Following its 2007 discontinuation, the 379 was replaced by the Peterbilt 389, distinguished by oval headlamp clusters and a longer hood.

To commemorate the end of production, the final 1000 examples of the 379 were designated as Legacy Class 379.

The 379 is externally distinguished from the 359 from the use of an enlarged windshield (allowing for horizontally-mounted windshield wipers); the 379 also introduced headlamp-mounted turn signals (relocated from the fender), making rectangular headlamps standard.

[1] Throughout its production, the 379 was equipped with the most powerful versions of the engines offered in Class 8 on-highway vehicles.

Some of the turbodiesel engines included the Caterpillar 3176, C-11, C-12, C-13, C-15, C-16 and the 3406-(B,C,E,P and EWS), Cummins the Big Cam NTC, N-14, ISM, ISX, ISMe5, ISXe5, Signature 600, and Detroit Diesel 60 series.