Jan 27, 2017 • Community

Most Popular Trucks in America

Most Popular Trucks in America

The top-selling and most popular truck in America might come as a surprise for some.

What’s the Most Popular Truck in America?

1. Freightliner

The top-selling semi-truck in America is Freightliner selling over 190,000 trucks annually. Freightliner is the most popular truck in America making up 40 percent of the market share. In addition, Freightliner is the largest truck manufacturer in the U.S., employing over 3,000 workers at its factories in Cleveland and Mt. Holly. Founded in 1942, Freightliner is a division of Daimler, the German company that also owns Western Star and is responsible for manufacturing Mercedes-Benz.

While the 2007 model is the most popular Freightliner on the market, the company is investing in the future of trucking. Last year Freightliner introduced a SuperTruck which was reported to get 12 mpg, outfitted with cutting-edge technology and a more aerodynamic style.

2. Kenworth

PACCAR is the parent company of Peterbilt and Kenworth with an annual revenue of $19.1 billion. Combined the two truck brands sold 154,700 trucks in 2015. The Kenworth W900 is a classic truck model with a distinguished long-nose hood and pumps out nearly 600 horsepower. Kenworth edged out Peterbilt by a slight margin in sales, holding 14 percent of the market share in America for 2015.

3. Peterbilt

Peterbilt is an iconic brand in the American trucking industry. Its popularity has allowed the brand to cross over into everyday fashion. With its red oval-shaped logo and script white lettering, Peterbilt apparel – specifically trucker hats – can found at truck stops, retail stores and various online retailers. Peterbilt makes up 13 percent of the market share in America and is beloved by its owners. The Peterbilt 379 is one of the most popular semi-trucks on the market – just ask Tony Justice and his hit song.

4. International

Navistar International has been producing trucks since it was founded in 1902. The International LoneStar model is known for its unique crosshatch grills (though not shown in the special edition video below). Navistar also has a division called Navistar Defense, which manufactures military tactical vehicles. It holds 11 percent of the market share in America.

5. Volvo

Volvo trucks make up 10 percent of the heavy-duty truck market share in America. That’s pretty substantial when you consider the competition of the American truck brands. Volvo is a Swedish manufacturer that also owns Mack Trucks – known for the Pinnacle truck series and its Granite dump trucks. Although fifth in terms of the American truck market, Volvo is the second largest heavy-duty truck producer in the world. They also happen to be the preferred choice for Jean-Claude Van Damme to practice his splits on! Precision displayed at its finest.

(NOTE: these rankings are based on trucks sold in the U.S. during 2015)

Learn More About Trucker Path

TagsTrucking Industry

Trucker Spotlight - Shelby <em>The Trucker Spotlight series explores the lives of truckers and their journey to make a difference in their industry. We interview different truck drivers to understand some life lessons that make them who they are today. We also learn more about their motivations, and the problems that they encounter on the job. We also tackle how Trucker Path's solutions helped them with what they do. The information that they provide helps inform other people who are looking to delve into the trucking world.</em> <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/09/blog-4.jpg" alt=""] <h2></h2> Today we are putting the spotlight on <strong>Shelby</strong>, who's been driving for 3 years now. She's has a blog and Youtube channel called, Happiness by the Mile, where she shares her experiences and also gives information on everything you would want or need to know to become a professional driver, and live on the road. Let's get to know more about Shelby and how she gets happiness out of every mile. <h2></h2> <h3></h3> <h3><strong>What made you decide to be a trucker?</strong></h3> It was just a childhood dream of mine to drive a semi. I was not invested in making a career out of it. I just wanted to do it to say I could. It was more of a bucket list item than anything else. Now, I love it so much I could never leave! <h2></h2> <h3><strong>In the years that you have been driving, what are the significant changes that you've noticed in the trucking industry?</strong></h3> I have not seen much of any significant change during my short time in the industry, but I have to say that there is a definite shift happening with the reduction of mom and pop truck stops, access to good food, and good training for those getting into the industry. <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/09/blog-6.jpg" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What made you decide to create a Youtube channel? And why did you choose the "Happiness by the Mile" name?</strong></h3> I initially started an <a href="https://www.instagram.com/happiness_by_the_mile/">Instagram</a> page with the name "Happiness By The Mile". I thought it was the most ideal reference to my mindset of being on the road. We chase many things down the road, our thoughts, fears, hopes for the future, but we forget all too often our happiness is not and will never be a destination. We have to be present in our current lives, and happiness is a choice that we can make at any time. I want to encourage drivers to build happiness as they drive down the road, not chase it into the sunset. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>Do you have a name for your truck?</strong></h3> My current truck's name is "Waldo". I play a game on Instagram with my followers where I post my truck at a truck stop, and they try to guess where it's located. "Where's Waldo?" <h2></h2> <h3><strong>Are there times of loneliness while driving? How do you deal with it? </strong></h3> I love to keep my brain stimulated by listening to podcasts and audiobooks. I also go out of my way to make kind gestures to others by buying their coffee for them, or helping them out if they are trying to fix something on their trucks at a rest area. I think we all benefit from some positive interaction with other humans on the road. It just takes a bit of effort to put yourself out there to receive. <h2></h2> <h3><strong> As a trucker, what are the current struggles in this COVID19 pandemic?</strong></h3> The hardest was finding food for a long time. With a lot of the restaurants and fast food joints having fewer hours or being closed all together it was quite a struggle. <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/09/blog-5.jpg" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What are your usual routes? Favorite scenic truck route?</strong></h3> I run I-80 quite often. If I go east it is usually to Pennsylvania or New Jersey. Most of my routes on the west side of the united states are to Montana, Washington or Oregon. I tend to stay where the snow happens to be the worst. Just the luck of the draw for me. My favorite route is anywhere through US 191, north or south of Salt Lake City it doesn't matter. It is absolutely breathtaking and goes through various national parks. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>Weirdest or most unusual haul?</strong></h3> My most unusual haul had to be a single pallet of medical supplies across the entire United States (not during COVID). <h2></h2> <h3><strong>How often do you use rest stops / truck stops? What are the things that you look for in a truck stop? Favorite truck stop meal?</strong></h3> I stop and truck stops and rest areas frequently! I stop often to let my dog Dakota out to stretch her legs, as well as myself. We take a generous amount of time to make sure that we both are feeling awake and ready to keep moving down the road. <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/09/blog-2.jpg" alt=""] <h3><strong>What are the common troubles or problems you encounter while trucking?</strong></h3> We often struggle to find a place to park with the doubles set. Pull through parking spaces are the only option most of the time, and not all truckstops have them. We are sometimes forced to park on the curb out of the way, or on exit ramps of the interstates. <h2></h2> [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2020/09/blog-3.jpg" alt=""] <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What are your pet peeves while driving/trucking?</strong></h3> I don't have many pet peeves. I do wish that there was more respect given to the trucks from cars on the road, but it's hard to know what we do unless you've been up there in that seat doing it. We oftentimes need to back off a busy street to a customer dock, and it can be hard with cars zipping around you instead of giving you a few minutes to do what you need to do to get out of the way. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>We're glad that Trucker Path has been of service to you! Could you share your favorite feature of the app?</strong></h3> I like to use <a href="http://www.truckerpath.com">Trucker Path's</a> map feature to see where all the truckstops are around my current location, and I use it to help me trip plan to my final drop location. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>What are some tips that you would like to share for aspiring truckers?</strong></h3> Take it slow and steady. No matter how many years you have on your belt, you can never know it all, and always have something to learn. <h2></h2> <h3><strong>Where can we watch your trucking videos?</strong></h3> You can check out my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/ShelbyHBTM/featured">Happiness by the Mile channel on Youtube</a>. <h2></h2> <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RKbiP779jJU" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> <h2></h2> <em>Got a cool story to share? Send us message at community@truckerpath.com to be featured!</em> <h2></h2> <h2></h2> <h4>By Aldous Aldwin</h4> <h3></h3> <h3></h3>

