Kenworth® Semi-Truck Dealer in IN, OH, KY, & IL
Drive excellence with Kenworth® semi-trucks, where industry-leading innovation meets legendary reliability. Elevate your fleet with cutting-edge technology, superior craftsmanship, and a performance legacy. Check out our financing options today at our IN, OH, KY, & IL dealerships! A Brief History of Kenworth® Truck Company
For nearly a century now, Kenworth has been one of the most reliable names in the field of medium- and heavy-duty trucks. You’ll see their vehicles used by a number of different industries for shipping and transporting goods and machinery. This all-American giant had rather humble beginnings, though. Palmer Trucks, with 13 locations throughout four states, is proud to be your local Kenworth truck dealer. Here’s a little background information about this industry leader and how they came to be a household name.
The Gerlinger Brothers
In 1912, brothers George and Louis Gerlinger, Jr., were the proprietors of Gerlinger Motor Car Works located in the city of Portland, Oregon, where they sold a variety of cars and trucks by different brands. However, a few years into this venture, the Gerlinger brothers wanted to forge their own path by creating their own trucks with more powerful engines than any contemporaneous trucks had.
Their Gerlinger Motor Company moved north to Tacoma, Washington, in 1916, where two businessmen became intrigued in the burgeoning field of truck production. Captain Frederick Kent and Edgar K. Worthington purchased the company from the Gerlinger brothers the very next year. Kent’s son, Harry Kent, took over for him following his 1919 retirement, and after a few years of growth, the men rechristened their business as Kenworth in 1923, drawing the company name from each of their surnames.
Becoming “The World’s Best®”
After Kent and Worth established the company headquarters in Seattle, the first Kenworth trucks rolled off assembly lines. The company produced 80 trucks in 1924, then grew significantly over the next few years. Customizability became a hallmark of Kenworth trucks, allowing drivers to get exactly what they need from their vehicles.
Harry Kent took over as company president and opened a new factory by 1929. While the Great Depression had a significant impact on many businesses, Kenworth included, they managed to weather the economic downturn without closing down shop. Kenworth started to manufacture fire trucks because their customization capabilities allowed them to tailor each vehicle to its individual fire department’s requirements.
Diesel engines became standard on Kenworth trucks during the mid-1930s, when they also introduced the first sleeper cabs to make life more comfortable for drivers who were constantly on the road, meeting the increased demand for high-volume shipping. During World War II, Kenworth produced M-1 “wreckers” which were six-wheeled behemoths designed specifically for combat use.
Kenworth was purchased by Pacific Car and Foundry in 1944, and they use the post-war boom to further increase their production. Another factory is opened in Seattle in 1946 to meet demand, which is then followed by the opening of a factory in Kansas City during the early 1960s, as well as a factory in Chillicothe, Ohio, in 1974.
Some of the enterprises that have made use of Kenworth trucks include logging in the Pacific Northwest, oil fields in the Middle East, sugar plantations in Hawaii and exploration in the Yukon. The company’s commitment to innovation is reflected in the increasing spaciousness of their designs, which became more aerodynamic and fuel-efficient over the course of the 20th century and into the 21st century. Kenworth rolled out their millionth truck in 2014 and they show no signs of slowing down.
Think it’s time you invested in a Kenworth yourself? Visit one of our 13 locations to check out our current stock of new and used Kenworth trucks for sale. Palmer Trucks proudly serves the states of Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and Illinois.