The Daimler Motor-Lastwagen has the honor of being the first truck ever made. Created by inventor Gottlieb Daimler in 1896 in Germany, the Motor-Lastwagen was designed to support tremendous weight.
In many ways, the truck was meant to replace the traditional horse-drawn wagon as the primary mode of transporting goods across long distances.
If you’re curious to learn more about trucks, why they’re made, and more, read on.
The first truck ever made is called the Daimler Motor-Lastwagen. It was invented by Gottlieb Daimler in 1896 in Germany ten years after the creation of the world’s first automobile.
The truck was based on the design of a horse-drawn wagon that was reappropriated to become an automotive vehicle.
The Daimler Motor-Lastwagen used a four-horsepower two-cylinder four-stroke “Phoenix” engine, which allowed it to reach a top speed of a little over 7 mph. The truck was approximately 4.5 meters long and 1.5 meters wide with a maximum load capacity of roughly 3,300 lbs.
The first truck ever made came from the mind of German inventor Gottlieb Daimler, and the company he founded, Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft, is the brand responsible for creating the world’s first truck.
Daimler, and by extension Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft, also invented the world’s first motorcycle and the world’s first taxi.
If you’ve ever stopped to wonder what exactly makes a truck a truck, think about the different types of four-wheeled vehicles you see every day.
Sedans, SUVs, and trucks are the most common vehicles you’ll see on the road. While all are capable of carrying passengers, it’s clear that some were created to perform specific purposes.
Trucks were optimized to have as big a maximum payload capacity as possible, making them highly effective at hauling heavy cargo and transporting numerous passengers.
For a vehicle to be classified as a truck, it must also have a cargo bed that’s separated from the passenger cab area.
Pickup trucks are one of the most common truck types because they’re great for everyday activities like going to work. Pickups are also especially useful when you need their towing capabilities or their cargo space.
For example, if you’re moving houses and need to haul heavy furniture, you can place it in the back of a pickup truck. Similarly, if you’re going on a trip and want to bring a bicycle or a small boat, you can fit it in the cargo bed.
While cars were created with the convenience of passengers in mind, trucks were built to carry cargo.
The first truck emulated the horse-drawn wagons used to carry crates and other heavy objects from place to place. The big difference is trucks don’t need to rely on beasts of burden to tow their cargo.
Trucks are popular daily drivers and off-roading companions because they offer the following advantages:
Because trucks are designed to support as much weight as possible, it’s no surprise that they’re exceptional at carrying lots of cargo without breaking down.
More often than not, any vehicle with a high maximum load capacity also has excellent towing capabilities. Trucks are good at supporting cargo in the cargo bay or hauling it in an external towing platform or trailer.
Trucks need to be very powerful to carry or tow heavy cargo. Because of this, the engines installed in trucks have significantly more horsepower than smaller vehicles like sedans.
The more horsepower a vehicle has, the faster it can go with heavy loads. If a truck doesn’t have enough horsepower, it won’t be able to support the weight of its load.
Optimizing for carrying heavy cargo gives trucks the following drawbacks:
Because trucks are large, heavy, and carry a lot of cargo, they consume a lot more fuel than other vehicles. The heavier a vehicle is, the more fuel the engine uses because it needs more power to keep the wheels turning.
Another downside to driving trucks is that their weight and size make them difficult to drive.
Truck drivers often complain about handling and how they feel significantly harder to maneuver and turn compared to smaller vehicles. The vehicles’ large dimensions also mean drivers will need to adapt and adjust to taking up more space on the road.
Parking also becomes incredibly difficult, as will maneuvering your way down narrow roads and tight spaces.
Last but not least, trucks are designed to haul cargo. It doesn’t mean they’re incapable of supporting passengers, but they won’t offer as much room as a van or an SUV.
Trucks sacrifice passenger space for cargo space. At most, you’ll be able to support 2-3 passengers with a standard truck, but pickup trucks can support up to 5-6 people.
The first American truck ever made was the Ford Model TT, which rocked a chassis designed to support heavier loads. The Ford Model TT rolled out in 1917, less than a decade after the creation of the original Ford Model T in 1908.
There have been many debates over when the first pickup truck was made. Some argue that the Daimler Motor-Lastwagen in 1896 was the first pickup truck, while others argue that it does not qualify.
It’s also arguable that the first conventional pickup truck was the 1925 Model T Roadster, made in 1925 by Henry Ford.
For those of you wondering what the first monster truck ever made was, the honor goes to Bigfoot — a colossal truck with supersized wheels created by American off-road enthusiast Bob Chandler.
Bigfoot was created in 1975 by modifying a Ford F-250 so extensively that it could drive around with four 66-inch tire wheels.
Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.