The Corbitt Company started in the buggy business in 1899 and by 1907 was making crude high wheeler automobiles. While they gradually became more sophisticated, R. J. Corbitt found it hard to compete with the large northern firms, and started to produce trucks. These conventional assembled trucks were quite successful in the South and gradually gained acceptance in other parts of the country. Exports were important to Corbitt in the twenties as they advertised sales in over twenty foreign countries.

Corbitt gained government contracts including 4 x 4's and 6 x 6's in the thirties and was favored by many large eastern freight haulers on the eve of WWII. Corbitt's contribution to the war effort was mainly 6 ton 6 x 6's identical to those produced by White and Brockway. The most productive peacetime year in the firm's history was 1946, delivering over six hundred units. Many configurations of trucks were offered, but 4 x 2 conventional tractors with Continental gas or Cummins diesels made up the bulk of sales.

R. J. Corbitt retired in 1952 and shortly thereafter the Corbitt Company was sold to the United Industrial Syndicate of New York, and liquidated. A comeback was attempted in the late fifties but failed, and the proud Corbitt name was gone.