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Moreland Motor Truck Company

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Moreland Motor Truck Company
TypeTruck Company
IndustryManufacturing
Founded1911; 115 years ago (1911)
FounderWatt L. Moreland
Defunct1940; 86 years ago (1940)
HeadquartersBurbank, California, US
ProductsTrucks

The Moreland Motor Truck Company of Burbank, California, was originally located in Los Angeles. The Moreland trucks were sold worldwide.

History

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Moreland truck (1913)
Moreland 3t or 3,5 t (1911-1914)
Moreland truck (1914)
Moreland advertisement (1924)
Moreland Model AX (1922-1925)
Moreland bus chassis (1925)
Moreland truck (1925)
Moreland TX-6 (1926–1928)
Moreland HDS-6 (1929)
Moreland BD-7 (1930-1931)
Moreland BD-7 (1930-1931) B-Liner
Moreland plant

The Moreland Motor Truck Company started in Los Angeles in 1911. Moreland was an innovative company that produced 70% of its trucks on-site, they introduced the "Gasifier" in the early 1900s, which allowed gas engines to run on petroleum distillates, similar to kerosene. The trucks came with a one-year warranty, much better than the standard 90 day warranty of most truck companies at the time.[1][2] From 1911 to 1915, 1,200 trucks were produced.[3] By September 1915, 1,500 trucks had already been produced. [4]

In 1917 Watt Loren Moreland was planning to move his business to Alhambra, California. When Burbank city officials heard about this news they offered Moreland 25 acres (100,000 m2) of land free of cost, located on the corner of San Fernando Blvd. and Alameda Ave. The city of Burbank raised $25,000 to pay for the land, buildings were constructed and the truck company moved in, after which Moreland trucks carried the "Made in Burbank" label. The factory was still surrounded by acres of farms.[5]

Along with Kenworth, Kleiber, and Fageol, Moreland helped build the image of the "Western Truck". Early models consisted of 1 1/2, 3, 3 1/2, and 5 ton sizes, with larger models featuring chain drive and driver-over-engine cabs. Hercules and Continental engines were paired with Brown-Lipe-Chapin transmissions. The 6 ton model was the largest in production by 1924, and in that same year they created a 6-wheeler double-decker bus chassis with a 6-cylinder Continental engine, Westinghouse air brakes, Lockheed hydraulics, and a 60-passenger body. Due to the projected cost (and the assumed low sales volume), the bus was not produced, but the 6-wheeler concept continued on in 1925 with the TX6 truck. Powered by a Continental 14H engine, it featured an equalizing rocker bogie designed by Moreland which pivoted from the middle of semi-elliptic springs. The TX6 was 10-ton rated and sold for around $7,000, with a 6-ton version introduced later that year. The 6-wheeler vehicles led to increased sales both in the United States and from other countries in Central America and South America as well as the Philippines and Australia.[6]

Moreland also made trailers, commercial bodywork, smaller trucks such as the 4-wheeler Ace (3,800 lb, Continental engine) and the 4-ton Californian (Hercules engine). In 1929 the company had its best production year with almost 1,000 trucks, buses, and trailers delivered but less than 40 per year were sold by the mid-30s. Fageol and Moreland entered into talks of a merger in 1931 but nothing ever became of this. Moreland started to focus more on trailers and body work, with later trucks all being custom built. After 1941 the company became a parts & service corporation.[6]

The Moreland buildings were used by the Vega Aircraft Corporation in World War II, the Weston Biscuit Company bought the plant in 1947, and in 1970 it was purchased by the Menasco Motors Company to build landing gear. The original Moreland Truck Company buildings were demolished around 1999.[7][8]

Moreland products

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The pre-assigned serial numbers only indicate the maximum possible production quantity.

