International President Says ’07 Engines Will Be Ready for Early Customer Testing

img src="/sites/default/files/images/articles/printeditiontag_new.gif" width=120 align=right>International Truck & Engine Corp. plans to put 2007 emission-compliant engines in the hands of its customers a full year before production begins, Steve Keate, president of International’s truck group, said last week.

He also said the truck maker had signed a contract to provide 963 Class 8 trucks with current-model, lower-emission diesel engines to truckload carrier USA Truck.

Keate told reporters in a Jan. 15 conference call that International had already started collaborating with its engine suppliers and after-treatment providers to develop technology to meet the next federally mandated deadline for lower-emission diesel engines. Technology designed to meet 2002 standards will not be sufficient to meet the stricter 2007 standard, he said.