| Ford L-series trucks | |
|---|---|
 1989 Ford LN8000 single-axle dump truck | |
| Overview | |
| Type | Medium-duty truck Heavy-duty truck |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Production | 1970-1998 1998-2009 (as Sterling) |
| Assembly |
|
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Class 6-8 truck |
| Layout | Conventional cab |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Ford F series Super Duty and N series |
| Successor | Ford F-650/F-750 Super Duty (for Ford) Sterling Trucks: A-Line, L-Line, Acterra |
The Ford L-series is a range of commercial trucks that were assembled and marketed by Ford between 1970 and 1998. They are also known as Ford Louisville or, for the 1990s aerodynamic models, Ford Aeromax. The first dedicated Class 8 truck produced by the company, although Ford had been producing "Heavy Duty" trucks since 1948 and their "Super Duty" lineup since 1958. The L-Series was the successor of the F-900/F-1000 Super Duty and the Ford N-Series (both derived from the Ford F-Series). The line encompassed a wide range of models in GVWR Classes 6 through 8, as either straight trucks or as semi-tractors, with vehicles developed for medium-duty, on-highway, severe-service, and vocational applications.[1]
The L-Series was produced by Ford at its Kentucky Truck Plant near Louisville, Kentucky, alongside medium-duty F-Series trucks, and C-Series COE truck. The truck line accordingly adopted the Ford "Louisville Line" nickname;[1] for its second generation introduced in 1996, the line officially adopted the Ford Louisville nameplate. Both generations featured the Ford Aeromax aerodynamically enhanced truck, sold primarily as a semitractor.
After the 1996 sale of the Ford heavy-truck line to Freightliner, production of the L-series was ended by Ford in 1998. Freightliner had taken over L-series production and went on to reintroduce the line as the Sterling A-line (Aeromax) and L-line (Louisville) during 1998. It continued to be built alongside the medium-duty Acterra until the end of 2009, when Freightliner closed operations of Sterling Trucks.