Rounding out the Eden Haulage contribution to the Bridgestone New Zealand Trucking Million Mile Club, we end it how we started, with the truck brand that company owner Phil Collinson attributes to standing up a young business.

“This truck and its sister paved the way for the trucks that followed. I needed trucks that would work hard and provide a solid grounding in the early years, and that’s exactly what they did.”

Driven by George Smith from new, the 2008 International 9800i has done 2.3 million kilometres having had a new ISX Cummins implanted at 1.2 million kilometres when “number two piston decided to try the rotary engine thing to see what that was like,” as Phil put it.

Fitted with a Carrier undermount fridge motor at mid-life, the truck still works the company Invercargill, Christchurch, Marlborough, and Auckland circuit. “Cents per kilometre, the Internationals are still the most cost effective trucks I own. This one is on its second set of brake linings and still running the original drums.”

An interesting aside, the cab was originally 90” and cut back to 80” ex the factory to increase deck space. This was a common prectice back then.

“It’s a brand sometimes unfairly maligned. Had the Intertruck workshop in Christchurch been retained, I would have another one tomorrow.

“It’s up for replacement in the next couple of years, but only because of driver retention and the need for bigger cabs with more room.”