Executive Viewpoint: 125 years of looking forward

125 years ago in 1900, the first vehicle to bear the Mack name rolled out of a workshop in Brooklyn, New York. It was a passenger bus that ultimately racked up one million miles of service. The first Mack truck followed in 1905, and the rest is history. The company, which came to be known as Mack Trucks, after founder Jack Mack and his brothers, was a leader in design and engineering from its earliest days.

It played a major role in the shift from horse power to horsepower and the modernization of America.

We've never stood still. Mack helped create the modern trucking industry through the introduction of many components that are still in common use today, including aluminum components, powered brakes and cab air suspension. Mack also pioneered the use of its own in-house systems, including being the first truck company to produce its own diesel engine. The hallmarks of the young and dynamic company were ruggedness, reliability and what was known as “balanced design.”

Mack's influence extends beyond our industry, representing the muscle and creativity of American industry in the 20th century. Mack even became part of the English language with the phrase “Built Like a Mack Truck,” which I’m proud to say is still commonly heard.

The world has not stood still since 1900. The trucking industry is now an absolutely critical component of the economy. And Mack's ability to innovate and provide leading products and services has become more important than ever.

Mack Connect is an excellent example of how our technology gives customers more control over their operations and costs through Mack's deep knowledge of how trucks are used. This puts actionable information at customers' fingertips through our connected systems.

The Mack MD shows how we are prepared to invest in new ways to meet customer needs or even new groups of customers. The medium-duty MD, introduced in 2020, was a near-instant success as an expansion beyond our traditional Class 8 range. Since then, we've introduced an exciting battery electric version, the MD Electric, and refreshed the MD Series with a larger cab and more driver-friendly amenities.

Our investments continued with a $14.5 million expansion of the Roanoke Valley Operations, where the MD and MD Electric are assembled, so we can meet the growing demand. We made the decision to insource our cab production with our purchase of the Kings Mountain Operations facilities in North Carolina. And we announced a new factory in Monterrey, Mexico, which will serve Mack's historically important Latin America and Export markets and provide more capacity to complement our Lehigh Valley Operations.

It’s clear we’re committed to making the investments needed to support Mack’s ambitious growth plans and to supporting our customers, now and in the future. You'll see more of that in 2025, as Mack launches the most exciting highway products in its history. Stay tuned.

Our company and our products have accomplished incredible things in the 125 years since we started in Brooklyn. The pace is not slowing down; if anything, we are increasing the cadence of change and the speed of progress for our customers. One hundred and twenty-five years may sound like a long time, but I know this company is just getting started.