Differences in Manufacturers

To answer your question, you can't look at just the manufacturers but also other things - like dealer care and respect.

When it comes down to it, they are built all the same.

They are engineered to do a job, they all have their good points and their bad points and it always comes down to personal preference and the respect you get at the dealer when you have problems.

 

I've been driving for about ten years (before I got licensed and do it commercially) and have driven a variety of trucks. KWs and Petes are just flat out bad-###. Solid/powerful piece of equipment. Freightliners are the Honda civics of trucks. Cheap, reliable, and you can find replacement parts almost anywhere cause so many drive them. International is what I've been driving for the past 100k miles. Not as solid as a Pete and the interior feels kinda cheap. I don't like Sterlings, and personally I can't stand Macks cause I've only had bad luck with them being reliable. Just my personal opinions.

 

True , I have had a Mack with over 800,000 miles in half a dozen dealership shops only a dozen times and they only got it right the first time once . The trucks go to a dealership only as last resort .

 

I've driven a few different types of tractors.

International 9900i - Not a bad unit. Built like a workhorse. Rode a bit rough and not too well optioned out. Built pretty rugged. Good room in cab and sleeper. Reminds me of the '73 - '87 plain jane Chevy trucks.

International Lonestar - Looks like a PT Cruiser, ugly as hell, but a real nice truck. Wide body, lots of sleeper room and rode pretty good. Kinda like a Chevy Silverado. More car like and comfortable.

Peterbilt 386 - My current unit and brand new. Not quite as nice as the Lonestar, but very nice. Sleeper has decent room. Plain vinyl interior, but easy to wipe down if need be. This one is kinda like the '88 and up Chevy trucks. Rides very nice, but still get some roughness at times.

Yes, I used Chevy trucks because I'm a Chevy guy and that's what I know.