End of a Kenworth Era

If you've spent any real time behind the wheel, you've seen a Kenworth W900. You know the truck — tall stacks, long nose, classic styling, eating up the interstate with a trailer in tow. It’s been a part of the American highway for more than six decades. But now, Kenworth has announced the news no truck driver wanted to hear: the legendary W900 is being discontinued in 2026.

Yeah, it’s a gut punch.

Kenworth is pulling the plug on the W900, along with the T800W and C500, because of tightening emissions regulations and parts supply issues. While there's no mention of electric trucks (yet), it's clear that modern standards are forcing one of the most iconic rigs off the production line.

Kevin Haygood, Kenworth’s assistant GM for sales and marketing, summed it up:“The W900 is truly historic in that it’s helped shape North American trucking culture and tradition as we know it today. Often seen at truck shows, featured in movies and on TV, and shown at other events, it’s an iconic truck that’s cherished for its classic styling by our customers and truck aficionados. While production of these trucks is coming to an end, we look forward to seeing them on our roads and at truck shows for many years to come.”

There’s no doubt about that. From truck shows to the silver screen, the W900 has been the pride of the highway. Think back to the black and gold Kenworth in Smokey and the Bandit — while most folks dreamed about the Trans Am, many truck drivers knew the real hero was Jerry Reed’s W900.

Since its debut in 1963, the W900 has been a symbol of strength and endurance. Early models were powered by roaring CAT and Detroit Diesel engines, sometimes shifting with twin-stick transmissions, which was a real badge of honor for old-school drivers. Today’s W900s usually run Cummins X15s under the hood — proof that the W900 evolved but always stayed true to its roots.

It’s not all doom and gloom, though. Even though Kenworth is ending production, it doesn’t mean these trucks are disappearing anytime soon. Kenworth has built so many W900s over the years that we’ll be seeing them on highways, at truck shows, and in logging yards for years to come.

If you’ve ever dreamed of owning a new W900 straight from the factory, now’s your chance. Kenworth will keep taking orders through late 2025.

Cheers to a true legend!