A basic question for all truckers; what is the best truck or truck brand?

Obviously, I'm a Volvo person. But, I do understand that is more subjective than anything. Swift fleet uses Volvos, Freightliners, Kenworths and Internationals. We don't have any Peterbilts or Mack's. Why, I have no idea.
Although the (now) older Volvos seemed to be plagued with electrical gremlins, I think they have that ironed out in the newer models. I've been in a 19 VNL760 and now in a 22 VNL760, close to 3 years and haven't had any electrical problems.
My Volvo's have DD13s and, for the Swift fleet at least, are on the lighter side. Being a reefer jockey where I pull alot of heavier loads, I appreciate the lighter truck as it makes it generally easier to scale myself legal. Power-wise, seems to be comparable with other trucks. I certainly don't notice it being slower to pull a grade than other trucks.
Downside to Volvos, at least for the Swift fleet, they tend to have to go to a dealer for repair more than the others and parts are not as ubiquitous. Just not as many mechanics trained for the Volvos as the others, so repairs that might be done by Swift mechanics have to go to a dealer instead.
Anyway, I can't objectively attest to which is better for what. But, I like the Volvos and the ones I've been in have been good, mostly dependable and get reasonable fuel mileage.

 

They're all junk!!!

If I were buying a new one, and I hate saying this, I'd look real hard at a Volvo. They get a bad reputation based on the type of people that drive them. But they must be ok because they seem tol hold up to the abuse. And you can get some pretty heavy duty specs on one.

Macks are no longer Macks. It's a cooler looking version of a Volvo. Same truck under the hood and cab.
Kenworth and Peterbilts are looking more like Freightliners used to with their cheesy plastic interiors.

Freightliners are tough trucks, they take A LOT of abuse by the rookies, and seem to hold up through it.

Western Star has been ruined by Freightliner, so I wouldn't touch one.

Only thing left is International. Haven't driven any of those newer than a 2007 model, but I really liked the one I drove. Rode nice, had all the creature comforts I loved, and seemed like a tough truck.

 

Asking which major truck manufacturers make the "best" truck is kind of like asking who makes the "best" pickup trucks, Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge, Toyota, etc.
My answer would be that they all make a decent vehicle for the most part, but they have all produced a P.O.S. model from time to time.
It's all going to depend on the driver's preference and personal experience with the various makes and models. You probably could open an entire forum just to debate who makes the "best" truck, and you would never come to a definitive solution. Even the diesel techs would disagree on the subject. It's all going to be based on the driver's wants, and needs and personal opinions based from experiences...

 

Never heard that definition before..

 

No doubts in my my mind I would slide in the seat of a beat up International long before I would a nice Volvo..
I have standards
A Volvo is like a fat girl they both get the job done .. you just make sure your friends don't see you

 

I’ve got an ‘89 W900B with over 3.3 million miles on it. Probably 1/3 of that in the bush. You go find an ‘89 Volvo with that mileage to park beside it for a little durability comparison. I’ll wait…

 

Volvo Autocar was one tough SOB. I'd wager it was as good or better built than a Western Star. Not as pretty as one though but they dressed up nice.

 

They were. The cabs were Volvo-White-GMC junk. The American Motors of the Class 8 world. But that truck was a White-Constuctor/Autocar chassis. Same genetics as some of the Western Stars.

 

I can't speak on Volvos that old. In 1989 I was 5 years old. I can only speak on models 2011 and up. You'll be waiting a long time.