The rumors of the beloved Kenworth W900’s demise have not been greatly exaggerated. They were spot on, according to a March 19 press release from Kenworth, which is owned by Paccar. This news was expected as Kenworth had sent a letter to dealers in February.
In addition to sunsetting the W900 (both W900L and W900B models), the Kirkland, Washington-based OEM is ending the prodigious run of its other legacy 1.9-meter cab Class 8 trucks in 2026, the T800W (wide-hood) and the C500. The final period to order these classily beautiful semis will be announced later this year. Contact your dealer for more info.
The reasoning was tighter emissions regulations and “component constraints as the industry moves forward with new, more efficient, and better integrated technologies and products,” Kenworth stated.
The discounting of these trucks leaves a massive hole in the market.
“We know these legacy Kenworth models are an integral part of our history here at Kenworth, which makes this decision a difficult but necessary one as we enter the next era of trucking,” said Kevin Haygood, Kenworth’s assistant general manager for sales and marketing. “As we transition to future products, we remain committed to honoring the spirit of these iconic trucks by delivering innovation, efficiency, and the same level of craftsmanship that our customers and drivers have trusted for generations.”
W900 Series
The W900 was introduced in 1963, and “is one of the most iconic trucks in North America’s trucking history, known for its classic long hood, conventional design, rugged durability, and driver-focused comfort and style.”
To many, the 1974 W900A that appeared in the film “Smokey and the Bandit” was what made them fall in love with trucking.
“The W900 is truly historic in that it’s helped shape North American trucking culture and tradition as we know it today,” Haygood noted.
But it wasn’t just for sneaking the “Banquet of beers” past Sheriff Buford T. Justice. As Kenworth described, the W900’s “versatility and customizable platform made it a reliable choice for long-haul, heavy-haul, logging, dump, and other vocational and on-highway applications,” Kenworth stated.
While the production of new W900s is ending, Haygood did note the classic design will be seen “on our roads and at truck shows for many years to come.”
T800
The T800 was introduced in 1986 for the vocational market and the T800W has "remained a favorite among operators in heavy-haul and off-road applications and is built to accommodate large engines with increased cooling capacity and rugged components,” Kenworth said. “The tried-and-true toughness of the T800W has made it ideal for specialized heavy-haul, oilfield work, logging, and other demanding jobs.”
C500
The C500 came out in 1972 and Kenworth stated its “one of the toughest and most rugged vocational trucks ever built,” operating where no other truck could. It could offer a gross combination weight rating of up to 1 million lbs. in specialty heavy-haul applications, the OEM said.
It earned its tough reputation on oilfields, logging forests, and mines across North America.
