PDM Transportation

01/27/2026

09/21/2025

The Peterbilt story begins with one man: T.A. Peterman, a determined logger and businessman from Tacoma, Washington.

In the 1930s, Peterman faced a problem. The logging industry relied on teams of horses and makeshift trucks to drag timber out of the forests of the Pacific Northwest. It was slow, dangerous, and inefficient. Peterman believed there had to be a better way.

He began buying old military trucks and worn-out surplus vehicles. Instead of scrapping them, he rebuilt them, modified them, and engineered them into tougher machines capable of hauling massive logs through rough terrain. By 1939, Peterman’s tinkering had turned into a company, and Peterbilt Motors was officially born.

The name itself came from Peterman’s wood products company, Peterbilt, which manufactured hardwood doors. When he moved into truck building, the name stuck. His vision was simple: create powerful, durable trucks designed for America’s hardest jobs.

In 1939, the first Peterbilts rolled out of the factory in Oakland, California. They were rugged, reliable, and tailor-made for logging. Word spread quickly. Soon, Peterbilt trucks weren’t just hauling logs, they were hauling freight across highways, farms, and construction sites.

Tragically, T.A. Peterman died in 1944 at just 51 years old, only five years after founding Peterbilt. But his legacy lived on. The company was acquired by Pacific Car and Foundry (later PACCAR) in 1958, which also owns Kenworth. Under PACCAR, Peterbilt became a legend on America’s highways.

Today, Peterbilt is one of the most recognized names in trucking, famous for its long-nose conventionals, polished chrome, and custom options that truckers take pride in. It produces thousands of trucks every year, from heavy-duty rigs to modern electric models, all carrying the red oval logo that honors Peterman’s vision.

As for the empire he started? Peterbilt and Kenworth, both under PACCAR today, contribute to a corporation worth more than $40 billion. What began with one man’s frustration with horse-drawn log hauls became a global trucking dynasty.

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