What's The Best Semi Truck Brand? That Depends…

When you buy a car, you might start with brand affinity: Maybe you've rather push a Ford than drive a Chevy, to quote a hat. Buying a semi truck is different. A truck isn’t just a vehicle; it’s a business asset, often tied to outside forces (leasing companies, lending banks, customer requirements) that have as much to say about your power unit as any brand preference you carry.

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So while we’re certainly up for discussing the best semi truck brands—and we do have thoughts on the subject—let’s get this out of the way first: Most major manufacturers will offer models that meet your business’ needs. Don’t buy a Mack because it’s a Mack; buy it because it meets the technical specifications you require to keep your trucking company profitable—or lease it because it’s what a trusted lease agent recommends for your business.

With that caveat out of the way, here’s an introduction to the best brands of semi trucks—which is to say the top five major manufacturers of semi trucks in the U.S., based on 2021 market share.

The Best Semi Truck Brands: Exploring the Major Players

1. Freightliner

Freightliner is the leader in class 8 truck sales, securing 37.7% of the total market share in the U.S. as of December 2021. (According to the Federal Highway Administration, a class 8 truck has a gross vehicle weight rating of 33,001 pounds or more; it’s what we usually mean by the term “semi truck.”)

Freightliner celebrates its 80th anniversary in 2022, and they offer a full range of heavy-duty semi trucks complete with Detroit powertrains. Most recently, they’re investing in 100% electric vehicles like the eCascadia. Freightliner maintains its market dominance with continual re-investment in technological innovation.

2. Peterbilt

In a distant second, with 14.8% U.S. market share, Peterbilt focuses on customization to match every truck with specific use cases. Its on-highway, class 8 offerings include Model 579 and Model 389, both of which use PACCAR powertrains; the Model 579 is designed for aerodynamics, while the Model 389 features a more classic profile.

Peterbilt has also entered the electric vehicle (EV) market for heavy-duty trucks, opening orders for the Model 579 EV in November 2020 and the first production model shipped in June 2021.

3. Kenworth

Kenworth is pacing Peterbilt with 14.6% of the U.S. market share. Like Peterbilt, Kenworth trucks feature PACCAR powertrains—which is no surprise, since PACCAR owns both brands. PACCAR has a reputation for reliability, which makes both Kenworth and Peterbilt great choices for over-the-road services.

Generally speaking, however, Kenworths come in at a lower price point compared to Peterbilt. And yes, Kenworth has also entered the EV market, with the T680E being its zero-emission offering in the class 8 category.

4. Volvo

Volvo’s heavy-duty truck division controlled 10.2% of the U.S. market share at the end of 2021, with its flagship VNL built for long haul jobs. When the VNL hit the market in 1996, it brought a new low-profile hood that promised greater aerodynamics—features every manufacturer touts today. Volvo manufactures its own powertrains (the D series), but also provides the option to substitute a Cummins engine in some models.

Like Volvo’s consumer vehicle counterpart, Volvo Trucks is plunging into the EV market. The VNR Electric with a 6×4 wheel configuration goes up to 275 miles on a charge, taking it beyond regional delivery routes.

5. Mack

Mack is one of the oldest semi truck manufacturers in the U.S., dating back to 1900. By 2021, they commanded just 8.4% of the total market share. Still, many drivers swear by the Mack name. Mack trucks use Mack powertrains; but since Volvo acquired the company in 2000, truckers have debated the real differences between the Volvo D-series engines and today’s Mack MP engines.

The class 8 Mack Anthem is known for making life simpler on service mechanics, with its modular design and tilt-assist hood. So far, Mack’s only electric offering is a refuse truck, which is probably fine for now, since we’re still some time off from recharging infrastructure making over-the-road electric hauls the norm.

Going Beyond The “Best” Semi Truck Brand: How To Choose A Semi Truck

It’s hard to call any one manufacturer the “best.” If you’re one of the top five manufacturers in your class, you probably offer pretty good products. Every company on our list offers multiple models, each with their own set of customizations; they can all set up a fleet owner for success.

The point is, if you find yourself behind the wheel of a brand-new semi truck from any of these manufacturers, you’ll be able to move freight—and keep building your business.

So what makes one semi truck the best for your unique requirements? That will change from one trucking company to the next. As you begin your pre-purchase research, start by answering these five questions (and for more advice on buying your first semi truck, read this):

1. Do you want an older or a newer truck?

Another way to phrase this question is: How much can you afford? Used trucks have lower price tags but probably require more maintenance. You may even find that some brokers or shippers refuse to work with you unless you have newer equipment. Consider all these angles when deciding on the right price point and age of the next truck you add to your fleet.

