CHILLICOTHE, Ohio – The Kenworth factory in Chillicothe, Ohio rolled its 500,000 truck off the assembly line, with the milestone truck – a Kenworth T680 76-inch mid-roof sleeper with a Paccar MX-13 455-hp engine – presented to Melton Truck Lines during a Feb. 23 ceremony.

“Melton Truck Lines is an outstanding company that takes excellent care of its customers and drivers,” said Preston Feight, Kenworth general manager and Paccar vice-president. “Melton has supported its high standards by adding more than 500 reliable and comfortable Kenworth T680s to its fleet in the past two years, with 400 more to come in 2016. We very much appreciate Melton’s confidence in the T680, and we value our strong partnership.”

The event included the presentation of a commemorative plaque and keys to the new truck to Melton Truck Lines’ chairman and CEO Bob Peterson and his wife Cindy.

“The Kenworth T680 provides our fleet with exceptional fuel economy, reliability and driver comfort and helps us grow our business and provide dependable service,” Bob said. “We truly value our partnership with Kenworth and MHC Kenworth. It’s an honour to be selected to receive the 500,000th Kenworth truck produced by the great employees here at the Chillicothe plant.”

The truck is specified with the Eaton Fuller Advantage, a 10-speed automated transmission, Kenworth TruckTech+ and driver comfort features, including the T680’s drawer-style refrigerator and freezer, TV installation package, liftable lower bunk and stowable folding upper bunk.

The Chillicothe factory opened in 1974 and earned recognition as Quality magazine’s Plant of the Year in the large plant category of over 250 employees in 2006.

“This 500,000th truck milestone is a tribute to the excellent tradition of building quality, dependable, hard-working Kenworth trucks which began at Chillicothe with the first truck in 1974 and continues to this day,” said Judy McTigue, Kenworth Chillicothe plant manager.