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The year was 1939. T.A Peterman leaves the logging industry after finding an interest in buying excess trucks from the Army and rebuilding/improving them for heavy hauling. He bought a failed Fageol Motors, turning it into, well you guessed it, Peterbilt. The first few truck models that Peterman came out with were Model 334 and Model 260. Both of these were known for their all-steel cab. When WWII started, Peterbilt focused on bringing their expertise in trucking to help out their country by creating Model 364, which was known for being a dependable workhorse. T.A was unfortunately only able to enjoy his success for five short years until he passed away in 1944; a year before the war ended. His wife sold the company to a handful of managers.
Once the war ended, Peterbilt had new goals to reach.

1954 comes and introduces Model 351, becoming the longest production in Peterbilt history! It was then that the Peterbilt’s Red Oval logo was made. It was in 1958, that the Pacific Car & Foundry, who later changed their name to PACCAR, purchased Peterbilt, starting a relationship that has lasted for 60 years (and still going).  The 1960s was a period of innovation for Peterbilt. One of the biggest changes was Model 352. The 352 switched to a lightweight aluminum cab and had a 90-degree tilt UniLite cab. The next big addition was made on Model 358 with the addition of the Peterbilt bird hood ornament.

 

Whether your truck breaks down on the side of the road or you simply need to tweak a few things on your rig, a basic toolkit can make all the difference in an emergency situation. Keep a hammer, various styles of screwdrivers (including a Phillips and flathead), wrenches, and pliers in your truck so you can do any necessary maintenance to get your vehicle to the nearest pit stop.If you routinely perform mechanical work on your truck, you could amp up your tool kit with with more specific repair tools. This equipment can allow you to work more intensely on your vehicle (if circumstances allow) so you aren’t without transportation for long.
ClothingThe clothing you keep in your emergency kit will depend entirely on the season and your routes. For example, if you travel during the winter season, stock your truck with a few pairs of wool socks, thick pants and shirts, warm hats, and gloves. But if your final destination is in a warmer climate, you should also include lighter clothing so you don’t overheat.
  An extra pair of shoes can prove useful as well. Boots, for example, can keep your feet dry and warm in a snowstorm. And an extra pair of sneakers or work boots can protect your feet should your current pair become unwearable.

 


Trucking isn’t just a career field for men. There are more than 200,000 female “long-haul” truckers in the United States.
The average small business semi truck driver can cover over 125,000 miles per year. That is more than 3 million miles over the average trucker’s career.
In a single year, American truckers throughout the nation can travel as many as 200 billion miles. Combined, they could have trucked to the sun and back around 1,000 times.
Owner-operators are the safest truckers on the road and experience fewer crashes than anyone else in the industry. Maybe it’s because they are responsible for their own repairs?
In the United States, the average length of a semi-trailer without the cab is 53 feet, and with the cab is about 70 to 80 feet. The maximum these trucks haul is 80,000 pounds. In Australia, however, “road trains” roam the roadways. Road trains are tractors with four trailers that are capable of hauling more than 300,000 pounds!
You had better be geared up to drive the big rigs, because these babies have an average of 10 forward gears and two reverse gears. Some trucks, however, have as many as 18 gears.
It takes approximately 55 feet for a large truck to flip a U-turn. In other words, it might be a good idea to be familiar with your route and pay attention while driving the big rigs.
Approximately 1 out of every 14 American jobs are in the trucking industry. That’s equals out to about 9 million workers.