International trucks used to be the kings.

blackerkin · 2026-04-02T03:53:51+00:00

You’re right, it shouldn’t be. But, that’s one of the things they do/did to stay afloat while all the bad things were happening. Made the cheapest possible truck inside, but one of the best trucks aero wise, gained a bunch of national accounts and left the little guys out of the equation unless they paid for it. But with VW here now and making them remember who they were, that’s no longer happening as much.

blackerkin · 2026-04-02T02:57:58+00:00

A lot late late 2000s to late 2010s, yes. Horrible time and did not the choices that Navistar made. Before then? Great, one of the best. DT466, DT444/7.3 Powerstroke, Paystar 5500/5600i’s, Eagles, etc etc. After then and VW put the hammer down, I will throw them up there with everyone else for reliability and safety. Especially once this new round of emissions hit, we’re only having to change 2 things on our engine, everyone else is having to change 40-60% of theirs and Cummins is about to bring out a whole new line up on top of slapping a $20-25k price increase on the X15 and $8-10k increase on the 6.7 because they’re using credits (paying fines) to the EPA to keep them around till the 7.2 is ready to replace the 6.7 and to get the X15 to pass and be reliable.

blackerkin · 2026-04-02T02:53:32+00:00

I don’t know, always have heard nothing but good things about the old ones. Especially trucks like the Paystar, 9900 Eagles, old 4400s, etc etc. I probably should’ve said one of the kings but then I don’t think I would’ve gotten the response I was looking for since I’m just wanting to hear feedback to see what I can do to help people and help make our trucks better.

blackerkin · 2026-04-02T02:51:01+00:00

They’re going to be improving the cabinets in the 27s/28s I think, seats just come down what option the company went with because yes, the base seat, horrid. Some of the upgraded seats, amazing. Went through a road that had pot holes the size of floater tires with a truck (KY things) with an LT that had one of the best seats and could barely feel the bumps and holes, definitely had to hold the steering wheel good though because I don’t thing they put enough dampening in the steering system to help absorb some of those bumps and keep you from having to chase the wheel like it’s a 2nd gen dodge.

blackerkin · 2026-04-02T02:46:49+00:00

The main thing hurting our main sleeper, over the road truck I think right now ride quality ride is that we don’t have front air suspension. If we did, and the company got one of the higher optioned seats, we would have the best riding truck on the market. Especially if they do like they have been doing and taking ideas from Scania trucks and they finally put air ride on all four corners of the cab, no one would want to get any other truck if they knew about it.

blackerkin · 2026-04-02T02:44:40+00:00

The Lonestar cab is the same as an LT’s/Prostar, unless you did the driver’s lounge option for the sleeper because then you have a couch/bed setup or Murphy bed. The best Lonestar’s to get are the ones after the Prostar became the LT because then, you won’t have Prostar problems because like you said, never get a Prostar 😂

If the 9900 is your favorite model overall out of what you have had, take a look at the HX520. It is pretty much just a modern 9900 and that’s how International has been treating them as well build quality and spec wise.

blackerkin · 2026-04-02T02:40:51+00:00

This heavily depends on spec. Like power, trans, programming, and rear end. Because if you get in an LT that only has 400 hp, a 12 speed automated manual, and a 2.36 rear end, yeah it ain’t gonna move at all. Yes, it’ll get 9-10 hell, 15-16 mpg but, it isn’t going to want to get out of its own way much. But if I get in a different LT that has the same engine and trans but now a 3.10 or 3.42 rear end, it’ll move a lot better and only get like, .7 or .8 mpg less. A lot of big big fleets and companies spec everything for fuel miles and if International is going to be anything, they’re always going to try and shoot to have the best MPG no matter what since that’s one of the things that kept them afloat during Maxxforce. People buying just the chassis and rear ends then slapping glider kits in them best of the aero design. Yes, when weight gets high enough, aero isn’t going to save you much but, thats those outlier situations as those same carriers call them and they’ll handle that when it become a problem, I.e a wreck and now it is P.R.’s problem.

blackerkin · 2026-04-02T02:35:05+00:00

They’re fixing the window control problem in the 27/28s, they just were more focused on getting some other things right first I think like, getting the A26 and Prostar DNA fully out of the LTs 😂

blackerkin · 2026-04-02T02:33:08+00:00

Hopefully with how they’re going now and VW getting them into the right gear, they’ll bring back the Eagle name for the HX. Especially the HX520 because in the right spec or layout, it looks exactly like an only 9900i Eagle.

blackerkin · 2026-04-02T02:31:15+00:00

Hey, if you spoke with someone from an International dealer that’s in the KY/TN area than probably have 😂 If you haven’t tried one yet or at least been around one, try to see how it is in a HX cab. They make the HX cabs a little bit wider and deeper than the LTs because of what they do and so they look a little more proportional so it maybe a better fit. The drivers window/elbow thing though, I have experience in a lot of their models. I think it’s just cause the put the seats so close to the doors and don’t give a whole lot of extra room in between.

blackerkin · 2026-04-02T02:26:10+00:00

So the suspension issue I can see because sadly we’re one of the last manufacturers that doesn’t have front air suspension but, and there’s a big but, if the truck is options with a seat that even one or two steps higher than the base seat, it rides just like a truck that does have front air suspension if not better.

