The Black Rose
Dennis Griffin of Rockwall, Texas, hauls general freight for Con-way Truckload in this 1997 Kenworth T600, powered by a 425-hp Cummins and Eaton Super 13 transmission. He painted the truck a pearlescent black with red flakes and added black Line-X to the steps and catwalk for a swashbuckling theme. “When accused of being a pirate, I like to clarify the difference between a pirate and privateer,” he says. “I tend to lean toward the latter.” He plans to add an APU and continue customizing the truck to give it a modern look. Griffin wins a hat, travel bag and license plate from United Pacific.
White Lightning
John and Tracy Howard of Alcester, S.D., haul schoolhouse doors and Girl Scout cookies under their own authority in this 2003 Peterbilt 379 extended hood,
powered by a 550-hp Caterpillar and an 18-speed transmission. The interior is decked out in cherry wood and chrome. “You would never know it by looking, but White Lightning has over a million miles on it,” says their son, Chris Howard.
Welsh Wonder
This 2007 Volvo FH13 Globetrotter hauls machinery and green slate on the coast of north Wales for Thomas Plant Hire. The truck has a 520-hp Volvo and a 14-speed transmission. It’s fitted with disc brakes, a single hub reduction drive axle, lifting tag axle and top, bottom and rear stainless steel bars. Welsh Wonder is pictured hauling a company-owned Hitachi excavator.
My Big Girl
John and Debby Bryant of Hillsboro, Ore., haul meat and produce in this 2007 Pete 379 extended hood, powered by a 530-hp Cummins and an 18-speed transmission. After buying the truck, the Bryants added special blue Peterbilt paint and a 275-in. wheelbase. Whenever John takes off, he says, “Me and My Big Girl are headed down the road.”
Silver Bullet
Tracy Potter of Ashcamp, Ky., hauls coal under his own authority in this 2002 Peterbilt 379, powered by a 550-hp Caterpillar and 18-speed transmission. Silver Bullet has 52 Rockwell rear ends with a Hendrickson suspension and a double frame. “It has a lot of bolt-on chrome extras inside and out,” Potter says. He plans to add fiberglass front and rear fenders and 8-in. pipes.
