# Heavy Trucks in the US

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-trucks-in-the-us/131297>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 8, 2002, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-trucks-in-the-us/131297 "2002-10-08T01:36:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2002, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-trucks-in-the-us/131297/1 "2002-10-08T01:36:35Z")

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Who still manufactures heavy trucks (tractor rigs) in and for the US market? At one time there were lots; Mack, Ford, International/Navistar, Volvo, White, Sterling, Peterbuilt, Kenworth, and probably others.

I know there has been a consolidation in the market, many brands bought other companies. Who’s left? Who makes trucks under someone else’s name? And was there a law passed many years ago about US companies producing trucks that ended up with foreign truck companies buying US manufacturers to meet the letter of the law?

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**Author:** ![El\_Kabong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/el_kabong/32/496_2.png) [@El\_Kabong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/El_Kabong)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2002, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-trucks-in-the-us/131297/2 "2002-10-08T03:31:07Z")

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I’m sure there are others with more expertise, but I’ll have a bash.

All the above nameplates (except for White, that’s now Freightliner) are still being marketed, along with Oshkosh and a couple of specialty manufacturers.

Isuzu and Mitsubishi Fuso, I believe, sell medium-duty straight trucks in the US, and Chevy/GMC still do medium-duty trucks (some appear to be rebadged Isuzus).

Here’s a link (domestic and foreign mfr’s):

[http://www.autoguide.net/trucks/makers.shtml](http://www.autoguide.net/trucks/makers.shtml)

PACCAR markets both the Kenworth and Peterbilt brands. Mack is owned by Renault, though they are loath to admit it on their web site.

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**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2002, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-trucks-in-the-us/131297/3 "2002-10-08T04:30:12Z")

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Just remember that old truckers never die …

They just get a new Peterbuilt.  
(I’ve been waiting to tell that one.)

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**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2002, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-trucks-in-the-us/131297/4 "2002-10-08T16:17:05Z")

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Did Ford sell their heavy truck operation to Volvo? How about GM and Sandia? I didn’t realize that Mack was now owned by Renault, I can see why they don’t advertize it much. Not for a quality issue but an American image thing.

Anyone know about the law requiring US manufacturers to compete for certain contracts? I recall that this lead to a buyout of many US firms.

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**Author:** ![postcards](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/8e8cbc/32.png) [@postcards](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/postcards)\
**Post date:** [October 8, 2002, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/heavy-trucks-in-the-us/131297/5 "2002-10-08T16:26:40Z")

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Volvo sold it’s **car** unit to Ford; they wanted to concentrate on the truck business.

That’s what I heard.