Sep 11, 2020 • Carriers

Misconceptions of Truck Drivers [p]The misconceptions you hear from 4-wheelers [a href="https://app.appsflyer.com/com.sixdays.truckerpath?pid=Social Facebook"]about truck drivers[/a] can be laughable and frankly, absurd. At Trucker Path, we like to refer to these misconceptions of truck drivers as “Tales of an Uninformed 4-Wheeler”. Some are so crazy that all you can do is laugh at them.[/p] [h2]Tales of an Uninformed 4-Wheeler – Volume 1[/h2] [p]Sometimes 4-wheelers just don't understand what it's like being a truck driver. Trucking requires learning an all new set of laws, regulations and the skill to drive an enormous big rig in some of the tightest spaces. It's unlike any other career.[/p] [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2017/01/McD-Pay-me.jpg" alt=""] [p][b]Why do trucks pass each other on the highway?[/b][/p] [p]You hear this all the time. A 4-wheeler gets stuck behind a truck for a few seconds while the truck driver passes another big rig. There are several factors that play into this. It's partly because some trucks are governed at a certain speed (some 60 mph) and some are governed at a higher mph or not at all. Also, some trucks carry much heavier loads than others. An incline in the road can also factor into this occurrence as some trucks hauling cargo uphill struggle to even go 50 mph. Due to this, some truck drivers have no choice but to pass a slower or heavier truck but at times, can only go a certain speed to pass.[/p] [p]Now the Department of Transportation has proposed a speed limiter for all commercial trucks weighing over 26,000 pounds. If the proposed truck speed limiters mandate passes, you will see a dramatic increase in this “inconvenient truck passing”.[/p] [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2017/01/Speed-limiters-traffic.jpg" alt=""] [p]Then there are some 4-wheelers who think trucks are an inconvenience on the road altogether. Not only do truck drivers deliver 80 percent of all cargo in America, but they are used for disaster relief and various other tasks to make life easier for 4-wheelers.[/p] [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2017/01/snow-plow-2.jpg" alt=""] [p]Or the ones who think driving a truck is a simple job because all truck drivers have to do is sit in a chair.[/p] [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2017/01/I-have-skills-TAKEN.jpg" alt=""] [p]Did we forget to mention that [a href="https://truckerpath.com/blog/trucks-delivering-cargo-in-the-usa/"]driving a truck is the deadliest job in America[/a]. In 2015, there were 745 truck driver fatalities, more than any other.[/p] [p]<iframe style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FTruckerPath%2Fvideos%2F1045972602215688%2F&show_text=1&width=560" width="560" height="463" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe>[/p] [p]It's time we debunk the myths about truck drivers. Don't like trucks? Better rethink that one. Without truck drivers, shelves would be full of dust within a few days.[/p] [img src="https://truckerpath.com/uploads/2017/01/Thank-a-Trucker-hotdogs.jpg" alt=""]

Jan 12, 2017 • Community

Hurricane Matthew Road Closures

Oct 10, 2016