International’s “Jack and Jill“ trucking duo

Truck Test 2012 wasn’t child’s play. As the results are sifted through and analysed, some in the industry will be skipping with joy while others will be going back to the drawing board. International trucks, manufactured and marketed in South Africa by NC2, has a double dose of feedback to take in.

Jack and Jill went up and down some hills, but the 1 200 km-plus round trip wasn’t to fetch a pail of water.

International had two participants in Truck Test 2012 – the 9800i, with its man-sized mid-roof double sleeper cab, and the newly-launched TranStar 6×4 truck tractor. Jack (the more powerful 9800i) pulled a curtain side interlink trailer combination operating within the legal limit of 56 tonnes gross combination mass (GCM), while Jill (the more aesthetically-pleasing TranStar) took part with a tri-axle trailer at approximately 48 tonnes GCM.

Prior to the test, Sally Rutter, general manager of sales and marketing at NC2 Trucks Southern Africa, expressed keen interest in seeing the results especially since it would provide information about vehicle set-up and the driving style required to achieve optimum operating efficiency.

Rutter pointed out that International trucks, powered by the vastly accepted well proven North American Driveline and low tare weight, provide durability and low maintenance costs.

She added that the 9800i has a manufacturer’s GCM of 71 tonnes, which exceeds the legal GCM rating of 56 tonnes, ensuring durability and longevity. The vehicle is powered by a 14,9-litre Cummins ISX engine, has an electronic road speed governor with cruise control, and an Intebrake engine brake to  make sure it doesn’t tumble down any hills.

This in-line six-cylinder turbocharged engine has four valves per cylinder and an intercooler. Its peak power is in excess of 350 kW at 1 600 r/min and the maximum torque of 2 237 Nm is generated between 1 100 and 1 500 r/min. The truck has an 18-speed RTLO-16918A-AS III Eaton-Fuller auto-shift transmission, and a Hendrickson HAS-460 full air rear suspension.

The TranStar in turn has a manufacturer’s GCM of 50 tonnes, showing that Jill can handle quite an ample amount for her size. It is powered by a 10,8-litre Cummins ISM 294,2 kW engine with a Jacobs engine brake, ensuring that Jill doesn’t come tumbling after.

This model is also turbocharged with a six-cylinder in-line configuration, has four valves per cylinder, and is after-cooled. It delivers 298 kW at 2 100 r/min and has 1 966 Nm at 1 200 r/min. The vehicle also has an 18-speed Eaton Fuller auto-shift transmission altough it’s the
RTLO-16918A-AS model. A Hendrickson HAS 460-55, four-bag air suspension is used at the rear.

When the four-day Truck Test run had come to an end, Rutter said: “We are pleased the organisers conducted the test under controlled conditions, ensuring fair results.”