One of the major concerns of industrialized nations is the transportation of raw material and manufactured goods from one point to another. Prior to the introduction of the truck, the primary means of transport were rail and water. These methods limited the locations that could be serviced by the transportation system. Clearly, waterways were arranged by nature, and their routes were difficult to alter. The rail system was limited by the expense of building rail lines, especially in undeveloped regions of the country.

When the automobile was introduced, industrialists quickly realized the advantages of using this technology to meet their transportation needs. Truck designs began to circulate in the market place in 1898, when the German company Daimler presented a vehicle in which the driving compartment was positioned over the engine, allowing more room for cargo in the back. Although this met the need for space, the vibrations from...