Horse power
Residents of Edmond, Okla., Steve and Caroline Fauks haul horses across the United States and Canada in this 2006 Kenworth T600, equipped with a 475-hp Caterpillar and 18-speed transmission. The Fauks’ truck easily pulls a customized 15-horse van, decked with infrared cameras, ventilation systems and 150 LED lights, Steve says. Their company, Summerfield Farms, transports equines from miniatures to Clydesdales in the tightly secured van. The couple wins a hat, travel bag and license plate frame from United Pacific.
Hard Life
Will Sawyers, a resident of Shelburne, Ontario, owns this 2002 Peterbilt 379, equipped with a 550-hp Caterpillar and an 18-speed Eaton Fuller. Sawyers has hauled cattle for 12 years and, more recently, oversize machinery. The Pete’s paint job, Sawyers says, was the result of a run-in with a northern Ontario deer. “To put it lightly, it’s had a hard life,” he says, adding that as a licensed mechanic he does most of the truck maintenance and modifications. “The truck has hardwood floors, low rider leather seats, over 100 LED lights and an amazing sound system I installed myself,” Sawyers says.
At last
After 40 years as an owner-operator, Neal Forlenza finally has the truck he wants – a 2004 Kenworth W900 – to haul perforated steel panels for Casterline Trucker in Exeter, Pa.It’s dubbed the Money Pit not because of problems but because so much of his money goes into enhancements, says Forlenza, who recently added long quarter fenders and remodeled the interior. Other additions include a visor, 20-in. bumper, rear light bar and a center hood piece. Forlenza’s Kenworth is equipped with a 475-hp Caterpillar and an 18-speed transmission.
Hard worker
Anthony Garcia, a Hereford, Texas, resident, owns this 2002 Peterbilt 379, equipped with a 550-hp Caterpillar. Garcia has been driving for 17 years and hauls mostly food corn for the Hereford Grain Co-op. “My favorite thing about my truck is the color and the way it rides and pulls,” Garcia says, adding that his Pete is “just fine the way it is” and no significant modifications have been made to it.
Grain hauler
Rolando Castillo of Bowling Green, Ohio, owns this 1971 Ford L9000. Equipped with a 300-hp Detroit Diesel, the truck hauls loads of corn, beans and wheat for local farmers and grain elevators. Castillo has hauled locally under his own authority for five years. “My favorite thing is that it’s different from the others,” he says. “You don’t see many chromed-out Ford L9000s.” He’s already added a drop visor, 6-in. pipes, aluminum wheels and a chrome bumper, and plans to add a bigger bumper and change the paint job.
