Why are International trucks soo cheap?

I have been driving a 2017 Prostar with a Cummins ISX for the last four years. It has had a handful of emissions issues over the years but overall has been a good truck. Just like anything else, if you take proper care of it, it will last longer.

 

We used to have a fleet of ProStar(and later,briefly LT models) with Cummins engines. We got rid of them mostly because the drivers complained that they were too small on the interior.

 

There is a very good reason they are called a 13/letter #### spreader
They have been going down hill for 40 years ever since IH sold the truck division off to NAVSTAR when IH was going broke

 

In our yard we have 3 - 2022 Internationals last month at one time all three were in the shop at the same time. Also two of the 3 the roof windshield seal leaks. The highest mileage truck is 221,xxx miles.

 

In my experience international navistar trucks age like dogs. Every year is seven years worth of shakes, rattles, and cheap plastic falling apart. I-H or International from 20-25 years past on the other hand was a different truck and had a little more pride and class when built.

 

Drove a '21 with an X15 as a company driver for a year or so. Never let me down and didn't ride much worse than a freightliner. Pulled well and got high 7's mpg. With that being said, the interior was absolutely trash. The layout for the single bunk was nice, but it was ridiculously cheaply built. I know you're thinking 'well all aero trucks are plastic and pretty cheap on the inside' and I'd agree. So now imagine taking that one step further to where every single thing is rattling, shaking, and you can feel the ice cold metal under the floor mat from how thin of material everything is constructed from.

As a new driver, I didn't mind it much because I was just excited to be on the road. As a driver with a few years more experience now, I'd need to see some pay increases to offset it if I was doing OTR in one again.

I think it'd make a decent semi-local/regional/out and back truck if someone really wants to pinch pennies though.

 

As others have said its because they are cheaply built. If trucks were food the prostars are stale factory line bread. They will feed you sure, but there is absolutely no flavor or textrue. If you can handle running a shoebox with a seat and steering wheel they arent any better or worse then other rigs. But dont expect anything outstanding or special either. And dont expect a luxury experince.

Also the A26s are crap. The last company job i had got 50 of them and all 50 got a new motor by 250k and 49 of 50 were leaking through rust holes within 2 years. And this was hauling 5000 pound max mail loads.

 

we call em 13 letter s h * t spreaders here

 

IH 9900 is the latest I would buy. New ones feel like the switches could fall out of the dash just from normal use.

 

I have a 2018 International with the X15, bought it with 323K just turned 700K. Its been a solid truck and made me plenty of money. Its had isome issues, all modern trucks do. But I have no regrets,

If it blew the motor tomorrow I would consider buying another one at the current prices. A truck is a tool to make money, nothing else, not going to go out and overpay for the nameplate on the hood so I can have an erection driving down the road.