125 Years of Mack

Committed to the future

When a company has shaped an industry the way Mack Trucks has done, it’s tempting – and fun – to look back on that history. However, Mack has positioned itself as an industry leader, and a partner to its customers, by persistently looking forward throughout its 125-year history.

From the start, Mack focused on the reliability and innovation customers and drivers still depend upon today. When John M. “Jack” Mack and his brother Gus bought the carriage and wagon company they had worked for, the brothers set to work immediately on innovations that would fast leave carriages and wagons behind. Joined by their brother William, the Macks opened a bus manufacturing plant and eventually, focused on truck manufacturing. Their name would become synonymous with quality, durability and reliability.

Technical feats and firsts

Rising to the top of an industry and remaining there requires a lot of work. For Mack, the company had achieved its reputation for its legendary durability during World War I – dubbed “Bulldogs” by British soldiers impressed with the truck’s tenacity – but the company has also steady achieved a series of first-to-market accomplishments, as well.

Mack pioneered standardized high-volume designs, was the first manufacturer to install power brakes and the first to use air cleaners and oil filters on their trucks. The first development work in shock resistance led to rubber isolators for component mounting, a technical improvement that would go on to be licensed to many other manufacturers.

Perhaps more than any other area, Mack’s work in diesel engine development has had the most significant impact. From the earliest days when the Mack brothers were experimenting with steam and electricity, the ingenuity of the company’s team members led to inventions and improvements that continue to serve the industry today. Mack’s high-speed diesel engines were consistently innovative and sought-after, with the modern open chamber direct injection diesel and the first high torque rise diesel engine.

“Mack has helped us over the years with being a great partner.

They have great representation from the service guys, the parts

guys, the sales guys. They always call us back. It's just been a

great partnership. And I actually feel like we're part of the

family, and I feel like they're part of our family.”

John Picking, Ballard Truck Center

Other milestones pioneered by Mack include power steering, four-wheel brakes, engine valve seat inserts, multi-speed transmissions, front-drive axles, flywheel PTO, cab air suspension and more. There’s no discounting the serious advancements in power and uptime solutions, with the introduction of the modern m DRIVE™ automated manual transmission and GuardDog® Connect, a real-time diagnostic and monitoring service, as well as Command Steer, an active steering system that reduces driver fatigue.

While the technological innovations are too numerous to count, their impact can be seen on the highway every day – as Mack engineers continue to work diligently on the next big thing to drive customer success.

“Mack has been involved since (our) inception. They’ve helped us to

grown and access bigger regions, bigger states. We’re always trying to

grow and expand – and Mack’s been helping us every step of the way.”

Brandon Fulmer, Carroll Fulmer Logistics Corporation

Popular performers

Over the years, each model of Mack truck has captured the hearts and minds of owners and drivers. It’s why so many Mack owners keep their trucks long after they’ve put new models into service, and why so many legacy models are entered into Mack’s Calendar Contest each year. There’s just something about a Mack. Why? Because early on, Mack established a practice of balanced design that holds fast today.

One of Mack’s most successful and popular products was introduced in 1953. The B Series featured a rounded appearance that set a new style standard for trucks, and well over 127,000 were built through 1966. Some of these trucks are still in active service today.

More recent well-loved models include the Mack Granite®, the Mack Anthem®, and the medium duty Mack MD models. Now, Mack is adding to the market again with battery electric versions of some models. It’s an exciting time for a company that always makes exciting moves.

“Mack Trucks help us support our customers. Number one is their

focus on uptime and connectivity. Mack understands what we do

and helps us support our customers in the best way possible.”

Brian Buckley, Ballard Truck Center

Around the bend

With that, it’s time to look ahead to 2025, and the next generation of Mack trucks — and customers. There will, of course, be exciting new products with more innovation, more development and more forward-thinking trucks and technology from the company that’s always looking forward.