2. What are the technical requirements of your routes and freight?

If you run freight through high-grade mountain roads, you may need an engine that puts out more torque. If you’re more concerned with getting up to speed while hauling heavy loads, you may look for higher horsepower. Know your routes to choose a vehicle that delivers value based on everything from regional weather to likely load weights.

3. How do the states you operate in regulate vehicle emissions?

Some states are more aggressive than others in trying to regulate tailpipe emissions. That can help you make decisions about truck purchases, or suggest you need add-ons like auxiliary power units (APUs) to limit emissions during idling time. It could even steer you toward zero-emission technologies like electric trucks.

4. What are your strengths as a business operator?

An owner-operator may have a strong background in truck mechanics. A fleet owner may be great at logistics and sales, but not have a clue what’s going on beneath the hood. That leads to a very different path to purchase; the former owner may know exactly the model and year that will deliver results, while the latter should find a salesperson or leasing agent they trust, and give them the data about what they need—letting the expert recommend the right equipment to match.

5. How do you plan to maintain cash flow while making payments on the investment?

Like most capital investments, buying a semi truck isn’t a one-time operation: It’s an ongoing financial relationship. You’ll need a solid plan for making those monthly payments, which doesn’t just mean transactions on paper—it means cash flow.

Brokers and shippers can take weeks to pay. Truck payments are due every month. Many business owners have strong revenues, but run into cash flow problems thanks to the realities of billing and payment schedules. In the trucking industry, at least, there is a solution.

Invoice factoring is a financial tool: A third party purchases your invoices, paying you nearly their full amount instantly, then collecting from your customers when the invoices come due. You’ll pay a small percentage of the invoice amount for the service, but in return, you get the cash flow you need to pay down your new semi truck.

Bobtail is a trucker-friendly factoring service that keeps things simple. Unlike many factoring companies, we don’t require contracts of any kind. We don’t require you to factor all your invoices or charge hidden fees. You simply open the app, upload a bill of lading and rate confirmation, and get funded—all with a single 1.99% to 2.99% factoring fee, depending on the size of your business.

Finding the best semi truck brand for you is just the first step toward ownership. Bobtail can help later in the process, ensuring you always have the liquidity you need to stay up to date on payments. And you can try Bobtail right now, for free. Sign up to learn more about Bobtail and start factoring your trucking invoices today.

Looking for the best semi-truck for your fleet-based business? Want to learn all you can about the options available before making a purchase? You’ve come to the right place.

Semi-trucks are still a big part of many fleets thanks to their durability, comfort, handling, and hauling capacity. When it comes down to it, there’s just no better way to get a large amount of freight from point A to point B.

But which truck is right for your fleet?

In this article, we discuss what manufacturers have to offer so you can choose the best semi-truck for your business.

Best Semi-Trucks For Fleets

1) Western Star

Since the 1990s, Western Star has established itself as a premier vocational and over-the-road heavy truck manufacturer, thanks in large part to revolutionary product innovations, like the Star Light Sleeper.

Their lineup consists of various sizes of one of the best semi-trucks on the market, including:

• 47X
• 49X
• 4700
• 4800
• 4900
• 6900
• XD Offroad

Each size provides its own unique features, but Western Star offers a long list of customizations, including, for example, a choice of six engines for all jobs and purposes (Detroit DD16, Detroit DD15, Detroit DD13, Cumminx X15, Cummins X12, or Cummins L9).

In addition, Western Star incorporates three specifically engineered Detroit components — engine, transmission, and axle — in such a way that they work together to create a system of efficiency, performance, and reliability that is unrivaled in the industry.

The business itself remains a fairly small company, and there aren’t a lot of dedicated Western Star dealers out there. But, because it’s owned by Freightliner’s parent company, you can typically get service at Freightliner dealerships and repair shops.

Western Star trucks also include the Westinghouse Air Brake Company (WABCO) Onguard collision mitigation system that detects moving or stationary objects in front of the truck, alerts the driver, and applies active braking if the driver doesn’t take action.

Interesting Fact: Western Star trucks are popular in Australia, where they regularly pull some of the longest road trains.

2) Peterbilt

Like Western Star, Peterbilt semi-trucks got their start in the logging industry. Now, Peterbilt still offers trucks designed and built to operate efficiently and stay on the road longer, delivering a lower total cost of operation as well as exceptional performance and value.

