This sign was on display near where trucks were parked at the Waupun Truck-N-Show, thanking attendees for supporting the show's "last ride. The parade lights may dim, but the memories will last forever."
The 35th and final Waupun Truck-N-Show is in the books following a record-setting turnout earlier this month in Waupun, Wisconsin.
Nancy Kutschenreuter, Waupun Truck-N-Show vice president, said the show, dubbed the “Last Ride Thru Waupun,” was “bittersweet” for the volunteer organizers who are retiring from putting on the annual event. “It was a hard decision for us that we made earlier this year,” she said. “It was a bittersweet decision to make.”
The official registration number landed at 526 trucks, with dozens more showing up just to participate in the parade and take part in the “last ride” through the town. Kutschenreuter estimated with the parade-only participants, the total number of trucks that descended on the small Wisconsin town was closer to 600.
“They all wanted to be part of the last ride,” Kutschenreuter said.
A number of years ago, the show brought in between 450 and 500 trucks, she noted, but there were more people working the show at the time, as well as more space to park the trucks. As the city of Waupun has grown over the years, the show grounds have shrunk, creating challenges for such a large turnout this year. Those challenges weren’t apparent from the outside looking in.
[Related: 'Last ride' for Waupun Truck-N-Show]
Kutschenreuter offered thanks to the city of Waupun for decades of support in hosting the show. “They always put out the red carpet” for the show, she said. “They welcome it with open arms, for these companies and vendors, the trucks” and more. She also credited the vendors and sponsors for helping the show go on, along with the trucking industry itself.
“Thank you for all the years of support,” she said. “This year will go down in history. People will talk about it for years to come.”
While the Waupun Truck-N-Show -- both the show itself and the name -- is officially retired, Kutschenreuter hopes the next generation will pick up the mantle to start a new show in the future.
“The Waupun Truck-N-Show door has closed, but maybe someday another door will open,” she said.
Numerous truck show participants were also hopeful that someone steps up to keep a show in the community. Dane Wisniewski, owner of three-truck small fleet HDR, LLC, was one such owner, as covered in this week’s Overdrive Radio podcast.
"I hope that somebody maybe takes it over," he said about prospects for the show to continue past this year, offering a challenge to those among his own younger generation of truck owners. "The younger generation such as I that's coming up through the ranks needs to step up."
[Related: Owner-ops react to market challenges: Lightning round from Waupun]
Below, see the full results of the show as reported by Waupun Truck-N-Show organizers.
Dozens of trophies were handed out to the best of the best from the 2024 Waupun Truck-N-Show.
Best Of Show
DOT Standard Light Show -- Brian Emshoff, Dabney Trucking
Modified Light Show -- Dane Hartman, Hartman Farms, "American Dream"
Working Truck -- Always Haulin' Auto Transport
Antique Truck -- Josh Van Wagoner, "Midnight Special"
Working Show Truck -- John Herdrich, Herdrich Express
Show Truck -- Dane Hartman, Hartman Farms, "American Dream"
Special Awards
Largest Fleet -- BRT Services
Ron VandeZande Memorial Trophy -- Gary Geib, "The Gambler"
Bernie Werra Memorial Trophy -- Austin Gottman, Chuck Braver Trucking
Friday night Milk Trucks
Milk Straight Truck
1st: Wade Rhyner, Kyle Hemmersbach Trucking
2nd: Darren Dickinson
Antique Milk Tanker
1st: Kevin Retzlaff
2nd: Ethan Quade, Nornview Trucking
Milk Truck Tanker
1st: Kevin Lucht, KR Transportation
2nd: Ryan Retzlaff, KR Transportation
Light Show Competition
Standard DOT Regulated
Bobtail
1st: Highway Hank Good
2nd: Parkview Feeder Farm
Straight Truck
1st: Craig Bennett, K&B Transport
2nd: Opeit Transport
Tow Truck
1st: Jordan Bellwene, Wherlon Towing
2nd: Bret Duranle, Midwest Repo
Pickup
1st: Rylee Respalie
2nd: Joseph Smith
Dry Van
1st: Ludwig and Sons Trucking
2nd: John Yohn, Seven Hill Transport
Tanker
1st: Kevin Retzlaff
2nd: KR Tranport
Reefer
1st: Josh Van Wagoner
2nd: Fehrman Transport
Cattle Hauler
1st: Travis Feucht Trucking
2nd: Tillema Trucking
