Between these trucks

Freightliner
Kenworth
Volvo

Freightliner wins hands down. The rest is my impression based largely on hearsay. But depending on the year, the Kenworth and Volvo could possibly have been made with a Cummins or Detroit motor, which would boost their stats a bit.

 

Whichever has a bigger engine with engine warranty provided or purchased... Cummins and Detroit has more shops that can work on them. Volvo makes their own engines, which makes it easier and faster(theoretically) to provide service. But if you want to run flat terrains with light loads then it's totally different ball game. Volvo with Volvo engine has the quietest cab and most ergonomic driver controls in my experience.

 

Really depends on what you want to do with the truck. For highway stuff they're all the same.

 

Freightliner
Kenworth
Volvo

 

A quiet engine and a cab is a double-edged sword. Most drivers ignore common rules and instructions for driving a semi-truck; they think they are driving a luxury car. The most important thing a driver should do is get a driver's manual provided with the new truck and read and follow manufacturer's instructions and recommendations. I've had zero issues with the engine from two Volvo trucks that I've purchased and one has over 500K miles (out of warranty) and the other one has 300K. The one with 500K had a transmission problem (replaced under warranty) but I attribute that to the hired previous driver. Ignoring little tell-tale signs lead to big repairs like every other truck... Also had to replace an injector on 500K truck due to my own mistake of not replacing a fuel filter and separator and purchasing bad fuel; Volvo paid half of it since they were 20K miles over the warranty period(250K). Although, service manager said that bad injector had nothing to do with bad fuel or filter...

 

Some are easier to find repair locations for than others. Even if you're turning your own wrenches, some are easier to find parts for than others.

 

Volo and Cummins make good motors. And so does Paccar. It's just that Detroit is easiest to find parts and shops for.

 

This is exactly why I find OEM parts for Volvo cheaper around here (close location to the assembling plant) and due to the fact that some quality parts made overseas and bought by Volvo in bulk. Volvo is a smaller manufacturer in the USA but No1 in the world so it's trying to increase its market share here (probably content with smaller margins here on parts). I buy a lot of parts on Ebay after I compare prices and quality with a local dealer.