PACCAR- could be a great place to work. - Test Engineer PACCAR Employee Review

2.0
Apr 20, 2009
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Custom heavy trucks are very challenging engineering subjects. With each truck being essentially unique, some very complicated engineering challenges emerge, and these are very satisfying to work on and solve (sometimes). The huge inertia of the company can be frustratiing, but it also makes it rather easy to stand out, to introduce new engineering techniques, and to pioneer new techlogies, which can be satisfying and a good resume padder. You can get a more varied work experience at PACCAR than just about anywhere, if you are persistant. Also, they have lots of money, and sometimes you can get them to spend it on engineering tools.

Cons

Management rules by fear. Each level of management is trained to be afraid of the next level, so most of everybody's time is spent making sure that nothing happens that will displease the next level of management. The CEO rules with snide comments and caustic remarks such as you might have heard from an English lord in the 1800's. Way too much emphasis is put on proper dress, such that you could be a complete idiot who dressed nicely, and get prmoted time after time. Agree with the executives and always wear a suit, and you don't need a functional brain. Finally, PACCAR has no new product developement capability at all. A new truck for PACCAR is moving the air filters inside the hood and streamlining the fenders and bumper. They are successful pumping out conservative products to a conservative market, and problems tend to get evolved out of the product over the 30 year life of each product. Don't go there if you like to innovate.

Explore other reviews about PACCAR

5.0
May 30, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Wonderful internship experience. I truly enjoyed every aspect of the internship, from the people and team culture to the meaningful projects and great location. It was an incredibly positive learning experience, and I would highly recommend working there.

Cons

While the business professional dress code may not be for everyone, I personally didn’t mind it and felt it contributed to the professional environment.

1.0
Apr 15, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Not much, if you want a place that's okay with mediocrity, then welcome.

Cons

They blindly follow industry trends not industry standards. We have an initiative to use AI to increase productivity, without a proper plan, without security in mind and lack of general understanding. Consistently understaffed, for example there are teams or parts if teams that have max 4 developer type roles with 36 apps or APIs to support - this has lead to inconsistent code and effort as employees are spread too thin to be able to deliver quality work. Management refuses to take responsibility for issues that arise from being understaffed. Teams are not consistent in what tools and pipelines are used causing even more confusion and delays. Double standards: they don't want to properly promote or give raises to hard workers. Upper management made it clear to direct managers that "meets expectations" was a fine thing to give... To employees doing more than their fair share of work and are doing work outside of their role since they have no one else to do it do to being understaffed.

3
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