Peterbilt has been one of the premier names in the world of Class 8 trucking across North American since the company’s founding in 1939. Through the ups and the downs in the economy, through wars, through increased pressure on the industry, and through massive engineering changes over the years, the company has thrived and survived. Just about a week ago the 1,000,000th Peterbilt vehicle ever made rolled off the company’s line in Denton, Texas. The truck was a Heritage Series 567 model that captures some of trucking’s most endearing traits like big chrome stacks, and even larger chrome bumpers.

The Peterbilt 359, 379, and now 389 have been and will be an iconic trucks for a long, long time. Peterbilt was a company born out of necessity. Founder TA Peterman was a logging magnate who needed a way to get his felled logs to mills. There were not good options so he started modifying Army surplus trucks. That lead to the company engineering their own equipment and becoming a standalone operation. Now they are a subsidiary of PACCAR along with Kenworth. That may rub some the wrong way but we’re glad that the Peterbilt brand is still out there pounding the pavement and keeping a load of people employed building, servicing and driving them.

Here’s the full release from Peterbilt on the 1,000,oo0 truck milestone –

Peterbilt Motors Company announced the production of the 1,000,000th Peterbilt vehicle. The Model 567 Heritage rolled off the assembly line at the company’s Denton, Texas manufacturing facility.

“The production of one million trucks is a proud moment, and the Model 567 Heritage embodies this historic occasion,” said Kyle Quinn, General Manager, Peterbilt Motors Company. “The styling and durability of the Model 567 Heritage gives customers the industry’s most modern, technologically advanced and versatile truck. Inside and out, this truck commands attention.”

Peterbilt is the class of the American commercial vehicle industry, providing premium-quality, and unmatched longevity since 1939. Peterbilt’s state-of-the-art Denton facility opened in 1980 with the production of the Model 359. Today, customers look to the brand for its tradition, distinctive styling, low cost of ownership, integration of technology and class-leading uptime, all supported by a strong and extensive dealer network.

In celebration of the momentous 1,000,000th truck, Peterbilt recently conducted a search for its ultimate SuperFan within the United States and Canada. From the 1,200 entries submitted, Peterbilt will choose the SuperFan to be gifted the Model 567 Heritage during a ceremony at the upcoming Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) as a way to thank our loyal enthusiasts, customers, drivers and dealers for their roles in Peterbilt’s success.

“One million trucks is a fantastic milestone and is a testament to the hard working Peterbilt employees from 1939 to now,” said Leon Handt, Assistant General Manager of Operations, Peterbilt Motors Company. “We wouldn’t have been able to grow our brand without them.”