DriversFirst
International® Truck's DriverFirst is a pledge to put your business needs ahead of everything we do.
And, it starts with the one behind the wheel.
International® Trucks conducted extensive research and drivers clinics for the product design strategy that puts driver's comfort, First. We understand that you need all the competitive advantage you can get when it comes to attracting and retaining qualified drivers. New International® Trucks are designed with a strong emphasis on the driver's perspective.
Result – New International® Trucks are more comfortable to operate and safer to tackle the jobs.
DriverFirst is a user-centric approach to product development. Designing trucks that start with you. As a result, the new International® Trucks are designed to better fit you, as drivers. Uptime means more than having trucks that are built to stay on the road. It's about building trucks that drivers want to operate.
Driver shortage is major problem for most businesses in our industry – Approx. 50,000 in 2015 and expected to climb to over 160,000 drivers in 2022. Current drivers are also getting older. The median age of truck drivers is 49, compared to just 42 for all United States workers. Replacing the retiring truck drivers will be one of the largest contributing factors behind the growing driver shortage, accounting for nearly half of new driver hires (45%).
Estimates suggest that it costs roughly $3,000 to hire a new driver (training is extra). The new drivers also face an uphill learning curve – you can expect about 90 Lost Work Days for each new driver that you hire. In other words it takes time for a new driver to become productive. You can do the math. But, what if you could improve your driver retention by just 10%? The graphic below shows the gains associated with driver retention by a fleet of 150 drivers.
One way to retain your workforce is by providing a comfortable work environment. For the driver who spends countless hours on the road, the truck is more than just a workplace, it's a home away from home. International® Trucks recognizes the importance of driver retention to your businesses. That is why we focus on DriverFirst mindset that puts your businesses and your driver's needs at the heart of every decision. We promise to offer reliable trucks that drivers want to continue driving.
Ergonomics and design features that make long days on the road easier to endure. Reduced noise vibration and harshness with the N13 engine to create an industry-leading ride. Taking care of the physical needs of drivers to enhance comfort – adjustments in design that place important controls within reach and adding strategic storage spaces to help reduce clutter in the cab.
Without drivers, productivity comes to a standstill. Simply put, fewer drivers operating trucks mean fewer trucks making money.And, that is never good for businesses in our industry. By providing trucks that are appealing to drivers, we can help you retain valuable employees and attract new drivers, while increasing overall uptime. And that is always good news.
International® is constantly evaluating drivetrain technologies from industry-leaders and engineering ways to maximize efficiency. Predictive cruise control is incorporated to benefit the drivers. And that's not all, International® Trucks is also addressing drivers' need for consistency in control placement. Result – Drivers can more quickly and easily adapt to different truck models.
Delivering innovations that make driver safety a top priority. First to market with Bendix® Wingman® Fusion™, utilizing adaptive cruise control, braking features and alerts to help mitigate collisions. International® Trucks increased side roll protection with RollTek seats, and improved visibility with LED headlights. Plus, we're testing repositioned mirrors and new windows to boost visibility.
Raising performance with technologies that help keep drivers on the road. Industry leading remote diagnostics system with OnCommand™ Connection and first to market with Over-The-Air Programming. International® makes it fast and easy to update engine software and offers improved serviceability. We are continuously working to expedite repairs and minimize service time.
To build trucks with drivers in mind, we have to first understand what's on their minds. International® interviews hundreds of drivers in clinics, drivers test various models and share their thoughts and feedback. This is incorporated into the research and design development toward improved products. The feedback has led to many improvements,and continues to inspire future research and innovations.