Sterling Trucks Company Background and Timeline

Sterling Trucks Company was founded in 1905 by Frank P. Stanton in Shafter, California.

The company's early success was largely due to its innovative approach to truck design, which included the introduction of the first all-steel truck in 1917.

Sterling Trucks Company was acquired by Daimler AG in 1989.

The company's headquarters was later moved to Redford, Michigan, where it remained until its closure in 2009.

The Sterling Trucks company was founded in 1906 by William Sternberg as the Sternberg Motor Truck Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He later changed the company name to Sterling at the onset of World War I.

The original Sterling models offered were of cab-over design, in 1-, 1.5-, 3.5-, and 5-ton capacities. The company built many different heavy-duty trucks for commercial, construction, and military customers in the ensuing years.

Sterling sold 267 units in 1938 and increased to 326 trucks in 1939. The company was bought by White Motor Corporation on June 1, 1951, and the Sterling nameplate was retired about two years later.

The Sterling Trucks brand was revived in 1997 when Daimler-Benz bought the Ford Heavy Duty Truck Division.

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The Sternberg Motor Truck Company was founded in 1906 by William Sternberg in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was initially known as the Sternberg Motor Truck Company.

In 1907, the company changed its name to Sternberg/Sterling Motor Truck Company, which would later become known simply as Sterling. Early models offered were of cab-over design, in 1-, 1.5- 3.5- and 5-ton capacities.

The company changed its name to Sterling at the onset of World War I. This was likely due to anti-German sentiment at the time, as Sternberg was German.

Sterling built many different heavy-duty trucks for commercial, construction, and military customers in the ensuing years. The company sold 267 units in 1938 and increased to 326 trucks in 1939.

William Sternberg began the original Sterling Trucks Company in the beginning of the 1900s under his own name. He later changed the name to Sterling in 1916 due to anti-German sentiment during World War I.

The Sterling Trucks company made both medium and heavy-duty trucks. They also produced vehicles during World War II.

The company continued on in the business until the 1950s, when White Trucks bought them out in 1951 and called the new merger Sterling White.

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Sterling Trucks was revived in 1997 when Daimler-Benz bought the Ford Heavy Duty Truck Division.

Daimler-Benz purchased the assets of Ford Motor Company's Heavy Truck Division in 1997, and the Sterling brand name was resurrected the following year.

The new version of Sterling Trucks was made in Portland, Oregon, and was manufactured as a subsidiary of Daimler Trucks North America.

Sterling Trucks were made for a multitude of applications, including trucks for sanitation, dump trucks, and school bus chassis.

The trucks were made in Canada and sold in several places, including the U.S., Mexico, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia.

Sterling Trucks was doing well, making about 15 percent of the trucks being produced for the Daimler company during this timeframe.

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The Sterling L7500 Series was a versatile range of trucks that came in seven non-CDL weight ratings from 21,000 to 24,500 lbs.

These trucks were equipped with mid-range engines from Caterpillar, Cummins, and Mercedes-Benz, and had a 101” BBC. The L7500 Series was also available with single and tandem drive axles and GVW's up to 66,000 lbs.

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The Sterling L9500 Series, on the other hand, was built for vocational applications and came in several models with different BBC lengths, including 101”, 111”, 113”, and 122”. These trucks were usually equipped with heavier engines like the Caterpillar C13, C15, & C16 or the MBE 4000.

The Sterling SC Series was Sterling’s LCF competitor, available in Class 7 (Sterling SC7000) and Class 8 (Sterling SC8000), and exclusively powered by the Cummins ISB engine line.

Sterling's A-Line of set-back axle trucks debuted in 1999 and came in two flavors: the A9513 with a 113” BBC and the A9522 with a 122” BBC. These trucks were built with a dozen different engines from various manufacturers.

The Sterling Acterra line was created to fill the gap in Sterling's medium-duty truck line, and was essentially a "Frankenstein's monster" of a truck, with a Sterling cab and hood on a Freightliner Business Class 106” BBC chassis.

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The L9500 Series was built for vocational applications, making it a heavy-duty truck designed for tough jobs.

This series includes the L9501, L9511, L9513, and L9522 models, each with a different BBC (Bumper to Back of Cab) measurement: 101”, 111”, 113”, and 122” respectively.

