This list of the 10 worst trucks ever built, is according to ‘Dave’ of Smart Trucking along with a team of other truck drivers, who drove back in the ’70’s.

You know, every truck on the road has fans.
But these trucks?

They have survivors.

This list wasn’t created by engineers, marketing departments, or nostalgia collectors.

It was built from hundreds of driver comments, truck-stop conversations, shop stories, and hard lessons learned the expensive way.

Some were ugly.
Some were unreliable.
Some nearly put drivers out of business.

Here are the 10 dogs, followed by a few dishonourable mentions that drivers still argue about.

1. MaxxForce-Powered Internationals

• Constant forced regens that never seemed to end
• Derates that showed up at the worst possible time
• Overheating problems nobody could permanently fix
• Emissions systems that drained bank accounts fast

2. The GMC General

• Their build quality felt rushed and unfinished
• The dealer networks that didn’t know how to support the truck or FIX IT!
• Maintenance that turned into a full-time job
• GM quietly backed away from Class 8 altogether after this dog

3. Peterbilt 372

• A wedge-shaped nose on the truck that drivers never warmed up to
• Visibility quirks that took confidence away. It was ugly.
• Awkward access when it came time to work on it.
• The fuel mileage was pretty decent, although the truck didn’t impress.

4. Freightliner Argosy

• Engine options that always felt underpowered
• A cab that was loud, tight, and cold in winter
• Long days made even longer by poor ergonomics
• A design that just never fit North American freight hauling

5. GMC Astro

• A spring ride that punished and beat up drivers every mile
• Short wheelbase handling that felt twitchy and unstable
• Components loosening up from constant vibration
• Electrical issues followed the excessive shake, rattle and rolling.

6. Kenworth T2000

• Interior plastics that aged fast and poorly. Didn’t take long for the interior to look like junk.
• A cab that was never very solid.
• Visibility complaints drivers never stopped talking about.
• Yea, it was a Kenworth, but it didn’t have the Kenworth spirit

7. Peterbilt 587

• Electrical gremlins would appear without warning frequently
• Emissions systems that caused more headaches than fuel savings
• Fit and finish issues drivers constantly complained about.
• Too many of these trucks turned out to be lemons.

8. International ProStar

• An interior built for economy, not to last
• Emissions problems that piled up fast.
• Cold-weather performance that made bad days a whole lot worse
• A truck that drivers tolerated, but just never loved.

9. GMC / Volvo (WhiteGMC Era)

• Build quality that never inspired confidence in the truck.
• Engineering choices that confused the hell out of techs and drivers.
• Reliability problems that followed them for years.
• A brand identity that felt completely lost and confused.

10. Mack Cruiseliner

• 5 gears that made hills feel like they were mountains
• Power that never matched the Mack name
• Sluggish performance even when empty
• Nasty nicknames that stuck for a reason eg. SnoozeLiner

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Dishonourable Mentions

(Still dogs, but just missed the Top 10)

• Peterbilt 367, produced plenty of lemons
• GMC Brigadier, a truck most drivers wanted to forget (“Looked great. Rode like hell.”)
• Ford L8000 / L9000, loaded with vibration nightmares (“Cool truck, if you didn’t have to drive it.”)
• F-Model Mack, a legendary look, but brutal ergonomics.