S13 INTEGRATED POWERTRAIN:

When a Chaney Enterprises mixer navigates through the bustling construction sites across multiple states, it carries more than concrete—it represents decades of operational excellence and strategic innovation. With over 3 million cubic yards of concrete delivered annually through a fleet exceeding 1,000 trucks, this industry leader understands that success hinges on efficiency, reliability, and driver satisfaction.

In an industry where margins are measured in cents per yard and downtime costs thousands per day, Chaney Enterprises has found a competitive edge. Their strategic partnership with Grooms Equipment and a fleet dominated by International HX Series trucks featuring the S13 Integrated Powertrain has definitely been a game-changer.

The relationship between Chaney Enterprises and Grooms Equipment spans more than three decades, representing far more than a typical vendor-client arrangement. Ricky Grooms of Grooms Equipment reflects on this enduring partnership, during a visit to the company’s facilities in Graham, North Carolina.

“This is our ‘Wall of Fame.' These are the customers that I first started with, and all of these customers here have been with us since the beginning,” Grooms says, proudly pointing to the hallway full of framed photos. “It's so important to us to keep these guys because losing one of them would be like losing a family member."

Tom Pittman, Chief Integration Officer at Chaney Enterprises, quantifies this relationship's scope: “Our relationship with Ricky Grooms and his organization goes back 34 years."

This foundation of trust has enabled Chaney to embrace innovations that smaller operations might hesitate to adopt. In recent years, that’s meant working closely with International and taking full advantage of their integrated powertrain technology.

“We’re proud early adopters,” says Pittman.

The ready-mix concrete industry faces persistent operational challenges that directly impact profitability. “Some of the biggest challenges with trucks in our business are reliability and fuel economy," Pittman explains.

Notably, the S13 Integrated’s simplified design addresses one of the industry's most persistent pain points by eliminating problematic components like the EGR system. For large fleet operations like Chaney, this translates into improved uptime ratios and reduced total cost of ownership—critical factors in maintaining competitive pricing while ensuring service reliability.

The S13 Integrated Powertrain has emerged as Chaney's answer to these industry-wide challenges. Pittman's assessment tells the tale: “The S13 Integrated Powertrain is going to deliver something we've not seen since the emissions regulations started. It completely changes the repair cycles, the heat generated by the engine, the fuel burn, and the fuel economy will actually double under this new configuration."

These aren't empty promises—the results speak for themselves.

“For us, we're seeing north of seven miles per gallon with an International with the S13 Integrated Powertrain," Pittman reports, significantly outperforming industry standards.

Todd Godlewski, Regional Sales Manager at Grooms Heavy Truck Sales, reinforces these impressive results: “We've got 30 in the market right now that have been running for the last 12 months, and we're seeing huge success with them."

The T14 transmission has proven equally transformative for daily operations. Pittman highlights a specific feature that addresses a critical safety concern: “The T14 transmission with the creep mode has been essential for our operations. It's especially beneficial on curb machine drops and being on job sites with tall inclines, so the trucks aren't drifting backwards."

This “creep mode" functionality directly impacts both safety and productivity. Godlewski elaborates on the practical benefits: “On residential work and our curb and gutter work, it has made the drivers' job so much easier, making them more efficient, more productive. And it takes a lot of the stress away from the drivers when they're on those jobs."

In an industry grappling with driver shortages and retention challenges, Chaney recognizes that technology must serve the human element of their operations. The philosophy is straightforward but powerful: “The easier you can make this job for drivers, the longer you're going to keep them," Pittman explains.

The safety implications extend beyond individual comfort to operational peace of mind. “I can sleep at night [knowing] that they're not drifting back down the hill hitting something," Pittman adds, highlighting how the T14 Transmission’s features translate into reduced liability and enhanced safety records.

Todd reinforces this driver-focused approach: “It gives us peace of mind knowing that these guys are safer on the road. They're not fatigued as easy."