Popular American Truck Makes and Models
When it comes to light- to medium-duty work trucks built in the US, Ford and General Motors have a rivalry that dates back to more than a century ago, with generations of fiercely loyal truck enthusiasts on both sides. The competition officially started in 1911 when GM was established, and really got heated in the late 1920s when GM overtook Ford in sales by 1927. However, Ford fought back, and as of last year (2025), the Ford F-Series has enjoyed a 49-year reign as America’s best-selling commercial truck.
The great thing about competition in the marketplace is that it’s generally the consumers that benefit, with competitors trying to offer the best and newest technologies at a price point that keeps consumers coming back for more, year after year. So, what creates consumer loyalty to one brand or another? In many cases, personal choice. However, it also boils down to a buyer’s interpretation of things like towing and payload capacities, innovative engineering, and a range of powerplants to choose from. Durability is also a heavy element for truck owners who work hard in difficult environments. A vehicle needs to be able to hold its own along the way, providing years of service and value.
Without taking sides, we’re giving you a closer look at the best-selling trucks in America. If you’re in the market for a new or gently used truck, hopefully the information we provide here will give you some insight for making an intelligent decision on which vehicle is best for you and your needs. Or at least it could be a good starting point for your research.
Note: Some of the manufacturers listed are foreign-owned companies, but are not considered “foreign-made” because their headquarters and manufacturing plants are within the United States.
Light- And Medium-Duty Trucks
As previously mentioned, the Ford F-series of trucks have been a best seller in the US for nearly five decades. In 2025, unit sales topped 1 million, which is nearly twice as much as the next contender. The Ford name carries a lot of weight in trucking circles, a brand loyalty tradition that has been passed down for generations.
For some, there’s just no need to debate that Ford is best because “that’s just the way it is.” For others, offering innovations such as aluminum bodies—which significantly reduces vehicle weight, enhances fuel efficiency, increases towing/payload capacities, and boosts overall performance—is proof of a superior truck.
Additionally, Pro Power Onboard—Ford’s integrated, built-in generator that turns vehicles into mobile power sources and provides 120V and 240V power through outlets in the bed and cabin—goes a long way toward enticing both repeat and new enthusiasts. A turbocharged EcoBoost engine and hybrid options are also hard to ignore.
However, there are other American truck manufacturers that have a lot to offer and more to consider:
- Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra are two offerings from General Motors that are considered the main rivals of Ford F-Series trucks. Both are excellent vehicles with the Silverado 5500 gaining traction for its value and heavy-duty, work-ready capabilities, such as factory-installed Power Take-Off (PTO), a backup camera, 4G LTE Wi-Fi Hotspot, and specialized trailering mirrors.
- Ram Pickup, Dodge throws in their prize contender with the 1500 Heavy-Duty that includes the 3.0-liter Hurricane I6 engine. The Ram is well-liked for its comfort and provides plenty of technology that includes the Uconnect 5 System with a 12- or 14.5-inch touchscreen with 4G Wi-Fi hotspot, a 10.25-inch passenger screen, and Head-Up Display (HUD).
On the cargo van scene, Ford once again dominates with the Ford Transit, but the Ram ProMaster is also a key player for vocational, service, and delivery industries.
Heavy-Duty Trucks
When it comes to the big rigs, Freightliner Cascadia is the dominant name in American-built Class 8 trucks for long-haul and fleet operations. Other top contenders include:
In the Class 7 tier, Freightliner is the market leader with the M2 106 that is available as a straight truck or tractor and can support refuse collection, snow plowing, crane operation, and beverage delivery. Other popular 7s include:
- International MV Series are used for severe service, dump trucks, and regional haul applications.
- Kenworth T280/T380 and Peterbilt 535/536 are two PACCAR lines that are popular for their customizability.
- Ford F-650/F-750 are dominant in commercial service, construction, and beverage delivery fields.
- Mack MD Series has to be mentioned here because you can’t talk about dump trucks without including the Mack name. And while Mack’s MD series does include Class 8 vehicles, the Class 7s are excellent for tight urban spaces.
Marketplace Inventory
You Can’t Go Wrong
While brand loyalty is one thing, there are a lot of quality commercial vehicles out there from a variety of manufacturers. When you’re in the market for a truck, think about the attributes that are most important to you and concentrate on those. To help with your search, check out the largest online selection of new and used vehicles to choose from so you can review all the available options from American makers.
Barrett Baker
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