Mack marks 125th anniversary

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Updated Jan 16, 2025
Three antique refuse trucks made by Mack Trucks
Mack Trucks, maker of these three antique refuse trucks, is celebrating 125 years of truck production.
Mack Trucks

Mack Trucks is celebrating 125 of building trucks. 

"For 125 years, Mack Trucks has been more than just a manufacturer — we've been helping to build the American success story," says Stephen Roy, president of Mack Trucks. "Every Mack truck that rolls off our assembly line carries forward a legacy of grit, innovation and that unmistakable bulldog tenacity that has defined our brand since 1900."

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During that 125 years, Mack says it has been behind some of trucking's most impactful innovations. In 1920, it combined engines, transmissions and axles into a unified powertrain. The next decade, it introduced power breaks and steering and, in the 1960s and 70s, introduced several engines that set new benchmarks for power and efficiency. In the 1980s, it launched the RS, RL and CH models, and the 2000s saw mDRIVE innovation with automated manual transmissions, 13-speed transmissions and, in 2022, a zero-emissions refuse truck. 

"Each of these innovations represents more than just technological advancement," says Jonathan Randall, president of Mack Trucks North America. "They represent Mack's dedication to solving real-world challenges for our customers, while continuously pushing the boundaries of what's possible in trucking." 

Today, Macks are sold and serviced in more than 45 countries worldwide, but all heavy-duty and many medium-duty trucks are still assembled in the United States. All heavy-duty trucks are assembled at the Lehigh Valley Operations facility in Pennsylvania. Medium-duty trucks come from the Roanoke Valley Operations facility in Virginia

"What's remarkable about Mack's 125-year journey is how the core values have remained constant even as the technology has evolved," says Doug Maney, curator of the Mack Trucks Historical Museum. "In the museum, we have trucks from every era — from early chain-driven vehicles to modern electric models. While the technology depicts the story of innovation, it's the countless tales of reliability and the determination of owners, drivers and dealers that truly define the Mack legacy. These stories exemplify that whether it's a 1900 or a 2025, a Mack truck is built to get the job done." 

Mack is looking into the next 125 years, too, with zero-emissions vehicles such as the LR Electric refuse truck and the MD Electric medium-duty series. 

"Our 125th anniversary isn't just about celebrating our past — it's about driving toward an even more innovative future," Roy says. "The same spirit that inspired Jack and Gus Mack to build their first vehicle continues to drive us forward as we pioneer electric and autonomous technologies for the next generation of transportation. Together, we're moving and building a better world." 

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