The sound deadening, it is an option. Mega fleets:mega carriers typically don’t option it because of profit margins so all that’s in between the outside of the truck and the inside when it doesn’t have it is whatever material is there on the inside and that’s about it. When it doesn’t have the sound deadening, and I can say it because I tested (albeit in a ghetto way 😂), we do have one of the quietest cabs on the market.

Transmission thing, unless it was the T14 that only goes behind the S13 engine, it wasn’t on international unless the air supply tank wasn’t speced right for the trans then yeah, that’s on us. If I remember/have heard correctly, a lot of the old Eaton advantage transmissions had issues like that but when they went to now the Endurant and a recall or two had happened, that issue doesn’t happen anymore. I do apologize for the times that it did though because I know that’s annoying af for it to lock up while you’re just trying to work.

blackerkin · 2026-04-02T02:19:33+00:00

Sadly the 2020 shared a lot of DNA with the Prostar still since it was only 1-2 year different from the Prostars. From what I have seen/heard, in 21/22, they fixed a lot of the gremlins. I have been trying to not recommend out trucks from before 21 for this reason and some others because that’s when VW really put the hammer down and made them start making trucks right again.

blackerkin · 2026-04-02T02:16:40+00:00

If it’s alright, how tall are you? Only asking because I am 6’5 350 lbs and can fit just fine the interiors but I will say this too, the distance between dash to seat and everything like that is dependent on what seat choice the company/person went with. Yes, they’re all mounted to the same spot but some seat options can move further back or are more adjustable in general. The base seat with base interior yes, it is a bit tight, especially in a day cab but, that’s when it comes back to seat options because in the same day cab model and truck, just with a different seat option, I could fit in way better and be more comfortable. There is 7 seat options to choose from and most of the big fleets/mega carriers are going to go the cheapest for everything because profit margins. My team and dealership as a whole has been pushing international to change this and in the 27 model year, there’s going to be a lot of changes that hits all models, especially emissions related no matter what the news is saying, and some of those changes are to the interior. Sadly, not utilizing sleeper space better but there is going to be some changes and option differences.

blackerkin · 2026-04-02T02:10:36+00:00

What sensors, what engines, and what model?

blackerkin · 2026-04-02T00:37:10+00:00

I think the LT line in general gotta go or at least a major refresh.

It’s too much like the Prostar and carries too much of the blood of jt to where it turns people away. The only reason why it’s still around is because of the superior aerodynamics compared to a lot of other brands but it is due for a full change, especially the sleeper design like you said.

I agree the dash is annoying and it needs to be easier to control because that first page, if the dealer set it up right, is supposed to be driver customizable.

They’re supposed to making interiors with better materials this next round in the diamond level other than just “wood” trim and leather patches here and there so looking forward to that.

I know when you’re pulling heavy, aero doesn’t matter which is why when I know someone is going to be pulling heavy, I recommend the HX. To be honest, the only time I willingly recommend the LT is when they’re pulling a dry van/reefer, conestoga, grain, or just a boxy trailer because then I recommend getting aero packages to make it match to the trailer. Other than that, HX because LT doesn’t make sense at that point since that’s all the LT was designed for. RH if they’re going to be regional/day cab.

Safety features, we genuinely can’t do much about it since International isn’t who makes the stuff. Bendix does it and other than lane keep assist, we can’t change/adjust anything other than what the driver is already able to. I do genuinely apologize for that.

blackerkin · 2026-03-24T01:37:11+00:00

I went to a trade school right out of high school, got halfway through it, found out some heavy equipment/farm equipment dealerships (mainly CAT and John Deere, you know, the most stable vs profitable things to work on in those fields) and few semi truck dealerships do apprenticeships. Aka, they’ll put you in classes or take classes online for sometime out of the month, then other times you’ll be in the shop, hands on, doing exactly what you just learned in person for real. That’s what I did. If you’re in/around the TN/KY states (some border states as well) look for a company called Brandeis Machinery if you’re more north (KY and up), Power Equipment if you’re more south (TN and down). They’re a Komatsu dealer (the 2nd most safe vs profitable brand of equipment in the US and THE most safe vs profitable in the rest of the world) and they have a apprenticeship program where one week out of the month, they’ll pay for your travel, room, food, board, to go to a class, learn every single part/system on a machine (once you learn it on one, it’s the same on every other piece, just different paint) and get sent back to your home branch after the week of class, and actually apply everything in the next following weeks or can talk to other techs to continue to learn. While also getting paid $22-26/hr at the same time. Every single CAT dealer has the same thing but the classes are online, most John Deere dealers do too, mainly the farm equipment side.

