How Heavy-Duty Trucks Are Manufactured

Today’s commercial trucks are split into three different classes, based on their weights: light-duty, medium-duty and heavy-duty. Heavy-duty trucks weigh the most, coming in at 33,000 pounds or more, and with the addition of a trailer, they can be up to around 80,000 pounds. That’s a lot of weight! The truck itself, though, is intriguing in that there are very few manufacturers of heavy-duty trucks here in the United States, following a rise and fall during the early 20th century.

Curious to know what goes into these essential vehicles? Keep reading to learn more about the manufacture of heavy-duty trucks.

Materials

A number of materials are used in the manufacturing of heavy-duty trucks to ensure durability and safety. 

• Strong and hardy steel is utilized to construct the frame rails, crossmembers, many of the suspension components, wheel axles and engine mounts. 
• Lightweight and flexible aluminum is used to make the outer skin and the cab and components that won’t corrode. 
• Molded plastics and fiberglass are employed when constructing the fenders, the hood, the dashboard and, in some cases, the cab, due to the ease with which these materials can be shaped. 
• Shiny stainless steel is used for exterior trim pieces, like mirrors, visors, grilles and handles.
• Vinyl and synthetic fibers are used in the cab’s interior for the carpeting, floor mats and seats.

Design Frequency

Typically, a truck manufacturer will create and release a new truck design approximately every five to seven years. Designs include upgrades for comfort and safety as well as adherence to various legal requirements. Multiple prototypes are constructed by the design team to determine whether they are safe and durable. Pilot models are built before the truck design actually enters production to make sure that everything is as it should be.

Manufacturing

Any given truck may be entirely built by one manufacturer, or it may be sourced from parts built by a variety of different manufacturers. Usually, a truck manufacturer will make its own cabs, and some of them can manufacture essential components like engines, axles and transmissions. 

Many of the other components for a truck are built in other, more specialized factories and shipped to the truck manufacturer for assembly, though. Most trucks are built on an assembly line, like any other type of vehicle, starting with the frame of the vehicle and ending with the fully-finished truck containing all the necessary components.

Ready to buy a heavy-duty truck for your independent contractor business or as part of your fleet? Visit our dealership in Sanford, FL, today to view our current selection of new and used heavy-duty trucks for sale. DeBary Truck Sales proudly serves all of our Florida customers as well as those coming south from Atlanta, GA.