PACCAR Inc. / Peterbilt Motors Company – Asbestos Product Reference

Company History

PACCAR Inc. is an American multinational corporation headquartered in Bellevue, Washington, best known for manufacturing heavy-duty commercial trucks under the Kenworth and Peterbilt brand names. Peterbilt Motors Company, operating as a division of PACCAR, has produced Class 6 through Class 8 trucks from its manufacturing facilities for decades, establishing itself as one of the dominant names in American commercial trucking.

Peterbilt trucks were — and remain — workhorses of American industry. During the mid-twentieth century, Peterbilt vehicles were found on construction sites, in logging operations, at refineries and chemical plants, in long-haul freight, and across virtually every sector of the American economy that depended on heavy cargo transport. This widespread industrial presence meant that mechanics, fleet maintenance workers, and drivers who serviced these vehicles did so across an enormous range of occupational settings.

According to publicly available records and asbestos litigation history, PACCAR and its Peterbilt division manufactured and sold trucks that incorporated asbestos-containing components as standard equipment through approximately the early 1980s, when regulatory pressure and growing awareness of asbestos health hazards prompted a broader transition away from asbestos-containing materials across the automotive and trucking industries.

Asbestos-Containing Products

Peterbilt trucks, like virtually all heavy commercial vehicles manufactured in the United States from the 1940s through the late 1970s, were assembled using components that incorporated asbestos as a standard engineering material. Asbestos was prized in automotive and heavy truck applications for its heat resistance, friction stability, and durability under the extreme mechanical stress that commercial vehicles routinely generate.

According to asbestos litigation records, Peterbilt trucks were assembled with multiple asbestos-containing component categories, including but not limited to:

Brake Linings and Brake Assemblies Heavy commercial trucks rely on large drum brake systems capable of stopping significant loads. Plaintiffs alleged that Peterbilt vehicles were equipped with asbestos-containing brake linings as original equipment. Brake linings in Class 8 trucks typically contained chrysotile asbestos at concentrations well above levels now associated with health risk. Servicing, grinding, and replacing these linings generated respirable asbestos dust.

Clutch Facings and Clutch Components Court filings document allegations that Peterbilt trucks incorporated asbestos-containing clutch facings in their drivetrain assemblies. Manual transmissions in heavy trucks subject clutch components to intense friction and heat, conditions for which asbestos-containing materials were considered the industry standard through the 1970s. Replacement and inspection of clutch assemblies released asbestos fibers into the breathing zone of mechanics performing the work.

Gaskets and Engine Sealing Components Plaintiffs alleged that various asbestos-containing gaskets were used throughout Peterbilt truck engines and exhaust systems, including head gaskets, manifold gaskets, and exhaust system seals. These components were exposed to high temperatures and required periodic replacement, during which workers cut, scraped, and removed degraded gasket material — activities known to release asbestos fibers.

Heat and Vibration Insulation According to asbestos litigation records, cab insulation, firewall materials, and heat shielding used in Peterbilt truck construction during the relevant period may have incorporated asbestos-containing insulating materials consistent with industry practice at the time. These materials could become friable over the life of a vehicle, particularly during maintenance work involving cab disassembly.

It is important to note that many asbestos-containing components installed in Peterbilt trucks were manufactured by third-party suppliers — including brake, clutch, and gasket manufacturers who are separately documented in asbestos litigation. The truck manufacturer assembled vehicles using these components as standard equipment. Court filings document that plaintiffs have pursued claims against both vehicle manufacturers and component suppliers in connection with asbestos exposure from commercial truck maintenance and operation.

Occupational Exposure

The workers most frequently identified in asbestos litigation involving Peterbilt trucks are those who performed hands-on mechanical service and maintenance over extended periods. According to asbestos litigation records, exposed occupational groups have included:

Fleet Mechanics and Diesel Technicians Workers employed in trucking company maintenance yards, independent diesel repair shops, and dealership service centers performed brake jobs, clutch replacements, and engine overhauls on Peterbilt trucks as a routine part of their work. Brake work on heavy trucks — which involves blowing out brake drums with compressed air, grinding worn linings, and handling replacement materials — was identified in court filings as a particularly high-exposure task. A single mechanic performing brake service on multiple Class 8 trucks daily over years or decades accumulated significant potential exposure.