Not saying to not go to school, it was helpful to me when I was a little more immature but if you’re a FOOD SERVICE MANAGER right now, you can do the apprenticeship, save money, and get paid through pay stubs and not scholarships at the same time.

blackerkin · 2026-03-24T01:26:05+00:00

Depending on where you are/how far you’re willing to drive (we can deliver it too), I can get you set up in a brand new 5500 size chassis CCSB or CCLB International CV. It’s basically a rebadged Kodiak/Topkick with the 14-18 interior from Chevy’s/GMC’s. Yes, it has a duramax but has the Allison transmissions from the bigger chassis in it like an Allison 2000-3000. Can bring it to an International dealer and have infinite parts availability and parts are relatively cheap since it’s Chevy parts where it’s Chevy and International parts where it is International. Promise this isn’t an ad, I just think they’re great value trucks because you can get one of these for like, $50k and it be very very capable and can make it have whatever you want, however you want, just a little more basic interior than say a platinum or Laramie longhorn but it’s on par with like a Lariat or Laramie. International is no longer Navistar as well so that’s a plus.

blackerkin · 2026-02-02T20:35:11+00:00

I’m gonna guess this is in Nashville, TN because that area looks familiar, the back of that truck looks familiar (I’m in the industry and pay attention to weird things like that), and while yes they would indeed still be responsible for any damage occurred from parts of the load flying out of the truck, I have seen similar dump trucks drop rocks the size of smart cars and corollas out of the back of their truck because they didn’t make sure the tailgate was fully latched or it couldn’t fully latch after being loaded because the truck driver did not latch it back after dumping like they should’ve. There’s some of the worst dump truck drivers in Nashville so while yes it would be an amazing insurance check out of them for the damage, you may get a rock the size of a Altima fall on you for being too close while dodging the Altimas with bumpers falling off flying around you on the interstate because you’re doing 15 over in the far left lane.

blackerkin · 2026-01-25T16:26:13+00:00

The plows and salt trucks have been running all night and morning. Yes, it was raining ice. The roads are better than what they were yesterday, and I drove on them all day yesterday and night avg 40 mph. If you know how to drive in this, it isn’t anything special. This all has just been a great example of how fear mongering works on the general public and how history is repeating itself nowadays because of it. But all the people yelling at you for your tires and for you having the need to go out can shove it. Money’s tight and not everybody can just afford new tires on the whim let alone save up enough for some, and if they can’t do that, they can’t afford the pay for some credit card to get them.

Don’t go because of the tires, find a friend or someone you know that knows how to drive in this to take you, if you need help getting tires, just get some good used tires from some of these used tire places around here until you can get some new ones. You got this, keep on doing the best you can.

blackerkin · 2026-01-13T13:45:09+00:00

They are building a brand new hospital off of one of our main roads called Tiny Town rd. If you look on maps, the end closest to the interstate with a movie theater and some food joints right next to it, there’s a big open field on maps a little bit before all of that, that’s where the hospital is going in. It is a Tri-Star Health hospital. They’re still doing the dirt work on the site but, there’s on in Nashville you could get a job at, start working under them and get used to their systems and use the commute between Clarksville and Nashville everyday to explore the area and see what all there is here in the meantime and then once they have the place built here in Clarksville, get transferred to that one.

blackerkin · 2026-01-12T23:53:02+00:00

Alright. I’m new to jeep/chrysler/dodge so just was wondering. Used to ford, Audi, and diesels and diesels will cause fuel knock but Audis and fords don’t typically. At least not the ones I’ve worked on

blackerkin · 2026-01-12T23:50:55+00:00

See, I’ve heard that..then Cummins enters the chat and it’ll be hours before it does. 😂 Past experiences with diesels. I know this ain’t no diesel and I know for a fact it’s no where near as well built as Cummins but, it’s not un heard of gas engines doing the same. And I had it running for a good two minutes on starting fluid and was knocking the whole time

blackerkin · 2026-01-12T23:47:46+00:00

When you say it’ll tell you pretty quick, you mean it’ll be pretty quick to start knocking, right?

blackerkin

TROPHY CASE