The L9500 Series could be equipped with either set-forward or set-back axles, depending on the specific model.

Heavier engines like the Caterpillar C13, C15, and C16, or the MBE 4000, were usually used in the L9500 Series from 2000 forward.

The L9500 Series was only available as a Class 8 truck, making it a high-capacity vehicle designed for heavy-duty hauling.

The L9500 Series could be built with additional axles and frame rail configurations in the factory to meet the demands of its heavy-duty applications.

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The L7500 (L7501) Series was a versatile lineup that offered a range of weight ratings from 21,000 to 24,500 lbs.

These trucks could be built with engine horsepower up to 300, and were equipped with mid-range engines from Caterpillar, Cummins, and Mercedes-Benz.

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The L7500 Series was produced with both single and tandem drive axles, and had a GVW of up to 66,000 lbs.

The Sterling L7500 Series has a 101” BBC, which is a notable feature of this model.

The only official model produced was the L7501, but the technical model may be L7500.

The Sterling L8500 Series was the "big brother" to the Sterling L7500 Series, offered with three different BBCs: the L8501 (101” BBC), L8511 (111” BBC), and L8513 (113” BBC).

These trucks were designed as Class 98 trucks, but could be specced down to qualify as a Class 7.

The Sterling L8500 Series shared mid-range engine options with the L7500 Series, but could also be upgraded with larger big bore engines.

The Caterpillar C16 engine was an optional upgrade for the Sterling L8500 Series.

The Acterra M-Series was a line of medium-duty trucks created by Sterling Trucks to fill a gap in their product lineup. The M-Series was introduced in 2001 with the M5500, M6500, M7500, and M8500 models.

These trucks were built on a Freightliner Business Class 106" BBC chassis, which provided excellent maneuverability. The cab was also designed to be roughly 5" closer to the ground than comparable Sterling trucks.

The Acterra M-Series offered a range of engine options, including the Mercedes-Benz MBE900, Caterpillar 3126 and C7, and Cummins ISC, ISB59, ISB67, and ISC engines.

The Sterling Condor was a truck model announced at the 2000 Waste Expo.

It was designed for refuse use and could include the Caterpillar 3126, C10, or C12 engine, as well as the Cummins ISM, ISC, or ISL engine.

The Sterling Condor was a direct competitor to Mack Truck's market share.

Unfortunately, the Sterling Condor didn't sell very often and was discontinued in model year 2006.

The Condor also came with the MBE4000 engine, which was used until 2000.

It's possible that some 2008-10 model Condors are still out there, but if you see one, you'll need to check the VIN to confirm its authenticity.

The Sterling LC Car Hauler is a super-rare truck. Among the millions of VINs we have decoded and researched online, we’ve only found model years 2005 through 2007.

It wasn't manufactured after 2007 due to low production and emission requirements for EPA2007, which would have required more engineering effort.

This truck is designed to be a car hauler, requiring a lower than average suspension. This makes the cab height lower than most trucks.

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The SC Series was a line of trucks offered by Sterling, designed to compete with other Low Cab Forward (LCF) trucks like Isuzu, HINO, and the Mitsubishi FUSO.

These trucks were available in Class 7 and Class 8, with the Sterling SC7000 and SC8000 being the specific models in those classes.

The SC Series trucks were exclusively powered by the Cummins ISB engine line, which provided a reliable and efficient power source for these vehicles.

Sterling's SC Series trucks were a notable part of the company's lineup, offering a unique combination of features and capabilities that set them apart from other trucks in their class.

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The Bullet was a commercial vehicle intended for business use, not a traditional pickup truck. It never came with a pickup bed.

The Bullet was only available with a diesel engine, which was powered by the Cummins ISB6.7. This was a significant difference from other vehicles on the market.

A Dodge Ram equivalent could be purchased for less, making the Bullet a less attractive option for many buyers.

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Sterling Trucks has undergone many changes since its start.

The company has changed owners several times.

The Set-Forward axle L Line truck was designed for more efficient weight distribution and has a longer wheelbase.

It also features a lighter and more flexible hood that's aerodynamically shaped for better visibility.

The Acterra was a Class 5-7 truck with many straight truck applications, including flatbed and box truck options.

This midrange truck was very popular among truckers.