The first generation was designed and delivered in 1968 to the Air Force by the Oshkosh Truck Corporation.
The vehicle was required for the then-new Lockheed C-5 Galaxy aircraft, the largest in the USAF's inventory.
Since then, several manufacturers have produced the U-30 vehicle, to include Stewart & Stevenson and FMC Technologies (now JBT AeroTech).
The Air Force also purchases remanufactured U-30 tow tractors.
Melton Sales and Service of Bordentown, New Jersey currently has this contract in which three variants of the U-30 tow tractor are overhauled.