10-4 Magazine - For Today's Trucker

“T” FOR TEXAS
By Roving Reporter Suzanne Stempinski
(Click here to see the pictures!)

Trucks, troubadours, Ten-Four Magazine, travellers, thrills, Texas. August 25-27 found thousands of truckers, their families, friends and members of the transportation industry in Dallas, Texas for the 7th annual Great American Trucking Show (GATS).

Trucks to go and trucks to show, parts, accessories, jobs, services, trailers, entertainment and tales of outrageous fuel prices (which show no signs of subsiding) – it was all there and then some. This was the first time 10-4 Magazine had a booth at the show – and the traffic and fun exceeded all our expectations. We ran out of t-shirts, posters and magazines by early Saturday afternoon (the show didn’t close until 6pm) in spite of our efforts to ration them!

It was an opportunity to check out some new products. Volvo introduced their new VT800 day cab tractor – styled like the VT880, but intended for local applications. Not only eye-catching, it is designed to support the heavy transport segment of our industry. It comes standard with Volvo’s D16 engine, with up to 625 hp and 2,250 lb. ft of torque. You’ll start seeing them on the road in early 2006.

Volvo also introduced Volvo Link Sentry, a satellite communication system that monitors engine fault codes and can provide remote diagnostics through Volvo’s technical center – direct to the driver in the cab and/or to a fleet maintenance shop. This system is currently available at no charge to buyers of 2006 model 880s.

Ford, teaming up with Accubuilt, takes a pickup body, makes it stronger, and then fits it on an F-450 or F-550 chassis. According to Ken Earnest, a Ford marketing manager, “It is ideal for the hotshot trucker. Its power train is designed for heavier loads.” Accubuilt’s Super Duty pickups can pull up to 24,900 lbs., or handle up to 11,300 lbs. in the 8-foot bed. And, it’s not subject to excise taxes.
Useful products for truckers on the go filled the aisles. Everything from chrome and stainless accessories to tools and safety equipment were on display and ready to head down the road. Satellite radio receivers that can go from truck to home were hot items. One of my favorite new toys is a Bluetooth technology telephone headset that is wireless and looks like ugly ear jewelry, but provides the ability to make and receive phone calls hands-free! They’re popping up everywhere. Taking that idea one step further – and in order to comply with new laws cropping up in many cities that require hands-free phone use, Parrot, a French company, is offering a kit that integrates into your truck or car’s existing wiring harness. Their system offers an LCD display that can be installed wherever you want on your vehicle’s dash. The vehicle’s speakers transmit the caller’s voice, and the microphone captures your voice, while filtering out surrounding noise. During a call, the radio automatically cuts out to allow for an uninterrupted conversation! They have a variety of kits available. Check ‘em out at www.parrot.biz.

The winner of Castrol® Tection Extra’s Big Honkin’ Truck Makeover was announced during GATS. BP Lubricants USA Inc., spent months seeking trucks in serious need of rejuvenation. Hundreds of truckers and their families entered brief essays explaining why their truck was most worthy. After narrowing the field to three finalists, GATS attendees had the opportunity to vote for their choice for the most deserving.

When the votes were tallied, Jeff Fields of Tully, NY and his 1979 Peterbilt Classic 352H Cabover were chosen for the $50,000 makeover. A complete restoration job, inside and out, from under the hood to a fresh paint job are in store for this piece of “yard art” that’s been gathering dust in Fields’ driveway for the past two years.

The other two finalists didn’t walk away empty handed. First place finisher, Robert Jones, of Lithia Springs, GA was the lucky winner of a trip for two to the AC Delco National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) Nationals in Las Vegas, NV. And Ed Godfrey of Dallas, TX was the second place finisher, bringing home a portable DVD player and a selection of DVDs.

Entertainment is always hot at GATS, and this year was no exception. In addition to offering autograph opportunities with rising country music stars Bobby Pinson, Carolyn Dawn Johnson and Shelly Fairchild, two nights of concerts had attendees standing in long lines waiting for free tickets to see Terri Clark and Sammy Kershaw. Out in the truck parking lot, truck driving singer GM Paterson entertained nightly.

But the biggest excitement on the show floor was, as always, the collection of gorgeous, gleaming trucks participating in GATS’ 7th Annual Pride & Polish competition. Recent cover truck owner Mark Pounds brought two awesome rides – his 2001 Freightliner XL132 bobtail and his brother’s 1987 purple flamed Freightliner Cabover pulling a 1998 Utility Flatbed. Pounds (photo 1) was the recipient of one of the most coveted awards – Participants’ Choice – voted on by the other competitors.

