Kenworth, Peterbilt headline USA 250th truck tributes

A Kenworth T680 Featuring the TourAmerica commemorative paint scheme. (Kenworth Truck Co.)

Kenworth Truck Co. has brought back a piece of its 1990s design history as trucking companies have prepared rolling red, white and blue tributes to the United States’ 250th birthday.

Peterbilt Motors Co., PacLease, Mack Trucks, XPO, New World Van Lines and A.N. Webber also have introduced commemorative designs, ranging from a limited-production Model 589 to rental fleet graphics and trailers built at XPO’s Searcy, Ark., manufacturing facility.

Kenworth revives TourAmerica look

Kenworth’s special-edition paint scheme was created for the Freedom 250 initiative, a nationwide effort tied to the country’s 250th birthday and the spirit of American trucking.

The design draws from Kenworth’s mid-1990s TourAmerica T600 paint scheme but has been updated for current production. The truck maker said the refreshed look is available to order on T680, W900L, W990 and T880 models equipped with sleepers.

“This paint scheme is a nod to an important era in Kenworth’s legacy,” said Kevin Haygood, Kenworth’s assistant general manager for sales and marketing. “The original TourAmerica T600 represented innovation and pride for drivers across the country. Bringing that design forward for today’s models allows us to honor that history as we celebrate our nation’s 250th birthday.”

Kenworth also contributed a T680 with a 76-inch integral sleeper to the Freedom 250 Tour, which will use a fleet of mobile museums known as “Freedom Trucks.” The trailers are scheduled to travel the United States in 2026 with educational exhibits for students, families and communities.

Peterbilt limits Model 589 edition to 250 units

Peterbilt marked the milestone with the Freedom 250 Special Edition Model 589, a limited-production truck capped at 250 units.

The truck includes a three-color paint scheme with Freedom Red and Freedom Blue metallic paint, Stars & Stripes sleeper badging, Freedom 250 etched exhaust guards and a Texas square bumper. Inside, Peterbilt is offering Sandstone or Alpine Gray Platinum trim levels, black leather seats embroidered with the Freedom 250 logo and a commemorative dash badge.

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The Peterbilt Freedom 250 Special Edition Model 589. (Peterbilt Motors Co.)

“The Freedom 250 Special Edition Model 589 is a tribute to the resilience and greatness of our nation and to the hardworking men and women who keep America moving every day,” said Erik Johnson, Peterbilt assistant general manager for sales and marketing.

Peterbilt said the special-edition Model 589 is available through authorized Peterbilt dealerships. The company also is selling Freedom 250 merchandise at shoppeterbilt.com.

The first Freedom 250 Peterbilt 589 has officially rolled off the line and is headed for Washington, D.C! There is no better way to celebrate 250 years of freedom than in signature Peterbilt style.#Peterbilt #PeterbiltTrucks #PeterbiltPride #Peterbilt589 #ClassPays #Freedom250 pic.twitter.com/PoKvBdBZ99 — Peterbilt Motors Co. (@PeterbiltMotors) June 19, 2026

PacLease adds graphics to rental fleet

PacLease added Freedom 250 graphics to new U.S.-based rental trucks, including box trucks and day cabs entering service at company stores and participating franchises.

The red, white and blue designs include PacLease branding and the Freedom 250 logo, which the company said was inspired by the Betsy Ross flag and its 13 stars representing the original colonies.

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PacLease's red, white and blue designs include PacLease branding and the Freedom 250 logo. (PacLease)

“We are excited to announce the new graphics package design in honor of America’s 250th anniversary,” said Michelle Harry, Paccar Leasing’s marketing and service director. “We want to celebrate with the rest of the industry — other companies will be doing similar projects. Our rental trucks allow us to showcase the pride we have in America.”

Harry noted that Kenworth’s roots date to 1923, Peterbilt was founded in 1939 and PacLease has leased and rented those brands for 46 years.

