International Truck & Engine Corp. said production of its Class 4-5 CF Series line of low-cab-forward trucks in early 2005 with full capacity in April. During a conference call to the media, the company said that it is accepting orders from fleets and customers.

John Wadden, CF Series segment marketing manager, said the Blue Diamond manufacturing operation— a joint venture between International and Ford Motor Co., is on track and that he is satisfied that the level of quality is on par with International’s other plants.

The CF Series is being targeted toward small- to medium-sized businesses that typically operate about 5 trucks, said Mike Elwell, International’s medium vehicle center marketing director.

With this core segment in mind, the OEM underscored that the new trucks utilize a simplified maintenance schedule and will be backed by an extensive dealer network for added serviceability. Drivability and performance of the trucks also bolster the appeal of the lineup.

For more information, visit www.internationaldelivers.com.