New competitors came to enjoy a little Texas hospitality and dream of bringing home a trophy or two. Richard Harper made the trip from Jackson, MS with his 1994 Kenworth W900 Ltd. Edition (#27 out of only 200 produced) and 1996 Utility reefer, as well as his “chrome” motorcycle (photo 4). Harper’s truck and trailer have been customized from front to back, top to bottom. His truck, which has a 550 Cat under the hood with a 15-speed Eaton transmission and 3.36 rears, had roughly 121,000 miles on its new motor – which he had installed in January 2005 after the old one racked up over 1 million miles. His cab sports enough chrome and stainless to be blinding – including ceiling and cab floor. The sleeper floor is marble, and he completely re-did the stock interior, replacing all the fabric on the seats, bunk and curtains with real Gucci fabric, imported from Hong Kong. Truly techno-savvy, Harper, who hauls chicken and produce between Mississippi and California, has his truck and trailer hooked up to a satellite in such a way that he can turn his reefer on and off via his cell phone. Everything operates on remote control – including the stereo, two flat screen TVs and his hood, which raises and lowers on hydraulics. Harper brought home two trophies for his show debut!

Familiar faces on the truck show circuit this year, Tommy & Kim Turner brought home their fourth Best of Show win in 2005. The pair, whose 1995 Peterbilt 379 pulls a 2003 Transcraft stepdeck and is called “El Dorado” (photo 2), are leased to Southern Pride, hauling jet motors all over the United States. They expect to rack up well over 225,000 miles this year – in addition to participating in truck shows.

Another well-known truck, Tim Thornhill’s 1986 Peterbilt 359, once again was awarded Best of Show Bobtail honors (photo 3). Driver Tony King enlisted the assistance of his wife, Kim, to help clean and polish this exceptional working truck.

Participant Wayne Baker, who brought his 2002 black and gray Peterbilt 379 and a Utility reefer, had a couple of surprises in store for him. A late-night trip to the emergency room with kidney stones made it impossible for him to attend the awards ceremony. His truck, which was featured on our cover when it belonged to Jeff England of Pride Transportation, looked fantastic – in fact he was awarded two trophies, including first place in his class and a second place for his engine. When his name was called as a class winner, he was on the cell phone with his wife, Darlene. She was delighted to share the good news with him, and all the attendees cheered loudly enough for him to hear!

To look at some of these trucks, you’d swear they never turned a wheel on dusty roads or grease-laden parking lots. Wrong! Most of these trucks run back and forth across the country on a daily basis, earning a living for their owners and drivers. These folks just take the extra time to keep their trucks (and themselves) looking tall.

BOBTAIL (1998-2000): 1st (tie) Thomas & Maryann Quick AND John Schmitz; 2nd (tie) Cindy Stowe AND John Wesley Perry.

BOBTAIL (2001-2002): 1st Lee Little; 2nd Truett Novosad; 3rd Jeff Hamilton.

BOBTAIL (2003-2004): 1st Dave & Vicki Weldon; 2nd George (Rusty) Conn; 3rd Daryl Rodman.

BOBTAIL (2005-NEWER): 1st Mike Ladd; 2nd Terry Weir Jr; 3rd Carol Ann Schlussler.

FLEET-OWNED BOBTAIL: 1st (tie) Terry & Clint Dicks AND James Thomas; 2nd David Kosar; 3rd Art Clubb.

FLEET-OWNED COMBO: 1st Thomas Ritterbach; 2nd Danny Wolf ; 3rd Jim Derkson.

PAINT (MURAL) BOBTAIL: 1st Harvey & Karen Zander; 2nd Robert & Shelly Brinker.

PAINT (MURAL) COMBO: 1st Terry Moore; 2nd Les Sullivan.

PAINT (NON-MURAL): 1st Tim Thornhill; 2nd Terry & Clint Dicks; 3rd Mark Pounds.

COMBO (1984-1991): 1st Jeff Hardage.

COMBO (1994-1999): 1st Thomas & Kim Turner; 2nd Richard Harper; 3rd Calvin Long.

COMBO (2000-NEWER): 1st Wayne Baker; 2nd Phil Wiebe; 3rd George Elosegui.

ANTIQUE: 1st Brett Wilkins; 2nd Eric Hardage.

ENGINE: 1st Tim Thornhill; 2nd Wayne Baker; 3rd Harvey & Karen Zander.

CUSTOM SLEEPER: 1st Thomas & Kim Turner; 2nd Donald & Yvonne Gibson; 3rd David & Cindy
Cloud.

OEM SLEEPER: 1st Harvey & Karen Zander; 2nd (tie) Terry & Clint Dicks AND Richard Harper; 3rd Tom & Maryann Quick.

INTERIOR (CAB ONLY): 1st Tim Thornhill; 2nd Dave & Vicki Weldon; 3rd Truett Novosad.

PETERBILT COUNCIL OF CLASS: 1st Camille & Eric Carnaggio; 2nd Terry & Clint Dicks; 3rd Terry Weir, Jr.

SPECIALTY: 1st Camille & Eric Carnaggio; 2nd Paul Stanchio; 3rd Donald & Yvonne Gibson.

MOST TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED TRUCK: 1st Donald & Yvonne Gibson; 2nd Larry
Christopherson; 3rd Thomas & Kim Turner.

PARTICIPANTS’ CHOICE: Mark Pounds – 2001 Freightliner XL132.

CHARITY’S CHOICE: Camille & Eric Carnaggio – 1995 Peterbilt 379.

BEST OF SHOW BOBTAIL: Tim Thornhill – 1986 Peterbilt 359.

BEST OF SHOW COMBO: Thomas & Kim Turner – 1995 Peterbilt 379.