The title at the head of this story could well go to Landstar-leased owner-operator Dickie Penrod of Fayetteville, N.C. He spent most of his 16-17-year tenure with the 9,000-plus owner-operator fleet behind the wheel of a 1998 Peterbilt, he says, putting nearly 3 million miles on it before replacing it in 2014 with a Freightliner Cascadia. This past Saturday, he got another upgrade when he was the winner of a 2017 Western Star 5700 XE, the second truck Landstar has given one of its BCOs (“business capacity owners”) this year, an annual tradition.
At the BCO All-Stars event at the Gaylord Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tenn. (which honored new inductees in the company’s million, 2 million, and 3 million mile halls of fame, among other things), a final game-show-like process led to Penrod’s claiming the keys to the Western Star. (Catch detail and scenes from the giveaway event and a brief interview with Penrod in the video above.)
Penrod’s new 2017 Western Star 5700XE. Catch further walk-around views in the video at top.The red pearl Western Star comes equipped with a 14.8-liter Detroit DD15 and a Detroit DT12-DA-1650 Heavy Duty 12-speed direct drive automated manual transmission. The truck’s cab has a 68-inch Stratosphere High Roof, which Western Star touts as a testament to the truck’s versatility and comfort.
According to the truck maker, the 5700XE is designed with comfort, space and storage to spare. The cab is accented with cherry wood cabinets, closets and two moveable shelves. It features a 35-inch-wide, liftable lower bunk and foldable upper bunk. The cab also showcases a top-of-dash navigation prep, Bluetooth and microphone technologies, and an AM/FM/WB/SiriusXM radio with CD player.
Penrod planned to sell his 2014 Cascadia Evolution and “get to work” in the Western Star soon as possible, he said Saturday. Catch more of an interview with him in the video above.Other scenes from the awards ceremony:
Conrad “Ray” Price was awarded the BCO Lifetime Achievement award, recognizing long-term excellence in business performance, safety and more. Price, in addition to being a 3 million mile safe driver, is also a Landstar Roadstar, a designation reserved for high performers within the company’s contractor network.
Owner-operator Mike Ross of Oklahoma (pictured with his wife, Michelle) was among the more than 120 new inductees to reach 1 million safe miles honored during the program. Also honored were 11 2 million mile safe drivers, two with 3 million (including 30-plus-year Landstar veteran Dennis Treff) and a new 12-member class of Roadstars.
