International Truck and Engine Corp. presented keys for the first production ProStar to U.S. Foodservice late last week. Berni Cassetori, vice president of U.S. Foodservice, was presented a key to the Class 8 tractor

during ceremonies at its state-of-the-art Chatham, Ont. manufacturing plant.
"When we began developing and designing the ProStar five years ago, the customer and driver were at the center of our focus," said Tom Baughman, general manager, heavy vehicles, in presenting the first ProStar's keys to U.S. Foodservice's Cassetori. "It was our goal to create a vehicle that delivers unparalleled driver satisfaction, a quality truck that is reliable with unprecedented uptime and provides the lowest cost of ownership, and a vehicle with industry-leading aerodynamics that helps deliver best-in-class fuel economy. Those goals are being realized as we hand over the keys."
While last week's ceremony celebrates delivery of the first ProStar, the new tractor has been rolling off the assembly line on schedule since Jan. 29 at the Chatham plant.
Once slated to close, the facility sprang back to life after a successful and concerted effort by its leaders, employees, the Canadian Auto Union, Canadian officials, and a $270 million modernization that included a complete reconfiguration of the assembly line. At full production, the facility expects to manufacture more than 100 ProStar tractors a day and employ two shifts.
"We can all take a tremendous amount of pride in this achievement," said Dee Kapur, president of International's Truck Group. "Combining this most aerodynamic, fuel-efficient, customer-focused vehicle with this environment of talented truck builders in a revitalized facility positions us all for a strong future."
Visitors got a tour of the Chatham plant, which employs approximately 800 workers and includes state-of-the-art equipment and technology, a research-and-development facility and advanced skills and training. The reconfigured assembly line accommodates the ProStar's more modular production process. And the 800 workers who build the ProStar all have more than 10 years of truck-assembly experience, underscoring International's drive for quality in its production.