Truck OEM Mack Trucks is celebrating 125 years of producing vehicles for the world’s transport markets in 2025.
Started by two brothers and a dream in a small Brooklyn workshop, Mack Trucks has now become a synonymous brand in the US and globally for its models.
From hauling materials for the Hoover Dam to collecting waste in cities around the world and its zero tailpipe-emission electric vehicles, Mack’s influence in Australia is also well known.
“For 125 years, Mack Trucks has been more than just a manufacturer – we’ve been helping to build the American success story,” Mack Trucks president Stephen Roy says.
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“Every Mack truck that rolls off our assembly line carries forward a legacy of grit, innovation and that unmistakable bulldog tenacity that has defined our brand since 1900.”
Currently, Mack Trucks has a major presence in the US and across the world, including in Australia where Mack’s are produced locally out of the brand’s Wacol facility in Queensland.
However, Mack first rose to fame during World War 1 when the Mack Bulldog was nicknamed the ‘Bulldog’ by British soldiers for its reliability in harsh conditions.
That wartime nickname became destiny when chief engineer Alfred Fellows Masury carved the first Mack Bulldog hood ornament from a bar of soap during a hospital stay in 1932 to pass the time. Now, that symbol represents Mack’s determination and commitment to quality and strength.
Back in the 1920s, Mack was at the forefront of integrated powertrains, combining engines, transmissions and axles into the one system. From there, Mack introduced power brakes and power-assisted steering in the ‘30s, with the launch of the Thermodyne engine in 1953 establishing new benchmarks for power and efficiency.
The Maxidyne came in 1967, while the Econodyne marked a new era in the late ‘70s before the RS and RL models arrived in the ‘80s, as well as the CH model.
In 2010, Mack welcomed the mDRIVE automated manual transmission to revolutionise fuel efficiency, with its zero tailpipe-emission LR Electric refuse truck coming in 2022.
“Each of these innovations represents more than just technological advancement,” Mack Trucks North America president Jonathan Randall says.
“They represent Mack’s dedication to solving real-world challenges for our customers, while continuously pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in trucking.”
Today, Mack trucks are now sold and serviced in more than 45 countries worldwide, yet the company’s commitment to American and Australian manufacturing remains unwavering.
As Mack enters its next century and a quarter, the company is leading the charge toward sustainable transportation. The deployment of the LR Electric refuse trucks in major cities has shown that zero tailpipe-emission vehicles can be used in the most demanding applications.
In addition, the MD Electric series is transforming medium-duty applications from beverage delivery to local freight.
“Our 125th anniversary isn’t just about celebrating our past – it’s about driving toward an even more innovative future,” Roy says.
“The same spirit that inspired Jack and Gus Mack to build their first vehicle continues to drive us forward as we pioneer electric and autonomous technologies for the next generation of transportation. Together, we’re moving and building a better world.”
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