Contractors have a new truck option

CHICAGO – The industry now has one more choice when it comes to truck options.

International Trucks, a unit of Navistar, Inc., re-entered the medium truck market with the launch of the International CV Series.  

The company launched the truck at an event in Chicago on Nov. 7. It will be available in January and was developed in partnership with General Motors.

According to David Majors, Navistar vice president, product development, landscapers were involved in the development of the truck and there are a number of components that contractors will find beneficial.

“It’s a lot of the little things,” Majors said, citing the aluminum cab access steps as one example where the truck can benefit landscapers, especially those who plow snow. Contractors can also attach plows and spreaders to the truck.

“We see it as a growing market,” Majors said of the landscaping industry.

Beyond those little things, Majors said the truck is designed with many components that fit landscapers who are focused on growing their business.

The CV Series has a gear-driven transfer case, a low-alloy steel frame rail and a painted chassis for enhanced longevity and corrosion resistance.

The CV Series includes a commercial-style forward-tilting hood, which provides easy access to the engine and to routine maintenance points. Under that hood is the International 6.6-liter, 350-horsepower engine with 700 lb.-ft. of torque. Equipped with that engine and two Allison transmission options, the CV is capable of handling up to a maximum GCWR of 37,500 lbs.

The CV Series was tested in extreme environments, including 40 degrees below zero Fahrenheit in Fairbanks, Alaska and 115 degrees Fahrenheit in Apache, Arizona, as well as high-altitude testing at 12,000 feet in Loveland Pass, Colorado.

Upfitting options. Straight frame rails with no rivets on the top flange provide a clean area from cab to axle, making it easy to mount bodies for commercial-grade applications. Like other International trucks, the CV Series is outfitted with HuckBolt chassis fasteners that provide clamping force without re-torqueing and won’t come loose, even in extreme environments.

Accommodating the configuration options required by different bodies, the CV Series offers a dual battery box mounted under the cab. The CV Series also includes multiple fuel tank options, optional exhaust outlets to suit the vocation and body and multiple wheelbase options that can suit almost any application.

CV Series customers also have access to the same Truck Specialty Centers as all International customers.

Custom options. The network’s dealership salespersons specialize in commercial transportation sales and spec’ing, allowing a customer to pick the configuration and specs that are right for any vocational application. In addition, International’s Application Engineering Team offers access to vocational engineering experts who can help customers design a custom configuration geared to their application.

Service is backed by a commercial-grade parts network where 98 percent of parts are available through either dealer inventory or International’s  network of parts distribution centers.

The International dealer network’s more than 700 service locations feature more than 7,600 ASE-certified commercial diesel-trained technicians in the U.S. and more than 1,900 in Canada.

“Our network is committed to providing the expertise needed to keep your business moving,” said Michael Cancelliere, Navistar’s president, Truck and Parts.

“No matter the location, if a customer needs service, help is likely to be nearby.”

On top of its commercial-grade configurability, the CV Series was also designed with comfort, safety and drivability in mind.

The truck has multiple infotainment options, including an 8-inch color touch screen with navigation and, for the first time in an International truck, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

Optional air ride suspension with an engine-mounted compressor is available, which can be used to adjust height and provide a smooth ride for cargo protection and crew comfort.

“The CV Series has been compared to a field office with perks,” Cancelliere said. “Our philosophy is that driver comfort is critical to get the job done smoothly and efficiently, and the CV Series brings that philosophy to life.”