Their lineup consists of various on-highway, vocational, medium-duty, and electric vehicles, including:

• Model 579
• Model 389
• Model 567
• Model 520
• Model 367
• Model 365

Peterbilt offers Collision Mitigation Technology on heavy and medium-duty semi-trucks. The system delivers an added layer of protection in challenging driving conditions through advanced radar technology, camera technology, software logic, and powertrain integration.

Peterbilt’s over-the-road trucks also include innovations that are built for the long-haul, such as the integrated PACCAR Powertrain that delivers up to 510 horsepower and 1,850 foot-pounds of torque.

Couple that with their Epiq package of technological and aerodynamic features that provides up to 4% increased fuel efficiency, and it’s easy to see why Peterbilt vehicles are still among the best semi-trucks on the road today.

In recent years, Peterbilt has added three electric trucks — the 579EV, 520EV, and 220EV — to its lineup to satisfy diverse customer needs and provide fleets with zero-emission, high-performance options.

Interesting Fact: The Peterbilt model 579 has the largest mattress of any truck in the industry.

3) Kenworth

Kenworth is known as one of the best semi trucks in the industry. Today, Kenworth is the second-largest truck brand in the United States and offers the following models:

• T680
• T680 Next Gen
• W990
• W900L
• T800
• T880
• T680E
• T180/T280
• T380/T480
• C500

Within those models, Kenworth offers a variety of features, including driver-assistance technologies, such as adaptive cruise control, collision mitigation, lane departure warning, side object detection, and driver performance assistant.

Driver assistance is also improved with the addition of the new Digital Mirror System that reduces the size of the outside mirrors (improving fuel economy by 1.5% while enhancing driver visibility by providing a clearer and wider view around the truck).

The Digital Mirror System and large high-definition interior displays put the mirror view image in an easier-to-see position, keeping the driver’s eyes closer to the road.

Under the hood, Kenworth trucks are engineered to go the distance thanks to the PACCAR engine, transmission, and axles. These components work together to guarantee a smooth operating, high-performance powertrain of unmatched capability.

For medium- and heavy-duty applications, Kenworth are some of the best semi trucks available.

Interesting Fact: Kenworth trucks are more expensive than other brands but have lower operating and maintenance costs.

4) Freightliner

Currently, Freightliner is the best-selling semi-truck brand in North America, selling more than 70,000 heavy-duty (Class 8) trucks annually and holding just under a 40% market share.

Freightliner’s semi-truck line is called the Cascadia and offers a choice of engines that produce between 350 and 605 horsepower and up to 2,050 foot-pounds of torque. Freightliner also offers an electric vehicle called the eCascadia.

The eCascadia has a 250-mile range and can charge 80% in 90 minutes. The limited range means that the eCascadia isn’t viable as a long-haul vehicle but is an excellent option for short hauls.

For all its on-highway trucks, Freightliner identified six main contributing factors that matter most to owners and drivers. Then, they went about improving the details on their vehicles to be more in line with customer wants and needs.

Those factors are:

• Fuel efficiency
• Connectivity
• Safety
• Quality
• Uptime
• Driver experience

In conjunction with improving those factors on their trucks, Freightliner also produced a Real Cost of Ownership (RCO) guide with those variables in mind to help you control expenses within your fleet. That’s what makes Freightliner one of the best semi-truck brands in the country.

And, when you choose Freightliner for your semi-truck fleet, you get access to a robust dealer network of over 700 total service locations and their dedicated and reliable support staff.

That means that if anything goes wrong between point A and point B, there’s likely a dealer nearby that can get your truck back on the road.

Interesting Fact: Freightliners tend to have a lower resale value because there are so many on the market.

5) Mack

Mack is the oldest truck brand on our list with a whopping 122 years in continuous production. Mack offers three different highway models:

• Anthem
• Pinnacle
• Granite

It also offers three cabover designs for short-haul situations — the LR, LR Electric, and TerraPro — and medium-duty options — the MD6, MD6 Low Profile, and MD7 — for a wide variety of applications and terrains.

In addition to functional design, tough construction, and reliable performance, Mack offers a unique service called GuardDog Connect.

GuardDog Connect continuously monitors the truck’s fault codes and alerts Mack’s support team if it detects a problem. From there, the Mack team can diagnose the issue and determine the best course of action — all while the truck is still on the road.

This feature helps drivers avoid unexpected downtime and helps the truck spend more time on the road.

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