Peterbilt truck owner. Proud. Loyal. Hard work. Determined. With the owners of Peterbilt, this is evident in everything they do, to the care, attention and semi-truck accessories they add to their trucks and outside.
The red oval logo that reads 'Peterbilt' in cursive handwriting might not mean much to a man on the street. But the same logo for truck lovers symbolizes high-quality trucks, a penchant for creating something new and striving to give customers experience outside the world, even if it means sending engineers to the field. Well, we are referring to Peterbilt, the name of the world-famous heavy duty truck manufacturer.
However, a peek at the history of Peterbilt reveals that it has not yet run in the clouds for this legendary truck manufacturer. In fact, unlike cars, motorcycle trucks have never had a smooth start. During the early 1900s, railroad lines were used to carry goods dump truck hino across countries. Likewise, rivers, canals and horses are other popular means of transportation. In addition, the lack of roads ready for motorized vehicles means that there are some enthusiasts for motorized trucks.
However, the beginning of the First World War proved to be a blessing in disguise for motorcycle trucks. The train proved insufficient for transportation of food, war supplies, and other materials. This means that more and more trucks are being sucked up by the government. The government is also taking steps to build quality roads and roads. By the time the war ended, motorcycle trucks had established their place as an important means of transportation.
Juggernaut's growth continued to roll out well after the First World War. However, the Great Depression brought mixed baggage to truck manufacturers. While some brands registered growth, others like Fageol, which went bankrupt.
Fageol was immediately brought by T.A. Peterman, producer of logs and plywood from Tacoma, Washington. His wood business registered phenomenal growth and as such he sought to create custom chain drive logging trucks. Fageol was then rebaptized as chairman of the company.
Peterman concentrates on quality over quantity. When rivals like Ford come out with 100 trucks a day, Peterbilt only rolls 100 trucks a year. Soon it was carved into a special place in the hearts of truck lovers.
Peterbilt was one of the first companies to send its engineers to get first-hand experience of problems faced by truck drivers and make appropriate modifications from the field. This further allows Peterbilt to move up the loyalty charts with the trucking companies and their respective semi-trucking operators.
Peterman's death in 1945 saw ownership move into the hands of his widow, Ida. He sold his assets to Peterbilt employees, but not his land. Then in 1958, he announced his plans to build a shopping center on the factory site. This puts the new owner in trouble. To avoid the possibility of large and long-term debt, the company was sold. It was later acquired by Pacific Car and Foundry, which owns the Kenworth truck.
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