NAICS 336120 Quarterly Industry Report
Heavy Duty Truck Manufacturing
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 336120Sector: 33Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This Fair Market Value industry report for NAICS 336120 draws on verified data from the U.S. Census Bureau[5], Bureau of Labor Statistics[6], and the Small Business Administration[7]. Our research team compiles establishment counts, employment data, and SBA eligibility criteria specific to heavy duty truck manufacturing. Reports are updated quarterly to reflect new Census releases and regulatory changes.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the heavy duty truck manufacturing industry.
Industry Definition & Overview
Heavy Duty Truck Manufacturing (NAICS 336120) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing or assembling complete heavy duty trucks, truck tractors, and bus chassis with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) above 14,000 pounds. Products include Class 6, 7, and 8 commercial trucks, over-the-road tractor units for semi-trailer hauling, refuse collection chassis, concrete mixer trucks, and bus chassis for transit and school bus applications. The U.S. Census Bureau[5] classifies this industry under motor vehicle manufacturing.
Roughly 178 active businesses employ an estimated 47,500 workers in this industry. Class 8 trucks dominate production volume, with build rates closely tracking freight transportation demand and fleet replacement cycles. Major manufacturers include Daimler Truck North America (Freightliner, Western Star), PACCAR (Kenworth, Peterbilt), Navistar (International), and Volvo Trucks (Mack). Production operates on a build-to-order model; fleet operators and owner-operators specify engine, transmission, axle, and cab configurations from extensive option lists.
Assembly processes differ from light vehicle production. Heavy truck plants use fixed-station or slow-moving conveyor assembly rather than the high-speed moving lines common in automobile manufacturing. Chassis frames arrive from frame rail suppliers, with axles, suspensions, engines, and transmissions installed at sequential stations. Cab fabrication involves steel stamping, welding, painting, and trim installation as a parallel process. The shift toward zero-emission heavy trucks has introduced battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell powertrains, requiring manufacturers to establish parallel assembly capabilities for electric drive systems alongside conventional diesel configurations. Federal emissions regulations under EPA and CARB standards continue to drive powertrain technology investment across the industry.
What's Included in This Industry
- Class 8 tractor truck assembly and manufacturing
- Class 6 and 7 medium-heavy truck production
- Bus chassis manufacturing for transit and school applications
- Refuse truck chassis and body production
- Concrete mixer truck manufacturing
- Heavy duty cab fabrication and assembly
- Truck chassis frame assembly operations
- Battery-electric heavy truck assembly
- Vocational truck manufacturing for specialized applications
- Heavy duty military vehicle chassis production
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Subsector | Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | 336 |
| Industry Group | Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | 3361 |
| NAICS Industry | Heavy Duty Truck Manufacturing | 33612 |
| National Industry | Heavy Duty Truck Manufacturing | 336120 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 336110 | Automobile and Light Duty Motor Vehicle Manufacturing | Manufactures automobiles and light duty vehicles below 14,000 pounds GVWR rather than the heavy duty trucks and tractor units above 14,000 pounds produced here |
| 336211 | Motor Vehicle Body Manufacturing | Produces truck bodies and cabs that mount onto chassis rather than the complete heavy duty truck assemblies with integrated cab and chassis manufactured in this industry |
| 336310 | Motor Vehicle Gasoline Engine and Engine Parts Manufacturing | Manufactures diesel and gasoline engines supplied as powertrain components rather than the complete heavy duty vehicles assembled in this classification |
| 336340 | Motor Vehicle Brake System Manufacturing | Produces motor vehicle brake systems installed during heavy truck assembly rather than the complete truck and chassis produced in this manufacturing classification |
| 336350 | Motor Vehicle Transmission and Power Train Parts Manufacturing | Manufactures motor vehicle power transmission equipment including transmissions and axles installed as components during heavy truck assembly operations here |
| 336999 | All Other Transportation Equipment Manufacturing | Produces other transportation equipment not classified elsewhere, distinguished from the specific heavy duty truck manufacturing activities covered by this dedicated code |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Michigan | 13.4% | 9 |
