Top Semi Truck Brands in America

The semi truck manufacturing industry in the U.S. produces hundreds of thousands of trucks per year. This vital sector includes well-known brands with decades of heritage designing and building heavy duty hauling vehicles. This article provides an overview of leading producers of Class 8 semi trucks in America.

Major U.S. Semi Truck Brands

Freightliner – Part of Daimler Trucks North America, Freightliner is the best selling semi truck brand in America. Its history dates back to the 1930s. Key models include the Cascadia, Columbia and Century Class.

Peterbilt – Founded in 1939, Peterbilt is known for its signature styling and customization options. Its parent company is Paccar. Flagship models include the 579, 567 and 389.

Kenworth – Another top selling semi brand under Paccar, Kenworth was established in 1912 and is known for durability and driver comfort. Leading models are the T680, T880 and W900.

International – International Trucks has over 100 years of heritage. Owned by Navistar, it produces versatile commercial vehicles adapted to a wide range of industries. Top models include the LT Series and RH Series.

Mack Trucks – Founded in 1900, Mack Trucks is now owned by Volvo Group. Mack models like the Granite, Pinnacle and Anthem are workhorses in the construction and tanker trucking segments.

Western Star – Specializing in heavy-duty custom and vocational trucks, Western Star is part of Daimler Trucks North America. Its 5700XE model offers extreme durability.

Volvo Trucks – Volvo Trucks North America produces cabover models focused on uptime and fuel efficiency. The VNL series is its primary highway tractor offering.

Key Medium Duty Semi Brands

In the Class 4-7 medium duty semi market, top OEMs include:

– International – CV Series

– Freightliner – M2, 114SD

– Kenworth – T170, T270, T370

– Peterbilt – 220, 520

– Ford – F-650, F-750

Leading Manufacturers by Class 8 Sales

Based on new Class 8 retail sales registrations in 2021, the top 5 brands were:

1. Freightliner 38.6%
2. Peterbilt 15.5%
3. Kenworth 14.8%
4. International 12.8%
5. Volvo 7.3%

In summary, these major manufacturers account for the vast majority of semi trucks running on American roads and serving the transportation needs of the economy.