When was the first truck made?

The first truck was invented by Gottlied Daimler, as part of the Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft truck range, in 1896 in Germany. Also credited for the invention of the motorcycle, handcar and fire-fighting pump, Daimler made the truck function on an engine rather than a drawbar and built it on iron-covered wooden wheels.

When it was first invented, the profitability of the truck as a means to transport goods was highly uncertain. While the value of the household car was seen as a means to personal freedom and was easily accepted in German society, the truck had a hard time finding a similar strata of popularity. By 1897, engineering feats had been made that lead to technological upgrades on the original truck, and over time, it garnered popularity.