| 2 | California | 11.9% | 8 |
| 3 | Ohio | 10.4% | 7 |
| 4 | Florida | 10.4% | 7 |
| 5 | Washington | 6.0% | 4 |
| 6 | Minnesota | 6.0% | 4 |
| 7 | Alabama | 6.0% | 4 |
| 8 | North Carolina | 4.5% | 3 |
| 9 | Virginia | 4.5% | 3 |
| 10 | Pennsylvania | 4.5% | 3 |
% Of Establishments
0%
13%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
16
Total SBA Loans
$2.8M
Total Loan Volume
$175K
Average Loan Size
18 yrs
Average Loan Term
9.75%
Average Interest Rate
192
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: The SBA[7] sets the size standard for NAICS 336120 at 1,500 employees. Firms below this threshold qualify for small business set-aside contracts and SBA-backed lending programs. Federal procurement includes medium and heavy trucks for military logistics, refuse collection vehicles for military bases, and bus chassis for federal transit grant recipients. The SBA's contracting programs[8] support smaller truck builders pursuing Defense Logistics Agency and General Services Administration vehicle contracts. Eligible businesses can access SBA 7(a) loans[9] for working capital, equipment, and acquisition financing, while 504 loans[10] support major fixed-asset purchases including real estate and heavy machinery.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newtek Bank, National Association | 8 | $2.0M | $250K |
| 2 | Zions Bank, A Division of | 8 | $800K | $100K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What types of businesses are classified under NAICS 336120?
Manufacturers of heavy duty trucks above 14,000 pounds GVWR classify here. Products include Class 8 tractor trucks, Class 6-7 medium-heavy trucks, bus chassis, refuse truck chassis, concrete mixer trucks, and vocational vehicles per the Census Bureau[5] classification.
How is the heavy duty truck manufacturing industry structured?
Roughly 178 businesses employ an estimated 47,500 workers per Census data[11]. Four major manufacturers dominate Class 8 production: Daimler Truck (Freightliner), PACCAR (Kenworth, Peterbilt), Navistar (International), and Volvo Trucks (Mack). Smaller firms serve specialty vocational and military vehicle segments.
What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 336120?
The SBA[7] sets the threshold at 1,500 employees. Businesses with fewer than 1,500 average employees qualify as small for federal contracting preferences and SBA-backed financing programs including 7(a) and 504 loans.
What NAICS codes are related to heavy duty truck manufacturing?
Related codes include 336110 (Light Duty Vehicles), 336211 (Vehicle Bodies), 336310 (Engines), 336340 (Brake Systems), 336350 (Transmissions), and 336999 (Other Transportation Equipment). Each covers specific component or vehicle categories distinct from complete heavy duty truck assembly.
What industries interact with heavy truck manufacturers?
Freight carriers, engine manufacturers, truck dealers, body manufacturers, and battery producers interact most directly. Long-haul trucking companies drive Class 8 tractor demand while municipal and private waste haulers, construction companies, and transit agencies purchase vocational and bus chassis configurations.
What activities are included in NAICS 336120?
Activities include assembling heavy duty truck chassis from frame rails and axle components, fabricating and painting truck cabs, installing diesel and alternative fuel engines, mounting transmissions and driveline components, assembling battery-electric truck powertrains, performing end-of-line testing, and producing military heavy vehicle chassis for defense applications.
Can heavy duty truck manufacturers qualify for SBA loans?
Yes, firms below 1,500 employees qualify for SBA lending programs[8] including 7(a) and 504 loans. Assembly line tooling, cab welding fixtures, paint booth systems, and chassis dynamometer test equipment represent capital investments suited to SBA 504 equipment financing.
Where are heavy duty truck manufacturers concentrated?
Assembly plants concentrate in the Midwest and Southeast, with major facilities in North Carolina, Ohio, Indiana, Texas, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Plants locate near major freight corridors and commercial vehicle dealer networks. Build-to-order production requires proximity to engine, transmission, and axle suppliers for coordinated delivery of customer-specified powertrain configurations to assembly stations.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [5]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [6]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [7]Small Business Administration sba.gov
- [8]SBA's contracting programs sba.gov
- [9]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [10]504 loans sba.gov
- [11]Census data naicslist.com
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