Step deck-toting independent owner-operator Tad Schultz of Peosta, Iowa, has moved in recent years to a pretty quick “trade cycle” of sorts in his one-truck business — his trailers, 50-foot Reitnouer step decks purchased through C&J Trucking of Grand Mound, Iowa, he’s re-upping every two years and getting a pretty penny for the one being replaced on the private-party used market when he sells, given backlogs at trailer manufacturers, he says. He took a similar tack when he sold his previous power unit after taking delivery of the, at first, bare-bones 2020 Peterbilt 389 featured in the video at the top — the vid features part of my conversation with the independent at the Mid-America Trucking Show.
Independent owner-operator Schultz hauls a variety of step deck freight working with broker Valley Transportation, based in Minn. His runs typically take him between his Midwest region and Florida and other points in the Southeast.The 2020, powered by a 565-hp Cummins X15 engine, he put into service after extensive custom dressing working with Iowa Customs for parts from a variety of suppliers, HD Equipment in Grand Mound for the work in which he also participated. It had just shy of 30 miles on the odometer before he set off on the 500-miler to Louisville for the show.
The power unit replaces his prior 389 after just around three years of ownership. After posting the 2017 as available on Facebook, he says, demand is such in his region that it was sold after a mere two weeks.
Take a run through some of the rig’s unique features via the video, with more on his operation as well. And following find a few more stills.
Owner-operator Schultz’ 2020 Peterbilt 389’s showing at MATS was Schultz first truck show since 2007. The owner-op’s been trucking for more than a quarter century at this point, having started just out of the military, he says.
The black stripe was painted at the factory, he says, but the remainder … well, those stripes aren’t painted at all but vinyl overlays that are, frankly, hard to recognize as vinyl in any way other than by touch.
A fortuitous feature is near perfect alignment of the custom front visor’s bracketing and the bright side visors each side.
The interior remained mostly stock, Schultz says, but for the aftermarket steering wheel and the installation of a Rockwood chrome-accented dash kit and the shifter knob, as shown in the video.
