People who work on trucks have opinions. And they are powerful! Regarding trucks, there are tastes, loyalties, and even historical records to consider. However, you may wonder about the best American Truck Brands.
Trucks can be practically anything with cab options, bed lengths, engine sizes, and more. Most of these trucks’ top trims may get pretty ornate.
It is very pricey. Even for the lowest trim levels, having more possibilities and better interiors is important.
So, let’s list the most popular American Truck Brands to see how many there are.
1. Freightliner
Freightliner Trucks is a truck manufacturer based in the United States. Consolidated Freightways’ truck-manufacturing subsidiary was created in 1929.
This is where the name comes from. Freightliner Corporation was founded in 1942 and has its headquarters in Portland, Oregon.
Currently, the vehicles are built in Cleveland and Mount Holly, North Carolina, and Santiago Tianguistenco and Saltillo, Mexico.
American Truck Brands makes vans, medium-duty trucks, and heavy-duty trucks. The business also produces bare chassis and cutaway chassis for various vehicles.
The Freightliner Argosy became the penultimate example of the type sold in North America after the business pioneered the use of cab-over (COE) semi-tractors.
2. Peterbilt
The Peterbilt Motors Company is a truck manufacturer based in the United States. Peterbilt manufactures heavy-duty (Class 8) and medium-duty (Class 5–7) commercial vehicles.
It was founded in 1939 with the acquisition of Fageol Truck and Motor Company. Since 1953, Peterbilt vehicles have been identifiable by a huge red-oval brand symbol.
The business has used a “bird”-“-style hood decoration on conventional cab trucks since 1965. In 1934, they bought 30,000 acres of forestland in Morton, Washington.
Also, instead of using railroads, they built roads and bought a fleet of trucks from the White Motor Company.
The old military vehicles received many refurbishments and adaptations for logging use, including increased durability and modernization.
3. Kenworth
Kenworth Truck Company is a truck manufacturer based in the United States. It manufactures heavy-duty (Class 8) and medium-duty (Class 5–7) commercial vehicles.
It was founded in 1923 as the successor of Gersix Motor Company. Kenworth has been a completely owned part of PACCAR since 1945.
It was functioning alongside sister firm and industry rival Peterbilt Motors. Kenworth’s headquarters is in the Seattle neighborhood of Kirkland, Washington.
Kenworth introduced a raised-roof sleeper cab and made the first heavy-duty vehicle with an aerodynamically optimized body design.
It is also one of the first American Truck Brands to create a truck with a standard diesel-fuel engine. The Kenworth W900 has been in production since 1961.
This makes it one of the longest-running trucks in automotive history.
4. Navistar International
The American holding firm Navistar International Corporation was founded in 1986. It is the successor to International Harvester.
Navistar owns the International truck and diesel engine brands. The company also manufactures buses under the IC Bus name.
As of 2019, the corporation employs 13,000 employees globally, with its headquarters in Lisle, Illinois.
Navistar has almost 1,000 dealer outlets in the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Mexico and over 60 dealers in more than 90 countries.
Navistar Financial Corporation, the company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, provides financing to its clients and distributors.
5. Mack
Mack Trucks, Inc. is one of the American Truck Brands and a former bus and trolleybus maker. Founded in 1900, it produced its first truck in 1907.
Mack changed its name in 1922. Products are made in Lower Macungie, Pennsylvania, and Salem, Virginia. The Hagerstown, Maryland plant produces all powertrains.
Mack trucks are available in 45 different countries. The Mack manufacturing plant in Macungie, Pennsylvania, is near the company’s former Allentown headquarters.
It produces all Mack products, including Mack MP-series engines. They assemble their trucks in Macungie, Pennsylvania, under the Volvo brand.
Individual vehicle components are manufactured all around the world.
6. Western Star
Western Star Trucks Sales, Inc., is based in Portland, Oregon. It is a major subsidiary of Daimler Trucks North America, which is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Daimler AG in Germany.
It manufactures a variety of Class 8 commercial vehicles that can be used on and off the roadway. Western Star specializes in trucks that it customizes to the customer’s needs.
Western Star offers various sleeper box sizes, with chassis lengths ranging from 486 to 486 inches, depending on the model.
There are five different inside kits to choose from. People can also trim the sleepers to fit their needs.
Engines, transmissions, axles, suspensions, and brakes can be configured in various ways.
Cummins and Detroit engines are mostly used. Western Star also produces right-hand drive trucks for the Australian, New Zealand, and South African markets.