Hopper Bottom
1st: Brian Bucenell
2nd: Michell Riley, Riley Bros. Grain Farm
Flat/Stepdeck
1st: Badger State Waste
2nd: BRT Services
Soft Side/Conestoga
1st: Nate Stone's 2005 Kenworth W900, leased to Yeager Trucking
Specialized
1st: Pete Transport
2nd: Triple B Trucking
Dump Truck
1st: Marx Transport
2nd: Helmrick Trucking
Tractor-Trailer Dump
1st: Macheel Excavating
2nd: Helmrick Trucking
Modified
Bobtail
1st: Felix Dominques
2nd: Cargo Thecker
Pickup
1st: Axel Martinez
2nd: Steven Gundrum
Dry Van
1st: BVC North LLC
2nd: Bennett
Tanker
1st: Kevin Bahke Trucking
2nd: Triple B Trucking
Cattle Hauler
1st: Tyler Gram Low, Pomps Trucking
2nd: Nick Vertz
Flat/Stepdeck
1st: Kevin Babler Trucking
2nd: Rohdeo Express
Soft Side/Conestoga
1st: Agressiv Transport
2nd: Keiser Trucking
Specialized
1st: Triple B Trucking
2nd: Jaden Billings, Triple B Trucking
Dump Truck
1st: BRT Services
2nd: RMS of Wisconsin
Tractor-Trailer Dump
1st: Donald Moore, Travis Feucht Trucking
2nd: BRT Services
Car Hauler
1st: Always Haulin’
2nd: Always Haulin’
Truck Show Competition
Antique Working Truck
Bobtail
1st: Chris Leegman
2nd: Verduzco Trucking
Dry Van
1st: Craig Betcher
2nd: Jacob Krueger
Dump Truck
1st: Hunter Perron
2nd: Trennel Farm Service
Tow Truck
1st: Emergency Stating and Towing
Straight truck
1st: David Lemmens
2nd: David Lemmens
Reefer
1st: Josh Van Wagoner
2nd: Dennis Hilker Trucking
Pickup
1st: Curt Miller
2nd: Joseph R. Smith
Hopper Bottom
1st: Geils Farms
2nd: Ron Ray, Ray Transport
Tanker
1st: Kevin Retzlaff
2nd: Nate Sobeski
Tractor-Trailer Dump
1st: Hanke Trucking
2nd: Scott Blame Trucking
Specialized
1st: Jake Wilm, Hack Away Forest Products
2nd: James Arakb
Cattle Hauler
1st: Austin Feucht
2nd: Austin Feucht
Flat/Step Deck
1st: Caleb Smit
2nd: Cameron Leet, BRT Services
Antique Working Show
Bobtail
1st: Andy Beels
2nd: Dave Gulich Trucking
Pickup
1st: Deven Respalse
2nd: Mike Mueller
Hopper Bottom
1st: Brian Bucenell's 2002 Peterbilt 379
Tractor-Trailer Dump
1st: Triple B Trucking
2nd: Randy Brown, BRT Services
Specialized
1st: Miller Transport
2nd: Wayne W. Albeats
Soft Side/Conestoga
1st: Fehrman Transport
Antique Show Truck
Bobtail
1st: Kate Whiting, “Cherry Pie”
Dump Truck
1st: Eric Bauer Transport
Hopper Bottom
1st: Dane Hartman, “American Dream”
Flat/Step Deck
1st: Garrett Collins
Working Truck 2005 and Newer
Bobtail
1st: Joel McDaniel, Boise Boys Trans.
2nd: Austin Gottman, Chuck Brauer Trucking
Dry Van
1st: NTL's 2019 Kenworth W900 and 2022 Great Dane, driven and shown by Brian Beltran
Dump Truck
1st: Nate Strankewski, BRT Services
2nd: Jesse Wilinski
Tow Truck
1st: Ken Weber Towing
2nd: Jordan Whelson Towing
Straight Truck
1st: Douglas Mayer Transport
2nd: Ken Weber
Reefer
1st: Tarik Al Amin
2nd: Kevin Voigt
Pickup
1st: Travis Terrys Repair
2nd: Full Range Maintenance
Hopper Bottom
1st: Clint Leeman, Leeman Farms
2nd: Dabney Trucking's 2025 Kenworth W900 and 2025 Wilson hopper, driven and shown by Brian Emshoff
Tanker
1st: Brian Pete, Pete Transport
2nd: Ryan Retzlaff, KR Transport
Tractor-Trailer Dump
1st: Dustin Reul
2nd: Tony Wagner, Pickett Transport
Specialized
1st: Ideal Midwest
2nd: Casey Spehsley, Pete Transport
Cattle Hauler
1st: Dexter Ray, Ray Tansport
2nd: Donald Moore, Travis Feucht Trucking
Soft Side/Conestoga
1st: Derek Bates, driving this 2023 Kenworth W900 for James Churchill and Sons LLC
Flat/Step Deck
1st: Nate Sigafus, Kevin Babler Trucking
2nd: Dane Wisniewski's 2007 Kenworth W900L
Covered Wagon
1st: TTI
Car Hauler
1st: Always Haulin’
Working Show Truck 2005 and Newer
Bobtail
1st: Eric Bauer, Bauer Transport
2nd: John Herdrich, Herdrich Express
Dump Truck
1st: Gary Geib, Gambler Trucking
Pickup
1st: Steve Gundrum
Hopper Bottom
1st: Little Z Transport
Tanker
1st: Justin Nordarft, Pete Transport
2nd: Jay Blackbourn, Petro Oil
Tractor-Trailer Dump
1st: Scott Spielvogel
Soft Side/Conestoga
1st: Sy Konesh, DSD Transport
Flat/Step Deck
1st: JMW Transfer's 2016 Kenworth T880, driven and shown by Tyler Pyke
Car Hauler
1st: Always Haulin’
2nd: Always Haulin’
Show Truck 2005 and Newer
Dump Truck
1st: Eric Bauer, Bauer Transport
Hopper Bottom
1st: Dane Hartman, Hartman Farms, "American Dream"
Soft Side/Conestoga
1st: Garrett Collins
Kids Choice Awards
1st: Darryl Kulepp, Soper Co.
2nd: Josh Van Wagoner
[Related: Waupun Truck-N-Show ending after 35 years]
