S13 INTEGRATED POWERTRAIN SOLUTIONS DELIVER FOR MENZEL ENTERPRISES

Menzel Enterprises, a diversified Wisconsin-based services provider, is all about predictability — for drivers, fleet maintenance and the bottom line. On a mission to lower operating costs, improve uptime, and boost driver morale, Menzel sought not only the right equipment, but the right service and warranty solutions.

In 2025, Menzel purchased two new International® HX Series® dump trucks — their first new units from their Lakeside International Trucks dealer — equipped with the International® S13 Integrated Powertrain and T14 Transmission. Based on the performance of the dump trucks with the S13 Integrated Powertrain the fleet has been running for most of the year, Menzel Enterprises intends to include additional S13 Integrated Powertrains to its fleet in 2026.

Menzel’s trucks operate daily on various job sites — from building roadways, paving, digging out spoils, and delivering gravel for foundation work. They run roughly 200 to 300 miles a day and are in and out of tight spaces.

Before making a final decision, Menzel executives spent time with Lakeside International researching the S13 Integrated Powertrain from the dealer’s sales department, general management, owners and maintenance department.

“It was important for us as a company to understand where these trucks were coming from, how they were being built, and what the benefits were compared to the other trucks that we have had in the past,” said Todd Menzel, co-owner and chief operating officer, Menzel Enterprises.

The game-changers for Menzel, which seeks to transition from heavy in-house maintenance to a dealership-partnered model, were the warranty that covers the S13 Integrated Powertrain (from the engine to the transmission and PTO) and the dealer service contracts. Additionally, longer service intervals on the S13 Integrated Powertrain align with the fleet’s uptime goals and strategic focus on predictable lifecycle management.

International Planned Maintenance contracts, delivered through the dealer network, minimize the impact to fleet operations by reducing technician training and optimizing parts inventory and service tool requirements. Planned Maintenance combined with Powertrain and Chassis Extended Service Contracts offer fleets predictability when it comes to costs and simplified billing for complete peace of mind.

“From the dealership to the truck, we’ve had a good experience,” Todd Menzel said. “The integrated powertrain, the driver comfort, the support — it all adds up. This model is the future for a lot of companies.”

The S13 Integrated Powertrain’s smoother shifting reduces excessive acceleration and braking, which minimizes tire wear and extends tread life — ultimately lowering overall maintenance costs while supporting better fuel economy and engine braking efficiency.

“That integrated powertrain — and the PTO being part of it — cleans up warranty responsibility,” Todd Menzel said. “It’s clearer, faster and better for uptime.”

“There’s no time for downtime in our business,” he added. “These trucks have to be up all the time. Having the capacity to lean on the dealership and have them help us maintain trucks is important.”

To date, Menzel reports that the S13 Integrated Powertrain has been reliable for business, with the first two trucks running roughly 40,000 miles without any concerns.

“We’ve had really good reliability on the S13 Integrated Powertrain,” Tim Menzel, VP, Dump Truck Division, Menzel Enterprises said. “We’ve run it all year and we have had zero breakdowns on it.”

Menzel drivers have also noticed an uptick in fuel economy and appreciate that they can get through an entire day on one tank of fuel. They also said they like the trucks’ line of sight, turning radius, how it rides the ride, and they like comfort of the truck’s interior.

“The good old saying is ‘do what you say and say what you do,’ and that’s important,” Todd Menzel said. “We want to make sure that our sales, finance and maintenance departments are cohesive and working well together. The Lakeside team is open, honest and easy to reach. That service drives us back to Lakeside and the International product.”