About Hess - our "Hesstory"

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·5y

Hess Toy Truck

an oil drilling rig in the middle of a rural area with trees and hills around it

A Leading Independent Energy Company

Hess Corporation | A Leading Independent Energy Company

an old man wearing glasses and a suit with people in the background looking at him

Hesstoytruck.com

A builder, visionary, entrepreneur, patriot and leader. Above all, a great father and family man. The remarkable qualities that made Leon Hess so special are at the heart of the Hess Toy Truck. By the time he retired in 1995 after 6 decades of leadership, Leon Hess had grown Hess Corporation into one of the world’s largest energy companies and the Toy Truck had become one of the most popular and enduring toys in American history.

a toy truck advertisement in the window of a store

Hess Corporation

The vision for a Hess Toy Truck became a reality with the 1964 Hess Tanker Trailer. A replica of the company's first B61 Mack truck and trailer, the toy's features were rare for its time: working headlights and taillights controlled by a switch at the back of the cab, and a cargo tank that could be filled and emptied with an accompanying funnel and rubber hose. The now iconic holiday tradition fun had just begun.

a group of people dressed in green and white outfits holding up pictures with santas on them

Tv Commercial

Retail Outlet

Tv Commercials

Hesstoytruck.com

In use for over 30 years, the Hess Truck’s Back jingle is among the longest running in TV advertising history! Starting in 1988 Hess adapted a song by the ’60s group The Angels, “My Boyfriend’s Back.” The Hess jingle was: “The Hess Truck’s back and it’s better than ever!” That line got to the heart of the matter, the excitement around the arrival of a new great toy. For many fans, the first airing of the TV commercial each year has become synonymous with the start of the Holiday season.

a drawing of a firetruck with instructions for how to draw it and color it

Inspiration Images

What makes Hess Trucks so great?

The secret process of developing the annual toy starts up to six years in advance! Inspiration images are initially reviewed, then sketch drawings then 3D rotating images before handcrafted models. Toys each have up to 300 parts that are precisely created, assembled, rigorously tested, and meticulously packaged.

an oil rig in the middle of the ocean with a boat nearby on the water

Hess Corporation

Hess announces positive results from the Liza-2 exploration well in the Stabroek Block offshore Guyana, confirming a world-class oil discovery and positioning Hess for a decade plus of resource and production growth.

Year Transformation

Initial Public Offering

Hess Corporation

Hess completes multi-year transformation to an exploration and production company. The company exits all downstream operations including its iconic gas stations. The Hess Toy Truck moves to an ecommerce direct-to-consumer program and celebrates its 50th anniversary!

Stock Exchange

North Dakota

Hess Corporation

The company changes its name from “Amerada Hess Corporation” to “Hess Corporation.” John Hess has been CEO since Leon Hess retired 10 years ago.

two green and white toy tanker trucks next to each other

Toy For Kids

A Concept

Hesstoytruck.com

In 1964, Leon Hess decided to offer families a fun, high quality and affordable toy for the holidays as a goodwill gesture to gas station customers. With that decision, he created a toy for kids of all ages, the Hess Toy Truck, that has become a hallmark of the holiday season. Leon Hess wanted a toy truck made with outstanding craftsmanship and innovative use of electronics, and he wanted to offer it at a price families could afford with batteries included— a concept that endures to this day.