Canada’s truck industry is a blend of global automakers and homegrown specialists. On one end of the industry are high-volume assembly facilities turning out full-size vehicles; on the other are companies building fire apparatus and armoured vehicles. While these companies might not be Canadian-owned, by manufacturing or assembling trucks in Canada, they support Canadian jobs and the economy.
In this guide, we have highlighted companies operating within the truck industry in Canada.
Truck Companies in Canada
Chevrolet (General Motors) 🍁
Manufacturing Location: Oshawa, Ontario
Where To Buy: Chevrolet dealers across Canada
Key Details:
- Manufactures LD and HD Silverados in Canada
- Reopened in 2021
Having been shut down for three years, General Motors reopened its Oshawa Assembly plant in 2021. GM Oshawa builds light and heavy-duty Chevrolet Silverado pickups. It is the only GM plant that builds both vehicles at the same facility and has earned considerable recognition for its quality. GM announced a C$280 million investment in its Oshawa facility in 2023, which will support the production of internal combustion engine full-size trucks.
PACCAR Sainte-Thérèse 🍁
Manufacturing Location: Sainte-Thérèse, Québec
Where To Buy: Kenworth & Peterbilt dealers in Canada and the US
Key Details:
- Medium-duty trucks
- Canadian production with exports
PACCAR opened its rebuilt Sainte-Thérèse plant in 1999, which marked a major investment in Canada’s truck manufacturing sector. The company builds its Kenworth and Peterbilt light and medium-duty trucks in Sainte-Thérèse for the Canadian and US markets. The Sainte-Thérèse facility is known for its advanced automation and environmental efficiency. The plant is a large employer in the area, with over 1,000 employees, and while it is not a Canadian company, it contributes significantly to the Canadian economy.
Hino Motors Canada 🍁
Manufacturing Location: Woodstock, Ontario
Where To Buy: Dealers across Canada
Key Details:
- Canadian assembly in Woodstock
- Domestic component sourcing, where possible
Hino Motors Canada is a subsidiary of Toyota Motor Corporation. It has been assembling medium-duty trucks in Woodstock, Ontario, since 2006. The facility, which employs approximately 400 workers, produces several models of Hino trucks for the North American market. Hino’s Canadian facility contributes to domestic supply chains by sourcing components in Canada wherever possible. Their trucks made in Woodstock are known for their reliability, efficiency, and lower emissions, and are tailored for Canadian and North American drivers.
BrightDrop Zevo (General Motors) 🍁
Manufacturing Location: Ingersoll, Ontario
Where To Buy: Fleet sales and dealerships
Key Details:
- Large-scale EV delivery van plant
- First EV van produced in 2022
General Motors operates Canada’s first large-scale EV delivery van manufacturing facility in Ingersoll, Ontario. Following a complete retooling of the CAMI facility, the first BrightDrop Zevo 600 was completed in December 2022. With BrightDrop, GM is on a mission to make delivering goods and services more efficient, smarter, and environmentally friendly. The Ingersoll-built electric vans play a key role in GM’s transition to a more electric-powered future.
Fort Garry Fire Trucks 🍁
Manufacturing Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Where To Buy: National dealer network
Key Details:
- Canadian-owned and operated
- Canada’s largest fire apparatus builder
Fort Garry Fire Trucks is a Canadian company that has been designing and manufacturing fire trucks in Winnipeg, MB, since 1919. It is the largest fire apparatus manufacturer in Canada, producing not just fire and rescue trucks but also pumpers, aerials, and tankers. Being a Canadian manufacturer, Fort Garry custom-engineers trucks for extreme climates, and their over a century-long history showcases Canadian expertise in speciality truck building.
Camions Carl Thibault 🍁
Manufacturing Location: Pierreville, Québec
Where To Buy: Direct
Key Details:
- A family company
- Full range of fire trucks
Carl Thibault is another Canadian fire truck manufacturer with a long history; its roots go back to the early 20th century. They produce both standard and custom fire trucks, pumpers, tankers, rescues, and ladders at their facility in Pierreville. The company builds its trucks, from body fabrication to finishing, all at the same plant, just as it has for over a century. In addition to manufacturing, the company provides exceptional after-sales service, including repairs and refurbishment.
Roshel 🍁
Manufacturing Location: Brampton, Ontario
Where To Buy: Government contracts; direct corporate sales
Key Details:
- Canadian-owned
- Leading manufacturer of armoured trucks
Roshel is a Canadian-owned company based in Brampton, Ontario, that has grown into North America’s leading armoured vehicle manufacturer. Their fleet includes armoured trucks and tactical vehicles, which are built on commercial truck chassis. Roshel’s vehicles have been deployed domestically and abroad, and the company has scaled production significantly since 2018.
