Intertruck Distributors is closing one chapter and entering the next in its story as New Zealand’s importer and distributor of International trucks – and the country’s sole truck assembler. The future looks pleasingly impressive.

Established in 1995 under the name Central Pacific International, Intertruck Distributors celebrates 30 years in business this year. Over the years, the company has grown from strength to strength and developed its product range into something ‘uniquely Kiwi’, with many a ‘first’ and ‘only’ to its name.

Intertruck’s International cabover offering epitomised the spirit of the company. Starting in 1997 with the American-imported Euro-2 9800, the company had begun investigating local assembly in 2004 with the Euro-3 version. But it was with the subsequent Euro- 4 and Euro-5 9800 models that Intertruck’s local development really began to hit its stride.

Released in 2008 and 2012, respectively, each was the result of a substantial redesign by Intertruck to meet the needs of Kiwi operators. Unique to our market were a raised cab, improved cooling, upgraded interior and more power from the Euro-4’s Cummins EGR and Euro-5’s SCR engines.

But the most unique iteration was the New Zealand-only 9870. Released in 2015 in response to the advent of VDAM, the 9870 was a truer ‘cabover’ design, with a 920mm set-forward front axle, as opposed to the prior forward entry and 1400mm set-back axle configurations. Another redesign and further improved cooling were among the 9870’s other selling points.

Alas, all good things come to an end. At the Intertruck Expo held towards the end of 2024 – a celebration of the company’s 30 years, a farewell to the 9870, and the reveal of yet another ‘first and only’ for the company – the last 9870 was presented to its new owners.

It could only be … Stephenson Transport of Waipawa! As the 185th 9870 built over the truck’s 10-year production life, fleet No.65 joins the 10 existing 9870s in the Stephenson fleet.

“Talk about a great customer,” says Comer Board, director, Intertruck Distributors NZ. “Bruce and Todd Stephenson started their journey with us four years ago through Hugh Green (national sales manager based in Hawke’s Bay). Stephenson’s fleet was started on International trucks, and it’s fantastic to see them go back to the product.”

As a show of appreciation, Bruce and Todd were presented with a batch of International and Cummins goodies – including a pair of heritage Cummins emblems for No.65.

“My parents started out in 1936 with International; we’ve had the odd model in between, but we’re back with it now,” says Bruce. “Thanks for all the work you’ve done for us and thank you for what you’ve done supplying New Zealand with this unique product. Because it is unique. And I can say that in all sincerity.”

HX arrives

As the model life of an outgoing International was celebrated, so too was the arrival of a new one. Undoubtedly, the biggest draw at the Intertruck Expo was the display of the new International HX 520. In another series of firsts, this unit is both the first HX to go to market outside of the Americas and the first right-hand-drive version – factory- converted in New Zealand at the Intertruck Distributors assembly plant in Tauriko.

The latest HX was launched in the United States nearly three years ago. The HX 520 shares the same platform as the RH but features heavy-duty spec components. The cab is the same as the RH, too, but, with its different hood and grille, the HX has a radically different look. In presenting the truck, Hugh Green put it succinctly: “It’s an old-school, cool-looking, proper North American-style truck.”

Yep, there are hints of 9900i and S-Line there – and you certainly get that feel sitting behind the wheel peering over that long, gently sloping bonnet. The 9900i was a hot rod of a truck, and it still gets attention … the HX recalls that model’s style and will no doubt pick up the baton in the hot rod stakes.

So what’s on offer? Up first is the HX 520 R6 Series Day Cab, as shown. A T6 tractor unit in both heavy and lightweight specs can be ordered as well as a 56in high-rise integrated sleeper cab.

The 520 in the name refers to the fact that this unit has a set-forward front axle, with just 760mm from the centre of the front axle to front bumper. In North America, a 1270mm set-back axle model called the HX 620 is available, and Intertruck is considering introducing this model as an HX 8×4 variant.

“For a long time, the models were named with the word ‘Star’. Now International has gone back to using a numerical model designation,” comments Hugh.

The HX 520 chassis features a multitude of frame rail sizes and strengths, the first entry locally has 9.5mm thickness rails made from high-tensile alloy steel with a best-in-class tensile strength. Meritor front axles range from 6.5 tonne to 10.0 tonne; this unit is built with 7.2-tonne parabolic springs, while at the rear are a pair of Meritor 50-160GP 50,000lb axles and International ride- optimised air suspension. The wheelbase measures in at 5460mm and the unit is rated at 29,000kg GVM and 90,000kg GCM. As we’ve come to expect from International, the bare unit is lightweight; this one coming in under eight tonnes and only 450kg heavier than an RH. With the optional 7.2-tonne front axle, the HX 520 is capable of 54 tonnes as a bulk tipper, and 60 tonnes with specific HPMV trailer combinations.

Propelling the HX is the venerable combination of a 451kW (605hp)/2800Nm (2050lb/ft) Cummins X-15 and Eaton Roadranger RTLO20918B. The HX also introduces the US2024 emission package that promises to deliver better fuel mileage over the Euro-6 standard.

The HX Series is a custom-build truck. However, Intertruck includes certain standard features such as dual exhausts, dual air cleaners and dual tanks, a premium gauge cluster with customisable digital display, a dash display axle load monitor, cruise control, and a 6.8in touchscreen Bluetooth audio system. A multitude of options is available such as traction control and the Bendix Wingman electronic stability control system.

The International HX 520 cab chassis enters the Kiwi market with different features over similar products and is competitively priced, says Comer.

“International has always been known for building something slightly different, making a statement for the driver and fleet owner,” says Hugh. “The North American market has taken to it very well.”

Comfortable interior features Intertruck’s locally developed right-hand drive dashboard.

The future

“We have made significant investment into this company. We’re a long-standing brand going back 30 years, and we want to be here for the next 30 years,” declares Comer.

“We’re the only right-hand-drive market left for International. They gave us the choice to continue with the product, and we said ‘absolutely’. Without hesitating, we made the investment to develop a mirror image of the latest left-hand drive IP (instrument panel) as part of Intertruck’s assembly operation, with a budget of $1,000,000 into R&D.”

All that means good news for Kiwi operators and fans of the International brand – the RH has claimed a nice market share, the HX has arrived to a lot of excitement and Intertruck plans to follow it up with yet another new model from the brand.

“We are moving forward nicely with International,” Comer concludes.

Celebrating the team

While the right product offering is one aspect to success in the market, the right team supporting it is just as important. Intertruck celebrated some key employee milestones at the Intertruck Expo.

Long-service awards were presented to Noel Coulter (24 years), Hugh Green (20 years), Kyle Hurley (17 years), Tracy Harvey (16 years), Richard Burns (13 years), Shaun Jury (13 years), Scott Stevenson (13 years), Roger Rimmer (13 years), Duane Aitken (12 years) and Jarod Maclennan (10 years).

“This is an amazing company with long-term staff, which gives me a lot of confidence we’re on the right path with what we do and the way we bring staff in, train them and treat them,” comments Comer.

A special award was also presented to Roger Rimmer, better known to the team as ”Little Rodge”, who retired after 13 years with the company.

“Roger came to us from a car-racing background in England; he spent a lot of his career building race cars. He was instrumental in the design work, fit and finish and trim of the 9870 product. We took the 9870 to a pretty serious level, with about 180 hours of work going into each cab – and Rodge has done every one that’s gone into the New Zealand market,” says Comer.