Which Truck Is Best for Long Haul?

September 7, 2021


Choosing a long-haul truck requires serious research, as it is a big decision. One of the most crucial things to know before choosing a truck for long-haul shipping is what kind of load you will be carrying. It's best to make sure that you can have choices for the best trucks for long hauling.

The truck that is best for the long haul depends on your preference. Some truck drivers want a comfortable and easy-to-drive truck, while others want a fuel-efficient truck and will save them money in the long run. The truth is, several trucks suit the specific needs of truckers.

These conditions and a range of others provide the trucker with the best truck suitable for that specific shipment.


What Kind of Truck is Long Haul?

A long-haul truck is one that can transport goods over hundreds or even thousands of miles. Drivers of this kind of truck truck and trailer combination of vehicles over long distances. Normally, they deliver livestocks, products, and materials.


What are the Factors to Consider in Choosing the Best Truck for Long Haul?

When considering a truck for long-haul shipping, the following things are important to consider:

  • Load size and weight. If you're hauling heavy loads or bulky cargo, then a long-haul tractor-trailer is your best option. It can carry heavier payloads than an average semi-truck. If you plan on carrying light loads, then a refrigerated semi-truck or standard tractor-trailer is best.

  • Vehicle make and model. You may not be familiar with all the options available so, it's important to do your research before choosing one for long hauling purposes. This will help you get the most bang for your buck. Look at the truck’s features, fuel efficiency, and cost.

  • Driver experience and skill level. The more experienced a driver is, the better idea they'll have of which truck to use for long-haul shipping purposes. A skilled driver knows what type of load will fit best into each kind of vehicle. Based on their knowledge, they’ll have an easier time choosing a truck that will save money on fuel or expenses and reduce the risk of damaging goods.

  • Number and size of trailers, if needed. Be sure to take into consideration your need for any extra equipment. For example, you may need a trailer mounted with an air compressor or hydraulic pump to lower the cost per mile on long-haul trips.

If you already know which long-haul truck you need, it’s time to choose the best company that makes them. Here are some companies that build the best trucks for your long-haul trucking.

Affordable Long Haul Delivery Truck

What Is The Best Freight Truck?

Here are the best freight trucks that you may consider:

1. Volvo

Volvo Trucks is one of the leading heavy truck and engine manufacturers in the world. Volvo trucking has been in the business of manufacturing heavy trucks for over 80 years.

They have a reputation as one of the best heavy haul tractor-trailer companies there is.

Volvo trucks also have a wide variety of heavy-duty truck types.

Their largest line is the Volvo FH series which can feature a variety of different powertrains.

Volvo also features the Volvo FM series, a medium-duty truck, and they also have the Volvo FE Series for heavy-duty haul trucks.

2. Kenworth

Kenworth is known to be one of the best trucking companies for the long haul.  The company has become well-known for its line of Kenworth T680 tractors.

The Kenworth T680 tractor is known for its use as a  long-haul truck. It is capable of carrying loads of up to 62,000 pounds on its trailer. It can go up to 14,000 miles without any type of engine maintenance. It is known as one of the most reliable trucks on the market today.

Kenworth is also well-known for the Kenworth T800, which has many improvements over previous models.

3. Freightliner Trucks

If you are looking for one of the best heavy haul trucking companies, which has been in the long haul game for over 100 years, then Freightliner Trucks is your best bet. 

Freightliner Heavy Haulers and Freightliners come with diesel engines. They have the highest fuel efficiency to reduce costs per mile on long-haul routes.

4. Dodge Ram Long-Hauler

Dodge has been manufacturing heavy-duty trucks since the 1920s. They are among the best heavy haul trucking companies in the long hauling world.

New models of their pickups and chassis cab came equipped with a 12-speed automatic transmission perfect for pulling a hot shot trailer.

The Dodge Ram Long-Hauler has an available Cummins diesel engine which makes them a good option for long-haulers.

There are also low emissions and fuel efficiency options that can be found on the newest models of the Dodge Ram trucks as well, making it friendly to drive around in one.

Best Day Cab Truck Brands for Long Haul

6. Paccar

Paccar products are known to be a good dealership network across North America. The driver’s seat is comfortable and the ride is smooth.

The PACCAR MX-13 engine on their heavy-duty trucks has a max payload of 87,000 pounds and can be found across the globe. It is a turbocharged, direct-injection engine that offers up to 13 percent fuel savings.

Paccar also has the Paccar MX-11 which can be found on their medium-duty trucks and cargo vans.

It features an 11000-pound max payload and will offer up to 12% in fuel savings.

7. International

If you are looking for the best heavy haul trucking companies that have been in the long haul game since 1917, then International should be your company of choice.

International has been in the long haul game for so long-haul that they have a variety of models. It includes the International 4900, which features an inline six-cylinder engine and offers up to 12% fuel savings. The newest model is called the International LoneStar Truck, with a payload capacity of 76,000 pounds.

The company's trucks are also known for their spacious cabins. They’re also a  good option for drivers with limited mobility because they have several accessible models to choose from.

8. Peterbilt

Since 1939,  Peterbilt has been manufacturing long haul trucks and they continue to put out world-class models to this day.

Peterbilts have a variety of different models, but they all offer up to 12% fuel savings and can carry loads of 65,000 pounds or more.

One example of their long-haul trucks is the Peterbilt 386. It features a Cummins ISB engine and an Allison 3000 series transmission.

The cabins are known to be spacious, but they also have options for drivers with limited mobility.

There are low emissions and fuel efficiency models on their best freight trucks that make them user-friendly as well!


 Conclusion

There are many factors to consider when deciding which truck is best for the long haul. You should ask yourself what you value most in a truck and then make your decision from there. For example, a smaller diesel-powered truck might be perfect if you want maximum fuel efficiency but don’t care about cargo capacity or horsepower.

If cost savings are more important than anything else to you (even at the sacrifice of other features), an older used semi-truck may suit your needs just fine.

Whatever work it will do on the highway over time depends on how well previous drivers maintained their engine before getting passed down to someone new like yourself! So take some time now asking questions.

About the author

I’m Luis Uribe, author of this website. I am the owner and head publisher for Trucker Daily and a freight brokerage Total Connection Logistics. I have been in and around the trucking industry for over 15 years. It is my mission with Trucker daily to equip truck drivers, with the latest in industry updates, news, and helpful tips to help further your trucking career and life. Whether you are a truck driving veteran, or beginner, you will find information on this site to save you a lot of time in your driving journey.

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