Of all the truck manufacturers still in operation today, Mack Trucks is the oldest. Founded in 1900 by the Mack brothers, this company has gone on to make the most iconic trademark in the industry – The Bulldog. There is no doubt that you are looking at a Mack truck since every one of them has the Bulldog mounted on the hood.

Today, Mack Trucks is most well known for being the rugged and severe duty champion of trucks, but they also are the industry leader in the refuse industry. Mack also makes the traditional over-the-road long-haul trucks, along with others. We will cover the last 30-ish years of truck models from Mack Trucks.

Mack Anthem

Introduced in the model year 2018, the Mack Anthem is Mack’s long-haul truck of choice. For diesel-powered equipment, the Mack Anthem is only available with the Mack MP8 (13.0 Liter) or the Mack MP7 (10.8 Liter) engine. When Mack introduced the Mack Anthem, they had just a 2% market share, significantly behind industry leader Freightliner Cascadia. Mack also has their own transmission, the mDrive, which you’ll find in most Mack Anthem trucks. The truck is available in multiple configurations, including day cab, 48″ flat top sleeper, & 70″ high roof sleeper.

Mack CH & CHN Series

In 1988 Mack Trucks introduced the world to the Mach CH series, which replaced the older R model. The Mack CH series released for more rugged applications. It had a set-forward axle and setback axle configurations, although most trucks came with the set forward. You can find them in day cab configurations or with bodies mounted on the frame rails, such as dump trucks. They are distinguishable by their more “square” front hood with a slight curve or a slightly rounded front end in the setback axle configuration.

The CH series ran up through 2005 when the CHN series replaced it. The “N” suffix means it has a Volvo frame. The CH & CHN series were only available with the Mack E7 engine. The CHN series ran from 2005 through the model year 2007.

Mack Trucks CL Series

The Mack CL Series and the CH Series with a setback axle look almost identical. The CH was built on its own frame, while the Mack CL Series is the CH cab but with a longer front hood (Roughly 10″ longer on the CL vs. the CH). The CL series could also be built with heavier frame rails and axle configurations. In a sense, it was the rugged version of the two trucks.

The Mack CL series could also handle larger engines due to the larger hood size. This meant you could find it with a Cummins ISX or the Mack E7 engine.

Mack Granite

The Mack Granite was first available in 2001 and still exists today. This highly customizable truck took the place of the CH, CHN, and CL series trucks. You’ll see this truck under dump trucks, mixer trucks, and all kinds of rugged applications. The number of the frame rail, suspension, and axle configurations is almost endless – Set back axles, set forward axles, dual steer, pusher axles, tag axles, and everything in between is all customizable when ordering a Mack Granite truck. Mack has combined this with its latest technology, including in-cab touchscreens, advanced driver assists systems (ADAS), and all of today’s latest technology with LED lights and wiring.

The Mack Granite also has submodel codes, such as CV513, GU713, and more. This table explains what these codes mean.

Mack Low Cab Forwards (LE, LEU, & LR) – Normal Use

The Mack LE, Mack LR & Mack LEU series trucks first came into the market in the 1990s as the LE. They both use the same cab, so it is tough to tell them apart. The vehicles came out in the following years:

• 1994 – Mack LE
• 2009 – Mack LEU
• 2016 – Mack LR

The Mack MP7 powers the trucks if running diesel, but the Cummins ISL and ISM can also be found. There are also a few CNG-powered Mack LEU and LR trucks built with the Cummins-Westport-designed engine. The trucks are used in Low Cab Forward (LCF) design and are primarily used in the refuse market.

These trucks are unique because the driver can operate the vehicle standing up, there are both right-hand and left-hand driving options and even a dual driving operation to let two people drive the vehicle.

Mack MR, MRU, & TerraPro Series

For customers needing an even larger LCF model, the MR & MRU series is it. The tagline is “The toughest cab-overs in the industry,” and they mean it. These are typically for very heavy refuse or concrete pumping trucks. These trucks have a shorter cab than the “L” series, which means they have superior maneuverability. They also have a slimmer cab and the tallest forward glass area in the industry. The larger design allows the vehicle to have more engine options, such as the Mack MP7, Mack MP8, Cummins Westport L9N, and other engines. 

The TerraPro officially replaced the Mack MR series, but the TerraPro name has described these trucks for many years.

The dates of the first production are as follows:

• Mack MR = 1996-2008
• Mack MRU = 2008-2018
• Mack TerraPro = 2019

While the cabs are identical on the MR and MRU, there are slight differences between the models. The first is that the MR and MRU have different grills and headlight assemblies.

Other differences include the following:

• The MR’s accelerator and brake are bolted to the floor. The MRU mounts to the firewall and hanging.
• The MR has a more “industrial” interior dash. The MRU is more ergonomic.
• The MR has a large and skinny steering wheel. The MRU has a thicker steering wheel, and its diameter is smaller.
• The MR has a parking brake installed near the driver’s right elbow (if a left hand drives the vehicle). The MRU mounts on the dash.
• The MR has no cupholders; the MRU does.

Mack MD Series

Fresh for the model year 2021, Mack released the MD Series, which pushed Mack back into the medium-duty truck market for the first time in over 20 years. The previous model was called the Mid-Liner. Due to COVID, the truck’s launch experienced a nine-month delay. This truck can come as a Class 6 or a Class 7, but it only has one engine option since Mack doesn’t make a medium-duty diesel – The Cummins B6.7. Mack took a strong influence from the design of the Anthem when building the MD Series, which you can see if you compare the MD Series with the Anthem.

Mack Pinnacle

While the Mack Anthem has the aerodynamic qualities, the Mack Pinnacle is more the “classic look.” The Pinnacle’s design is for both on-highway and off-highway use, and it is only available for the Mack MP7 or MP8 engines. The Mack Pinnacle first came out in 2007 and is still in production today. Mack has a reputation as a vocational-only company, and the Pinnacle is the company’s attempt to broaden past vocational use cases.

Mack Titan

The Mack Titan came out first in the model year 2010 and was only available with one engine – The Mack MP10, which was the 16.1 Liter engine. This gave the vehicle 600 HP, and the truck needed it. This truck became positioned as the truck you required for the most rugged and severe operations. That includes uses such as mining operations and logging. The truck was also available to order with a 42″ sleeper if needed. The Titan was Mack’s answer for the heavy haul industry. Sadly, the Mack Titan discontinued after the model year 2006, which probably had something to do with the emission year changes and the larger engines no longer available.

Mack Vision

Released for the model year 1999, the Mack Vision would eventually get replaced by the Mack Pinnacle. Like most Mack trucks, the Mack Vision was only available with the Mack E7 12.0 liter engine. This truck was mainly used in vocational applications, as you could order it in either a truck (no 5th wheel) or tractor (with 5th wheel) configuration. The truck had a setback axle, and although you could order with raised roof sleepers, it was more common to see it in day cab and regional sleeper configurations. 

Summary

We realize that we aren’t perfect, and although we do our best research, we can mess up. If you disagree with any data or facts, let us know! We also love hearing our customer’s stories and thoughts about the various Mack Truck models produced over the last 30 years, so make sure to leave a comment!

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