peterbilt truck for sale guide - helpful advice for purchasing commercial trucks and tractor trailers for sale
Peterbilt
Peterbilt's familiar symbol is a red oval. Peterbilt continues its legendary industry leadership with it's full line of Class 6-8 trucks, TruckCare aftermarket support programs, and network of independent North American dealerships. Peterbilt will custom manufacture each truck to their customer specifications. Peterbilt has introduced more new products and services than at any time in its history during the past several years. Peterbilt's TruckCare service features a full range of services including scheduled maintenance programs for fleets and owner/operators and 24-hour roadside assistance. If you already know all about Peterbilt trucks and just want to see the Peterbilt make and model charts that show you the advantages, disadvantages, specifications and conversion issues then visit Peterbilt Make and Model Chart.
Fageol Motors Co. of Oakland, Calif., which for 17 years had produced rugged, heavy-duty trucks and luxury buses, filed for bankruptcy during the depression in the 1930's. The Waukesha Motor Co. along with the Central Bank of Oakland operated Fageol from 1932 until 1938. And that year they sold it to T.A. Peterman who was a logger and plywood manufacturer from Tacoma, Wash. Peterman had already been modifying old logging trucks and rebuilding surplus army trucks for use in his business. By 1938, Peterman's lumber operations had expanded beyond the capabilities of his fleet so he purchased the Fageol assets to build custom chain-drive logging trucks.
In 1940 truck production was up to 82 units and Peterbilt trucks gained acceptance in the trucking industry. One reason for this was that Peterman sent engineers into the field to find out what truckers needed and wanted. Shortly after the outbreak of World War II, Peterbilt began to fulfill government contracts by producing heavy-duty trucks. With the engineering and production expertise gained from the design and production of these trucks, Peterbilt returned to the commercial marketplace after the war with the best trucks in the industry.
Peterbilt has weathered many storms, including Peterman's death in 1945. After Peterman's death the company ownership passed to his widow, Ida. But in 1958, Mrs. Peterman announced her plans to develop the plant site into a shopping center. Peterbilt's owners were faced with the dilemma of raising $2 million for a new plant. Since the owners and president Lloyd Lundstrom were approaching retirement age, and did not want to incur a long-term debt, they put the company up for sale. Paul Pigott of Pacific Car and Foundry, which owned Kenworth, showed interest and on June 24, 1958, acquired Peterbilt Motors as a wholly owned subsidiary. Pacific Car started construction of a modern 176,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Newark, Calif. one year later and in August, 1960 Peterbilt moved to the new facility. A division of the parent firm, Peterbilt was still carrying on its own tradition with retaining its product line and continuing as one of Kenworth's stiffest competitors, even though both were now under the same ownership.
In 1959, Peterbilt introduced the 90-degree-tilt hood for easier service and also built the first all-aluminum tilt hood for conventional models in 1965. 1986 introduced Peterbilt's Model 379 line which included the first aerodynamic designs to boost fuel efficiency. In 1999 and 2001, J.D. Power and Associates rated Peterbilt No. 1 in customer satisfaction in the conventional medium-duty truck segment.
In part to Peterbilt's innovations, new models, and reputation for quality, sales steadily increased. Soon, the demand for Peterbilt trucks outstripped the plant's capacity and in 1969 Peterbilt built a second plant in Madison, Tenn. As demand continued to grow the Madison plant was expanded in 1973 and doubled its production capacity. In 1975, Peterbilt of Canada was established. In 1980, Peterbilt opened its Denton, Texas, manufacturing facility. In 1993, Peterbilt moved its corporate headquarters and engineering department from California to Denton where they remain today.
The Peterbilt dealer network is currently comprised of more than 200 retail outlets throughout North America. To serve the aftermarket needs of its customers, Peterbilt's dealer network works in conjunction with PACCAR Parts, whose five warehouses permit fast, efficient responses to customer requests.
When choosing a truck to convert to a recreational vehicle, live aboard unit, or tour business, be aware of the Seven Commandments for buying any truck - read that first! These commandments of advice will save you thousands of dollars and a lifetime of headaches.
Today, Peterbilt is still manufacturing some of the greatest designed trucks on the road today. And with carriers and companies continuing to buy the newest models, used trucks are plentifully up for sale. You are at the right place for a Peterbilt.
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