LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The new leader of Navistar International Corp. told his suppliers here that he sees opportunity for truck makers in general, his company included, but they may have to wade through a difficult environment filled with regulatory and operational difficulties and static demand for trucks.
Speaking at the Mid-America Trucking Show Friday, Chief Operating Officer Troy Clarke said he does not anticipate jumbo U.S. sales years of 300,000 heavy trucks. Instead, 215,000 might be the stable level, said Clarke, who will become Navistar’s CEO on April 15.
Despite challenges such as regulation and a driver shortage, Clarke said, “You can only blame Washington for so much,” and said businesses will have to deal with economic uncertainty, which is always inevitable.
Clarke also spoke about Navistar’s rehabilitation, after former management left last year in the wake of the abandoning of the company’s choice in engine technology. Navistar makes International brand trucks.
He thanked suppliers for standing with the company and said Navistar has to go before customers who found other truck makers and appeal to them to return.
An engineer by training, Clarke said he is dedicated to making Navistar the industry leader on quality trucks.
