America’s Love Affair: Why Do We Love Trucks So Much?
There’s nothing that screams “AMERICA” quite like a strong pickup truck hauling a load of lumber. But pickup truck ownership in America isn’t limited to just farmers, ranchers, loggers, or construction workers. Many Americans who choose a truck as their daily driver never come close to hauling more than a couch. What’s America’s obsession with the pickup truck and where did it come from?
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To really get to the meat of the issue (because meat=American), we need to look at the advent of the pickup truck. Before trucks existed, farmers had to use horses and wagons to move their stuff. These wagons didn’t have a very large payload, and horses are slow. So when trucks came on the market, farmers realized they could work harder, faster, and for longer, and trucks quickly became widespread across rural America.
From there, trucks became synonymous with good, old-fashioned, American-style hard work and country values. And other drivers who didn’t have a physical need for a truck made the switch from sedan to pickup. Gas prices were low, and owning a gas guzzler wasn’t a big deal.
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Even as emissions standards became stricter in the 1990s and beyond, trucks were somewhat immune to the new regulations. Trucks became more luxurious and spacious, making them ideal family vehicles as well as workhorses. Basic trucks with vinyl seats still existed for those who needed them, but a new class of premium truck emerged and enticed even more Americans into becoming pickup truck owners.
Today, trucks are more popular than ever before. We hear about them in country music songs and see them on TV and on the road every day. In fact, they are so popular that Chevrolet conducted a survey of truck drivers and gathered some interesting information. For instance, did you know that the most popular name for a truck is Betsy? The study also found that 38 percent of respondents thought owning a pickup truck made them more attractive, and that 60 percent said they could not live without their pickup truck.
If that’s not love, we don’t know what is!
The News Wheel is a digital auto magazine providing readers with a fresh perspective on the latest car news. We’re located in the heart of America (Dayton, Ohio) and our goal is to deliver an entertaining and informative perspective on what’s trending in the automotive world. See more articles from The News Wheel.