From Ice Road Truckers to Shipping Wars, trucking companies seem to be a new, popular source of reality television entertainment. And now, if you’ve ever wondered how your truck was manufactured, the National Geographic Channel’s Ultimate Factories has just the episode for you: On January 14, they featured an in-depth, hour-long look at how Mack trucks are made. 

In a blog about the episode, Associate Producer Francis Cordero claims, “Filming a show about Mack truck was definitely one of the coolest gigs I've had.” And we can certainly see why. The show focuses on the Mack Titan and visits the assembly plant, Powertrain center and testing location that produce this 10-ton, chromed-out, American-made beast. From chassis assembly to engine building to hood painting, you get an insider’s look of the sophisticated work that goes into building huge trucks, as well as the number of people — and robots — required to complete the job. Ultimately, the factories that build these trucks are just as impressive — and enormous — as their product. In fact, the Macungie plant, where they assemble Titans, covers 238 acres!

No matter what brand your trucking company drives, you can’t help but walk away with a greater appreciation for your truck after gaining a first-hand view of the production behind these massive vehicles. From one industry professional to another, we think you’ll enjoy watching the construction of a rig that can travel millions of miles, carry tons of cargo and serve as a second home while you’re on the road. 

Check out NationalGeographic.com for more information about this episode.