UPS has received the milestone 50,000th Paccar MX series engine installed in a Kenworth truck at a ceremony at Kenworth headquarters in Kirkland, Wash. 

The Paccar MX-13 engine was installed in a Kenworth T680 day cab that will serve UPS operations in the Seattle area. During the ceremony, Kenworth general manager Preston Feight presented a commemorative plaque to a UPS representative, with a large group of employees and trucking press on hand.

“Kenworth and UPS have an excellent relationship, and it’s great to recognize UPS with Kenworth’s 50,000th Paccar MX series engine,” said Feight.

UPS is a relatively new customer for Kenworth. The company purchased its first Kenworth truck with the Paccar MX engine from MHC Kenworth in 2012 and currently operates 1,000 Kenworth trucks with the Paccar MX.

Katie Guest of MHC Kenworth in Atlanta, who works with buyers in Atlanta's corporate office, said it was actually natural gas trucks that brought UPS to Kenworth in the first place. The company bought 48 of them from MHC in 2011. That transaction led to an expanded relationship and the purchase of diesel-powered trucks.

“Our Kenworth T680s with the Paccar MX engine are performing well in UPS operations throughout the United States,” said Bill Brentar, UPS director of maintenance and engineering for transportation equipment. “It’s certainly a nice honor to receive this milestone 50,000th Paccar engine in our new Kenworth T680.”

Paccar noted that, in total, it has produced 100,000 MX engines at its Columbus, Miss., engine plant for the North American market since it was opened in 2010.