International has now refreshed its entire vocational lineup, with the final revamp this month's unveiling of the redesigned HV, now available with International’s S13 Integrated Powertrain.
“We took the workhorse of the International product line, modernized its appearance, and powered it with the industry’s most advanced powertrain,” said Andy Hanson, vocational marketing director.
“We also raised the bar when it comes to chassis and body integration by helping customers increase productivity and reduce equipment downtime.”
Meeting Vocational Customer Needs
The Class 6/7 heavy vocational HV, first introduced in 2017, has “a solid DNA,” Hanson told reporters in a briefing at the Navistar Proving Grounds in New Carlisle, Indiana, in mid-September.
“Internally, we refer to it as the Swiss Army knife of the industry. And we didn’t want to disturb that foundation.”
In revamping the HV, International worked to meet customer demands for performance, reliability, and durability, including simplifying body integration.
Photo: Deborah Lockridge
So the company did extensive research with customers. The HV is the first product International has brought to market where it used an advisory council – one for customers, one for dealers. They targeted three customer categories: the utility industry; government, state and local entities; and construction fleets.
That research resulted in International identifying three basic customer needs:
- Lead with the customer, including improving the driver and the owner experience.
- Performance, including increased payload, increased productivity, reduced weight
- Vehicle quality, reliability, and durability
The resulting revamp addresses areas such as driver comfort and safety, body integration, and service and support.
Series production is scheduled to start in the second half of 2025.
S13 Integrated Powertrain
The heavier versions of the HV are now available with International’s S13 Integrated Powertrain in the Series 515 and 615 models. (In the Series 509 and 609 models, available engines are the Cummins B6.7 and L9.)
The S13 Integrated Powertrain can help fleets boost productivity because operators no longer need to stop work to perform active regens of the diesel particulate filter.
Maintenance is simplified by eliminating troublesome components like the exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) cooler and diesel oxidation catalyst.
The S13 Integrated Powertrain was introduced in 2022 in the International LT on-highway model and is now available in the RH, HX, and HV Series.
Capable of up to 515 hp and 1,850 lb-ft of torque, the S13 Integrated was designed from the ground up and includes engine, transmission and aftertreatment system designed together.
Thanks to the new Dual Stage Aftertreatment system, the heavy and expensive EGR cooler is no longer needed to reduce emissions. The system injects a first dose of DEF just downstream of the turbo and a second dose inside the aftertreatment container.
Since a cooled EGR has been eliminated from the combustion chamber, much less soot or particulate matter is generated. This allows for extended service intervals and eliminates the need for active regens, according to International.
The cleaner combustion cycle also allowed engineers to do away with the diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) in the aftertreatment system.
The International T14 Automated Manual Transmission that’s part of the S13 Integrated Powertrain offers two smooth and steady crawler gears.
“The S13 Integrated Powertrain packaged with the redesigned HV delivers our best solutions for operational performance, fleet management, body integration and driver experience,” said Chad Conley, vice president, Work Truck, for International.
How the International HV Makes Life Easier for Drivers
To help drivers navigate in challenging environments such as urban streets and tight jobsites, the HV Series includes a sloped hood and a panoramic wide windshield. Forward visibility has increased by as much as 53 inches depending on model.
The four- or five-piece hood, depending on configuration, will be made of a sheet molded compound, which is easily repairable with fiberglass patch, Hanson said.
Also adding to increased visibility are optional LED headlamps, which improve visibility by 30% over standard halogen headlamps. An optional heating element is activated automatically based on ambient temperature.
The hood on the redesigned International HV is 30% easier to open and made of an easily repairable material.
Photo: Deborah Lockridge
Making pretrip inspections easier, the hood now takes 30% less effort to open, and under-hood LED lamps make it easier to see in the early pre-dawn hours.
For fluid checks, drivers can use the driver information display in the cab to get updates on fluids such as engine oil, transmission oil, and coolant. That’s available not only on the S13 Integrated Drivetrain but also with Cummins engines and Eaton and Allison transmissions.
An easy-access, column-mounted shifter integrated with engine braking helps drivers keep their hands on the wheel and eyes on the job.
Driver safety is enhanced, and fatigue minimized, by new side of cab steps to assist with ingress and egress. A flexible third step can be placed in between the top and the bottom step, adjustable based on the driver's preference, to make getting in and out multiple times a day easier on a driver (and their knees).
The International HV revamp now is available with the International S13 integrated powertrain, offering ease of maintenance and fuel efficiency.
Photo: Deborah Lockridge
Redesigned HV Makes Body Builder Integration Easier
With vocational trucks, coming off the factory floor doesn’t mean the truck is going to the fleet customer; instead it must have a body installed by a truck equipment manufacturer, or TEM.
“They get trucks from all different customers and all different configurations, and that adds complexity,” Hanson said.
That costs money and can result in lower quality. So the revamped HV features more "commonized" chassis components.
And expanding the electronic control capabilities of its Diamond Logic chassis electrical system also helps simplify body upfitting.
With the S13 integrated powertrain, International can offer factory-installed power take-off (PTO) options, mounted directly the T14 transmission.
They will be integrated into the Diamond Logic electrical system and will also come with North American standard interfaces
New remote power modules deliver more power and control through upgraded electronics and expanded input and output options.
Additional integration enhancements include multiple mounting options for common components such as air tanks, air dryers, a more accessible fuel/water separator, and new options for tag and pusher axles.
The integration of the Bendix Wingman Fusion advanced safety system boosts safety and productivity.
International Supports HV Beyond the Truck
As part of its rebranding from Navistar to International, the company is focusing on helping customers beyond the truck itself.
The revamped HV is fully supported through service contracts that provide greater productivity, efficiency and lower total cost of ownership for vocational fleets.
Available for all International S13-powered products, these solutions deliver everything from planned maintenance and proactive service planning to service event orchestration and complete vehicle coverage.
“We are transport service solution providers — that's how we like to think of ourselves,” Hanson said. “We're not just offering up a truck, but a way to deliver either material or provide a mobile work platform for our customers.
Hanson said while warranties and service contracts are nothing new, International is using the telematics gateway on the trucks.
“We have people on staff at our Lisle facility, we call them uptime advocates, that monitor this information,” he explained.
When those advocates see something in the telematics data indicating the need for a PM or something that could down the vehicle, they proactively call the fleet manager and work to schedule a dealer visit.
Not only are those visits scheduled for a particular day, he said; they can schedule a particular time AND let them know what time the truck will be finished.
Deborah Lockridge
Editor and Associate Publisher
Reporting on trucking since 1990, Deborah is known for her award-winning magazine editorials and in-depth features on diverse issues, from the driver shortage to maintenance to rapidly changing technology.
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