It doesn’t matter if you prefer fuel or electric powered vehicles because this is only part of a larger question, says our pundit. In fact, both are just part of a much bigger question: “What do you want your truck to do for you?”
By Jeremy Woolward
Gone are the days where one would say that “horsepower is king”.
It seems rather bold and maybe a bit presumptive, but it’s not wrong. Horsepower alone doesn’t define what makes a truck work in 2026. Instead, it’s only a part of a much bigger equation. In days gone by, one could define a truck by how much power it had, its wheel and tire size, towing capacity, and fuel economy. And the rule was, the more, the better. That worked for previous generations, but just as other vehicles have evolved in the marketplace, the world of personal and commercial trucks is also following suit. And while horsepower is not the only consideration, the argument of whether fuel or electric powered vehicles is also not the only viable argument out there. In fact, both are just part of a much bigger question: “What do you want your truck to do for you?”
Seldom a question used in the trucking world, it’s really a solid question that makes sense to ask. And once you find your answer, you can identify what truck fits your needs. However, where is one to start asking and looking? I have a few suggestions that might help you.
Let’s start with how the truck is powered. While gasoline and diesel are not going away anytime soon, the conversation is becoming much more nuanced. The big thing to take away is that electrification is becoming more practical than it was before. It’s important to consider the effect that fuel savings and lower-emission technologies will have on your bottom line (aka: your wallet), yet also consider flexibility, range confidence, and a reduction in operational compromises.
This is the role that hybrids and range-extended trucks play and why they are becoming more popular than before. They are the transitionary tool that people will use from going from full internal combustion to full electric, and manufacturers have taken notice of it. The middle ground is a much easier place to work from, and it’s a more accurate depiction of what’s going on in the world today. As examples, one can look at the strategy employed by Ram and their range-extended pickups while also looking at the hybrid success demonstrated by Ford.
This doesn’t mean that full EV is going the way of the dinosaur; it’s that it’s becoming more specialized and more specific. Instead of a bludgeon, it’s more of a scalpel, and targeted to specific demographics. Electric pickups are being framed as premium, high-tech, high-utility machines. As such, they are also more high-end priced. They’re not for everybody, but for those who can afford to maximize their productivity, they can be quite useful. An example is the Chevrolet 2026 Silverado EV. It’s a beast of a vehicle with serious power, range, towing, and exportable energy. Gone are the days of saying “it can run without gasoline”, but rather, “Take a look at what it can do and see the versatility it offers, without relying on an internal combustion engine.” Fuel types are the low hanging fruit; vehicle potential, specs, and performance features are what should be driving the conversation.
In the commercial trucking space, it’s important to note that where you can control your routes, your charging stations, and duty cycles, EV adoption will continue, but not in the same capacity or style as on the consumer end. When you cannot control those variables, companies are going to look at a different approach to powering the next generation of commercial trucks.
Another way trucks are going to grow in 2026 and beyond is not only are they powered by energy, but they also become a source of energy, and that instantly changes a conversation. Remember back in the early years of smartphone development when Apple and Samsung would compete against each other for the best device, longest battery, and maximum efficiency? It was an intense time in that market, and when smartphone accessory makers decided to create portable battery packs to keep people’s smartphones going when they couldn’t charge them regularly, it became a huge boom as it allowed people to stay connected. That trend continues in that market. Guess what? Now, with strides made by some manufacturers, your truck can do the exact same thing; keep you going when you need it the most. In trucking, that is referred to as exportable power, and it’s a major selling point. Ford pushes its Pro Power Onboard in their F-150 models. Chevrolet is making the case for offboard power in the Silverado EV. They sure won’t be alone for long, and the consumer is the one that’s going to win out. Imagine contractors, mobile techs, rural users, emergency response personnel, among others, leveraging that technology. It’s going to transform how people relate to their vehicle and it redefines “utility” in a way that nobody expected it would. Like your iPhone or Android device, your truck will keep your work going, will keep you connected to the world around you, and more. This is tangible, and probably the most important thing to consider. It’s real. Even truck agnostics who don’t know what horsepower or power train, or other jargon, mean, they can see what the truck can do, and the potential that exists. Those companies that can leverage that vision with their product are going to win out in the end.
On the commercial side, it’s not about the glitz or glamour. It’s another conversation entirely. It’s about efficiency and about to work smarter, not harder. Given the state of the world shifting in a way none would have expected in recent weeks, this couldn’t be more relevant to the commercial truck fleets out there. When fuel prices are jumping to highs not seen in many years, things like aerodynamic improvements, fuel savings, predictive maintenance tools, and connected service platforms are much more important than redesigns, flashy gimmicks, or trendy consumer features. Going back to the analogy of the smartphone, if consumer pickups are the iPhone and Android devices of the trucking world, then commercial trucks are looking at for those models to serve as the Blackberry of trucks, minus the trend to irrelevancy that plagued the first smartphone giant. An example is Volvo and their redesigned VNL. The company is building its message and branding around meaningful fuel efficiency gains as well as connected service improvements. This is critical, especially when margins are tight, fuel prices are skyrocketing, and budgets are monitored / scrutinized. You don’t want surprises in this area, and you don’t want surprises in unexpected maintenance bills. While it’s great to have a pickup that can do everything and be everything, sometimes companies need a truck to be a truck, and in this instance, that’s where being efficient is critical.
So all that is said, is there more to consider? Absolutely. The truck is only half the purchase decision. The other half is what makes up its “brain and brawn”. Software, for better or worse, has become a part of our everyday life, and in trucks, it’s no exception. Telematics, remote diagnostics, AI-assisted video, and software-driven maintenance are part of the solution and the value proposition that these vehicles bring. People as well as companies want real-time information on their vehicle. They want to know how the vehicle is performing, when it needs to be serviced, want to see fuel efficiency, and more. And the more any truck can provide this data, the greater its value and worth to the market. Manufacturers understand this and they are trying to push it to the end user for the best price point possible. Yes, it means that the base price might go up, but when you can treat a vehicle as a true investment, it suddenly numbs the argument that “it’s too expensive”. Yes, assets depreciate over time, but even as the base price may depreciate, the value is what it can provide over the course of its lifetime. If, over a lifetime period of a truck, you end up saving tens of thousands between fuel trips, maintenance, and repairs, does it really matter if the truck price drops year over year?
This also ties into the safety component of vehicles. A variable that the public cannot directly control is the cost of insurance. When each jurisdiction handles it differently, there is potential for crossed wires and mixed messages. Manufacturers are trying to make the most of it and streamline the truck’s performance to address some of these concerns. Collision mitigation technology, driver assistance systems, emergency braking performance…these are just some of the examples that buyers, regulators, insurance, and fleet operators are looking at. Each wants these data points for very different reasons. On the consumer side, these technologies are taking huge leaps forward to match efforts on the commercial end while the commercial end is looking towards more intervention capable systems that can coach, correct, and prevent incidents from occurring long before they do. Safety is no longer an afterthought; like power and efficiency, safety in trucks in 2026 is part of the overall conversation.
To summarize, the truck market in 2026 and beyond is not going to be defined by one singular issue. The issues, questions, and responses are just as diverse as ever, and it’s going to take a prudent person or company time and effort to navigate these topics and come back to the fundamental question asked earlier, “what can my truck do for me”? Once you know what you want it to do, you consider its power, potential, and safety factors, and then go forth and explore a market just waiting to serve you. Like a custom suit, not one truck will satisfy two people the same. You must look, gauge the product for its merits, and truly go beyond the horsepower to find what you want today. But once you do, I’m sure you’ll feel emboldened and satisfied with your investment.