The truck was powered by a Daimler-Benz OM 64/4, 74 hp, 4 cylinder diesel engine. It gave the Mercedes-Benz L3000 truck a high speed of 70 km/h with a range of 450 kilometers on a 90 liters fuel tank. The civil version had a 4×2 rear axle drive, the military version had all wheel drive with very good off road capabilities.
At the start of the war lots of civil L3000 lorries were drafted into the Wehrmacht. The Military versions were designated Mercedes-Benz L3000A (All wheel drive) and Mercedes-Benz L3000S (Standard Version). The L3000 refers to a payload of 3 tons.
The Mercedes-Benz L3000 was produced until 1944, numbering 33.265 trucks.
The Mercedes-Benz L3000 was used on all fronts and extensively used by the Africa Korps.