Mack showcases America 250 tribute truck

Mack Trucks celebrated the birthday with a limited-edition America 250 tribute truck, a custom-wrapped Mack Pioneer highlighting the company’s American roots.

The design features a large eagle-and-flag treatment running along both sides of the truck, creating the appearance of the American flag in motion. The themes “250 Years of Freedom” and “America 250” are displayed prominently as part of the design.

The truck is scheduled to be displayed throughout July at Mack’s world headquarters in Greensboro, N.C., where it is visible from Interstate 40 and accessible to visitors.

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Mack's America 250 tribute truck will be displayed at the company's headquarters in Greensboro, N.C., throughout July and will be visible from Interstate 40. Visitors are welcome to take close-up photos of the truck. (Mack Trucks)

Mack also introduced a patriotic background option in its online Truck Builder tool, allowing customers to view custom builds for several Mack models against a red, white and blue backdrop.

In a related effort, Mack wrapped three Mack Pioneer models for NASCAR Salutes, an annual campaign honoring the U.S. armed forces, veterans and their families. The fan-voted red, white and blue design features emblems of all six military branches. The trucks debuted at Charlotte Motor Speedway during the Coca-Cola 600 on Memorial Day weekend and is in active service throughout the remainder of the NASCAR season.

The Mack Pioneer looked incredible at @CLTMotorSpdwy for the #CocaCola600. 🏁 Thank you to all the fans who voted for this special wrap and helped us salute our U.S. Armed Forces this Memorial Day weekend. 🇺🇸 #NASCARSalutes pic.twitter.com/wE5bXaeEmz — Mack Trucks (@MackTrucks) May 26, 2026

XPO rolls out patriotic trailers

XPO applied its tribute to trailers rather than tractors.

The freight transportation company unveiled a fleet of trailers with American flag-inspired branding. The trailers were built at XPO’s manufacturing facility in Searcy and will be moved across the country by company drivers, including military veterans and drivers with more than 1 million consecutive safe driving miles.

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XPO's special trailers are being hauled across the country by company drivers, including military veterans and drivers with more than 1 million consecutive safe driving miles. (XPO)

“The trucking industry is the backbone of the American economy,” said Mario Harik, chairman and CEO of XPO. “As we approach the nation’s 250th anniversary, we’re proud to recognize the drivers and freight transportation professionals who help deliver the goods we all depend on every day. These trailers are a tribute to their hard work and dedication to keeping America moving.”

XPO said it has produced more than 100,000 trailers at the Searcy facility since it opened in 1994 and moves 16 billion pounds of freight annually.

Greenwich, Conn.-based XPO ranks No. 5 on the Transport Topics Top 100 list of the largest for-hire carriers in North America.

New World Van Lines recalls 1976 tribute

New World Van Lines celebrated the USA's birthday with wrapped equipment, drawing inspiration from a similar company effort for the nation’s bicentennial.

David Marx, president of the Chicago-based moving company, said New World did this in 1976 when his parents were in charge.

Marx said this year, the company has wrapped two trailers and two straight trucks for the commemoration.

A.N. Webber adds 'Liberty Truck' tribute

Kankakee, Ill.-based A.N. Webber added a commemorative truck to its fleet with the “Liberty Truck,” a 2027 Volvo VNL860 dedicated to the nation's birthday.

The company said the truck will be dedicated July 4 and was built at Volvo’s New River Valley plant in Dublin, Va. The design features images and symbols tied to American history, including Emanuel Leutze’s “Washington Crossing the Delaware” painting, the Statue of Liberty, Mount Rushmore and the preamble to the U.S. Constitution.

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A.N. Webber truck displays "Washington Crossing the Delaware," Emanuel Leutze's famous painting. (A.N. Webber)

Those elements are connected by red, white and blue America250 branding. A.N. Webber said it worked with Fast Lane Graphix in Chebanse, Ill., on the design.

The company said the truck will travel across the United States as a rolling tribute to the people, events and generations that helped shape the country.

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