Owner-Operators Long-haul owner-operators who maintained their own Peterbilt trucks were frequently identified in litigation as individuals who performed their own brake, clutch, and engine work, sometimes without the ventilation controls or respiratory protection available in commercial shop environments.

Dealership Service Personnel Mechanics employed by Peterbilt dealerships performed warranty work, rebuilds, and service on new and used vehicles. According to asbestos litigation records, this work involved regular contact with brake and clutch systems during the decades when asbestos-containing components were standard equipment.

Parts Countermen and Warehouse Workers Workers who handled, stocked, and distributed asbestos-containing replacement parts — including brake linings, clutch facings, and gasket sets — were identified in court filings as having potential secondary exposure through handling of packaged asbestos-containing components.

Bystander and Secondary Exposure Workers in adjacent bays, supervisors, and others present in truck service environments during brake and clutch work may have been exposed to asbestos fibers that became airborne and were not contained to the immediate work area.

The diseases most commonly associated with occupational asbestos exposure — mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer, and pleural disease — carry long latency periods, typically ranging from 20 to 50 years between initial exposure and clinical diagnosis. Workers who serviced Peterbilt trucks during the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s may only now be receiving diagnoses related to those exposures.

PACCAR Inc. / Peterbilt Motors Company is a Tier 2 entity for purposes of this reference: the company has been named in asbestos personal injury litigation, but has not established a dedicated asbestos bankruptcy trust fund.

According to asbestos litigation records, PACCAR and Peterbilt have been named as defendants in asbestos personal injury and wrongful death actions filed by workers — primarily mechanics and diesel technicians — who alleged exposure to asbestos-containing components in Peterbilt trucks. Plaintiffs alleged that PACCAR and Peterbilt knew or should have known that asbestos-containing components posed health risks to those who serviced their vehicles, and that adequate warnings were not provided.

Court filings document that these claims have proceeded through civil litigation in various jurisdictions. Because PACCAR did not enter asbestos bankruptcy proceedings, there is no separately administered trust fund accepting claims against this entity. Individuals seeking compensation for asbestos-related disease connected to Peterbilt truck exposure must pursue claims through the active civil court system rather than through a trust claims process.

It should also be noted that litigation arising from Peterbilt truck exposure frequently involves multiple defendants. Component manufacturers — including brake lining manufacturers, clutch manufacturers, and gasket suppliers — have been named alongside vehicle manufacturers in many such cases. A number of those component suppliers have established asbestos bankruptcy trusts that may accept claims from individuals exposed to their products in the context of commercial truck service work, regardless of which vehicle the components were installed in.

If you or a family member developed mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis, or another asbestos-related disease after working on or around Peterbilt trucks — particularly in brake, clutch, or engine service work — the following options may be relevant:

  • Civil litigation against PACCAR / Peterbilt: Because no asbestos bankruptcy trust exists for this entity, claims must be filed through the civil court system. An attorney experienced in asbestos litigation can evaluate whether PACCAR or Peterbilt is an appropriate defendant based on your specific exposure history.

  • Trust fund claims against component manufacturers: Many suppliers who manufactured the brake linings, clutch facings, gaskets, and insulation installed in Peterbilt trucks have established asbestos bankruptcy trusts. Depending on the specific products and manufacturers involved in your exposure, trust fund claims may be available in addition to or alongside civil litigation.

  • Documentation of exposure: Employment records, dealership service records, work orders, union records, and co-worker testimony have all been used in litigation to establish exposure history involving commercial truck service. An asbestos litigation attorney can assist in identifying and preserving relevant documentation.

Asbestos-related diseases are serious, and legal claims are subject to statutes of limitations that vary by jurisdiction and disease type. Workers and families researching exposure history involving Peterbilt trucks are encouraged to consult with an attorney experienced in asbestos personal injury claims as early as possible.