truck connections, which ensures greater integrity for the vehicle's electrical system while speeding up delivery times, according to Christman.
“Our next big challenge is to keep doing all of this as we meet the 2010 emission standards,” Christman said.