This month’s creation was built for Matt Olson (41) of Orange, CA. After almost 20 years of driving truck, Matt needed a boost, so he bought the cool new truck seen here. These days, thanks to his new ride, he is loving trucking again and feeling completely rejuvenated.
Born in Wisconsin, Matt’s family moved to Colorado when he was three years old. Matt’s dad worked in construction, but eventually went to a driving school and became a trucker. Matt would go on rides with him when he was younger, but his dad always told him, “If you ever think about driving a truck, I’ll kick your tail from here to Timbuktu!” Matt’s dad passed away in 1997. His mom still lives in Colorado.
After high school, Matt worked a few different jobs, until his dad passed away when he was 22. Not long after that, he went to the same driving school his dad did in Pueblo, Colorado and graduated at the top of his class – of one! Matt worked for a few trucking outfits over the next nine years until 2006, when he got a job at Long Haul Trucking in Minnesota, and found a home.
Two years later, in 2008, he became an owner operator when he was given the option to buy the truck he was driving, start driving a new truck or quit. He opted to buy the truck he was driving – a 2003 Peterbilt 379 with a 63-inch standup and a 6NZ Cat. He lease-purchased that rig and ran it until he ordered the new one you see here.
Wanting something subtle but cool, he ordered a 2017 Pete 389 with a 72-inch standup, a 294-inch wheelbase, and a vintage green paint job with a black frame. Wanting his motor to match the rest of the truck, he ordered it with a 500-hp PACCAR MX engine, along with an 18-speed transmission and dual 150-gallon fuel tanks. Sporting a Platinum interior package with Atlas 80 seats and loaded with gauges and all the goodies, Matt also got an upper bed, just in case someone ever wanted to ride with him.
When the truck showed up, the guys hid the urea tank, installed straight pipes, and painted the tanks and boxes black. The body shop then installed five cab lights, a dump valve on the steer axle, one of Clint’s visors, and a set of stainless steel Hogebuilt half-fenders.
The dash plaque on this one says “Custom Built for Domination” – partly as a nod to Peterbilt for their domination over the past 78 years, and partly in honor of a hard-rock song by Pantera that Matt 
likes. This new truck has rejuvenated Matt’s passion for trucking, and he is truly enjoying the compliments and new features – it’s made it fun again.
Married to his wife Laura for the past three years (they have been together for 13 years), both were previously married, and each has a child from those previous relationships. Laura has a daughter named Stephanie (27) who works at a school for special needs kids, and Matt has a son named Dylan (18) that lives in Colorado Springs, CO. Matt always enjoyed having his son ride with him in the summers, until the teenage years, when Dylan got busy with girls, band and growing up. But it’s all good.
In addition to trucking, Matt likes to collect handmade knifes and other fine-crafted products. And his new truck is right in line with that, as it is all Peterbilt and all class. With his rejuvenated spirit, one can only imagine how dominating Matt Olson will be in trucking, now!