Are you familiar with what a Mack Truck is? Are you interested in knowing the Mack Truck history? If yes, then you are in the right place. As we are about to share some relevant details and history of this gigantic vehicle that is used for different purposes and is often seen on the motorways.
Mack Trucks are commonly used for transportation. This type of truck is reliable in carrying heavy loads as the trucks have excellent stability due to the tandem axles that are installed in the trucks. Many truckers prefer to use Mack trucks because of their durability and reliability. You can read on to discover more about the history of Mack truck and what makes them special.
What is a Mack Truck?
Mack Truck is a 1900s-era Mack Super-Liner truck. This truck is famous for long hauls and a distinctive feature of this truck is that the smokestacks on this truck are behind the cab, instead of between the cab and the sleeper, like in most of the long hood trucks. The Mack trucks are able to ride smoothly during long hauls, even with heavy loads. These trucks are known for their power and fuel efficiency.
Mack Trucks are originally made by an American truck manufacturing company, Mack Trucks Inc. This company specializes in manufacturing heavy duty vehicles including trucks, buses and trolleys. The company was founded in 1900 as the Mack Brothers company and later in 1922 changed its name to the present name of the company.
Origin of Mack Truck
The Mack Trucks Inc. was founded on 26th July, 1900 as Mack Brothers Company. It was founded by two brothers, John Mack and Augustus Mack. The headquarters of the company is in Greensboro, North Carolina, United States.
This company first started making trucks in 1905 which was very different from the truck that we see on the motorways nowadays. Mack Trucks is one of the top producers in the on-road vehicle market, class 8 through class 13. Mack trucks have been sold in 45 countries. The manufacturing plant of the company is located near its former Allentown corporate headquarters, the Macungie, Pennsylvania, that produces all Mack products.
History of Mack Trucks
Mack Trucks got its start in 1890, when the oldest one of the Mack brothers, a then 26-year-old John Mack took a job at a carriage building company in Brooklyn, New York, called Fallesen & Berry. The company was also later joined by his younger brother, Augustus Mack. However, the Mack brothers did not work in the company for a long time and purchased the company three years later.
Within a year of their purchase of the company, they were joined by a third brother, William Mack, who had previously been operating a wagon building company in Scranton. With the three Mack brothers working together, they began to shift their focus from carriage building to wagon construction.
Mack Truck History says that all the while creating their name in the industry, they were also interested in experimenting with new steam and electric powered motors. In 1900, the Mack brothers got their big break when a tourism company from Brooklyn contracted them to build a sightseeing bus.
The company agreed to build this bus which carried 15 to 20 passengers and was powered by an engine designed entirely by the Mack Brothers Company. This tour bus was the first vehicle to bear the “Mack” nameplate.
Later, the tourism company ordered a second bus in 1901 from the Mack Brothers Company and till then they were officially established as an automotive manufacturer and the Mack Brothers Company was born.
What Makes Mack Truck So Reliable?
The company that produces Mack Truck has been running their manufacturing plant for over 122 years and has made this company the best in their business by providing their customers with powerful, durable and reliable vehicles.
- Powerful
Most trucks are needed to have a lot of power that is eventually used in helping them haul heavy load over long distances. Fitted with a Mack engine, any truck will be able to ride smoothly during long hauls, even with heavy loads.
Mack truck is known for their ultimate power and fuel efficiency. The truck produces almost 2,060 lb-ft torque and a range of 325 to 605 horsepower and these figures are fine to work with any transportation of heavy load.
- Durable
Durability is also one of the best features of Mack Truck. This vehicle shows durability while hauling large loads which isn’t an easy task and takes lots of work. A truck that cannot withstand heavy load and shipments is useless which is why extra power and durability are most important for Mack Truck manufacturers. However, to come up with options for everyone’s needs, the company makes trucks for both medium-duty and heavy-duty loads.
- Reliable
No one wants their truck to break down on the side of the road while the truck is filled with load during long hauls. Therefore, it is important for truckers to use reliable vehicles such as Mack Truck. Using this type of vehicle, they can focus more on driving and less on fixing issues and getting help while standing at the roadside. Mack trucks are very dependable if regular maintenance is performed and taken care of.
Models and Evolution of Mack Trucks Over the Years
Mack Trucks have evolved a lot over the years and have accommodated the needs and requirements of the time and era. The company had its headquarters in various locations and also its manufacturing plant. Today, every Mack truck built for the North American market is assembled at the plant in Lower Macungie Township. The Mack Truck Inc. is also one of the largest employers in Macungie, providing around 1,900 jobs. The company ensures that their manufactured vehicles are up to date with latest technology but same old durability and reliability for which Mack Trucks became famous in the first place.
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