Truck Gallery

Shotgun Blues

After nearly 30 years on the road, Oshkosh, Wis., resident Rick Karschney became an owner-operator four years ago when he bought this 1993 Peterbilt 379. Trouble with the truck inspired its name, Shotgun Blues. His Pete is powered by a 425-hp Caterpillar with a Schwitzer turbo and a rebuilt 13-speed Eaton Fuller transmission. “It still has the old mechanical engine in it,” he says. Karschney added LEDs and chrome accessories. “Everything from the front bumper back has either been rebuilt, fixed or replaced,” he says. Karschney wins a hat, travel bag and license plate frame from United Pacific.

Polished Pete

Victor Hurtado of Whittier, Calif., owns this 2001 Peterbilt 379 daycab with 550-hp Caterpillar engine and 18-speed transmission. He hauls transformer circuit breakers, steel beams and other machinery for Piazza Trucking in South Gate, Calif. “We do mostly flatbed loads, and oversize loads on step decks, double drops and large multi-axle trailers,” he says. He exchanged most of the stock lights with LEDs and added chrome trim to the dash “thanks to my friends at A&L Truck Supply,” he says.

Mikey’s Dad’s Truck

Shane Becker of Ramona, Calif., hauls mostly flatbed and step-deck freight under his own authority in his 1999 Peterbilt 379. “My son has been riding with me whenever we get a chance since he was 8 months old,” says Becker of his truck’s nickname, Mikey’s Dad’s Truck. Becker’s Pete has a 550-hp Caterpillar and Super 10 transmission. He customized the dash to match the truck’s dark blue fenders and stainless accessories. “The brake valves, windshield wipers and dimmers are revolver knobs,” he says.

Work in progress

Rolan Mask of St. Louis, Mo., owns this 2005 Peterbilt 379X, equipped with a 500-hp Caterpillar C15 and nine-speed Eaton Fuller. A 20-in. Texas-style bumper, 16-in. drop visor and 8-in. stacks were added. Mask also changed the headlights to 359-style double rounds and gave it an old-school look with Double-J turn-signal light bars. Mask drives for Antler Trucking Co., owned by his father and three uncles.

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Hard life
Will Sawyers 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 deer in which the hood and grille had to be repaired. “It’s had a hard life,” he says. “The truck has hardwood floors, low-rider leather seats, over 100 LED lights and an amazing sound system I installed myself.”