YearProduction figuresModelLoad capacitySerial number
1911to
1912to
1913to
1914 [9][10]59D0,75 to1001 to 1059
8514 B1,5 to1201 to 1234 and 1238 to 1288
10114 K2,5 to1401 to 1501
22G3 to1701 to 1722
2G3,5 to1723 to 1724
5G4 to1725 to 1729
12J5 to1901 to 1912
19153515D0,75 to2001 to 2035
6115B1,5 to2201 to 2261
7915C2,5 to2401 to 2479
4414G3,5 to1731 to 1735 and 2701 to 2739
J5 to2901 to
19162815 D0,75 to2036 to 2063
14N0,75 to2101 to 2111 and 2113 to 2115
23+16N0,75 to2122 to and 2116 to 2138
35NA1 to2065 to 2099
13816B1,5 to2262 to 2399
22016C2,5 to2480 to 2699
13116G4 to2740 to 2870
916J5 to2902 to 2910
19177317N1 to3001 to 3073
19917B1,5 to3201 to 3399
37017C2,5 to3401 to 3699 and 4401 to 4430 and 4450 to 4490
1,02617G4 to2871 to 2896 and 3701 to 3899 and 4730 to 4750
1716J5 to2911 to 2927
191817N1 to↑
17B1,5 to↑
17C2,5 to↑
17G4 to↑
16J5 to↑
1919 [11]1019-N[12]1 to5001 to 5010
15119-B[13]1,5 to4200 to 4350
20019-C[14]2,5 to4500 to 4699
10019-G[15]4 to4751 to 4850
2619-J5 to2928 to 2943 and 4901 to 4910
1920 [16][17]3920-N1 to5011 to 5049
19120-B1,5 to4351 to 4399 and 5201 to 5342
22420-C2,5 to5400 to 5623
12720-G4 to4851 to 4899 and 5700 to 5777
1320-J5 to4911 to 4923
192110321-B1,5 to6201 to 6303
12121-C2,5 to6401 to 6521
4621-H3,5 to6701 to 6746
1121-J5 to6901 to 6911
1922165Road Runner1 to7000 to 7164
124BX1,5 to7501 to 7624
64EX2 to8000 to 8063
160AX3 to9001 to 9160
120RX5 to10000 to 10119
1923 [18]147Road Runner [19]1 to7160 to 7306
181,25 to
184BX1,5 to7625 to 7808
103EX2 to8063 to 8165
270AX3 to9161 to 9430
182RX5 to10120 to 10301
192455RR1 to7307 to 7361
15BX1,5 to7809 to 7823
32EX2 to8166 to 8197
55EXX [20]2,5 to11001 to 11055
138AX3 to9431 to 9568
50AXX4 to12001 to 12050
87RX5 to10302 to 10388
10⟨RC⟩26 Ps Bus14001 to 14010
17⟨EC⟩21 Ps Bus15001 to 15017
15⟨AC⟩25 Ps Bus16001 to 16015
1925 [21]24RR1 to7375 to 7398
29BX1,5 to7826 to 7854
18EXX2,5 to11075 to 11092
31AX3 to9575 to 9605
51AXX4 to12075 to 12125
10RX5 to10400 to 10409
25RR1 to18501 to 18525
38BX (6)1,5 to19501 to 19538
EXX (6)2,5 to11501 to
18AXX (6)4 to12751 to 12768
11SX6 to13251 to 13261
24TX10 to13503 to 13526
4⟨RC⟩16 Ps bus14025 to 14028
⟨EC⟩21 Ps bus15025 to
192622RC61 to14551 to 14572
361RR61 to18551 to 18911
115BX61,5 to19551 to 19665
10EXX42,5 to11101 to 11110
11EXX62,5 to11515 to 11525
40AXX45 to12120 to 12159
90AXX65 to12770 to 12859
10SX46 to13265 to 13274
31SX66 to13760 to 13790
42TX410 to13530 to 13571
44TX610 to13665 to 13708
192710RC61 to14576 to 14585
475RR61 to21001 to 21475
105BX61,5 to19676 to 19780
75EXX62,5 to11526 to 11600
92AXX65 to12866 to 12957
16SX66 to13801 to 13816
20TX610 to13711 to 13720 and 13951 to 13960
Sum [22]793, (772 sold)
1928RC62 to14601 to
RR62 to21501 to
B62,5 to23001 to
E63,5 to24001 to
EX64 to24501 to
H65 to25001 to
HD66 to25501 to
SD610 to26001 to
TD610 to26501 to
Sum [23](778 sold)
1929Ace [24]1,25 to20011 to
RC62 to27001 to
RR62 to21740 to
B62,5 to23284 to
E63,5 to24041 to
EX64 to24561 to
ED66 to24755 to
H65 to25063 to
HDS68 to25530 to
SD610 to26027 to
TD610 to26520 to
1930ED-76 toto
BD-75 to
1931B-83 toto
BD-75 to
1932 [25]Road Runner RR-8 1,5 toto
Road Runner RR-10 2 toto
B-13 2,5-3,5 toto
B-16 4-4,5 toto
E-16 4-4,5 toto
E-19 5-5,5 toto
H-24 5,5-6,5 toto
1933toto
1934B-133 toto
1935toto
1936toto
1937toto
1938TA 420 CDtoto
1939TA 420 CDtoto
1940TA 420 CDtoto
1941TA 420 CDtoto

References

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  1. ↑ "Los Angeles Herald 5 February 1916 — California Digital Newspaper Collection". cdnc.ucr.edu.
  2. ↑ "Moreland trucks drove Burbank growth". Burbank Leader. February 4, 2004.
  3. ↑ "Moreland production". Westways v.07 yr.1915/16. 1915-01-01. Retrieved 2026-06-02.
  4. ↑ "Moreland production". Westways v.07 yr.1915/16. 1915-09-01. Retrieved 2026-06-02.
  5. ↑ "The Moreland Truck Company". wesclark.com.
  6. 1 2 "Coachbult.com - Moreland". coachbuilt.com.
  7. ↑ A History of Burbank (Burbank Unified School District, 1967)
  8. ↑ "Moreland Motor Truck Company, Burbank, approximately 1920". digital-collections.csun.edu.
  9. ↑ "Moreland Production 1914-1924". Branham automobile reference book, showing in illustrated form the location of motor and serial numbers on all passenger cars and trucks 1925. 1925-01-01. Retrieved 2026-07-04.
  10. ↑ "Moreland models 1914". Motor trucks of America ... c.1 v.2 1914. 1915-01-01. Retrieved 2026-07-04.
  11. ↑ "Moreland models 1919". Motor trucks of America ... c.1 v.6 1918 &suppl. 1919. 1920-01-01. Retrieved 2026-07-04.
  12. ↑ "Moreland 19N". Power wagon reference book 1919. 1920-01-01. Retrieved 2026-07-04.
  13. ↑ "Moreland 19B". Power wagon reference book 1919. 1920-01-01. Retrieved 2026-07-04.
  14. ↑ "Moreland 19C". Power wagon reference book 1919. 1920-01-01. Retrieved 2026-07-04.
  15. ↑ "Moreland 19G+19J". Power wagon reference book 1919. 1920-01-01. Retrieved 2026-07-04.
  16. ↑ "Moreland models 1920". Motor trucks of America ... c.1 v.8 1920. 1921-01-01. Retrieved 2026-07-04.
  17. ↑ "Moreland 5 to 1920". Motor trucks of America ... c.1 v.8 1920. 1921-01-01. Retrieved 2026-07-04.
  18. ↑ "Moreland Production 1923-1929". Branham automobile reference book, showing in illustrated form the location of motor and serial numbers on all passenger cars and trucks 1930. 1931-01-01. Retrieved 2026-07-04.
  19. ↑ "Moreland Model". Motor truck; the national authority of power haulage v.15 1924. 1924-01-01. Retrieved 2026-06-02.
  20. ↑ "Moreland Model EXX". Motor truck; the national authority of power haulage v.15 1924. 1924-12-01. Retrieved 2026-06-02.
  21. ↑ "Moreland models 1925". Motor truck; the national authority of power haulage v.16 1925. 1926-01-01. Retrieved 2026-07-04.
  22. ↑ "Moreland 1927". Motor west : Automotive trade leader in America's leading market v. 50 (May 1929-Apr. 1930). 1929-05-01. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
  23. ↑ "Moreland 1928". Motor west : Automotive trade leader in America's leading market v. 50 (May 1929-Apr. 1930). 1929-05-01. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
  24. ↑ "Moreland Ace". Commercial car journal and operation & maintenance v.37 1929 May-Aug. 1929-04-01. Retrieved 2026-07-11.
  25. ↑ "Moreland 1932". The Commercial car journal v.43 1932 Mar-Aug. 1932-03-01. Retrieved 2026-07-06.
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