Owner-operators and fleets have never been afraid to let their patriotism show with patriotic builds and other efforts to support the U.S. military, veterans and their families.
As America celebrates Memorial Day this weekend with cookouts and barbecues, family and friends, and, hopefully, some reflection on the reason we're doing those things in the first place -- honoring U.S. military personnel who died while serving -- trucking in many respects keeps rolling. To honor the fallen and recognize the love of country that runs deep around trucking, here's a look at a variety patriotic rigs featured in Overdrive in recent years.
Karmak president and CEO Jim Allen's "Freedom Truck" is but one example of many across the trucking industry that shows support for veterans and the military personnel.
Crete Carrier Corporation driver Craig Daniels drives one of the company's Patriot Fleet trucks -- the 2022 Freightliner Cascadia shown here which he showed at the 2024 Stars, Stripes and White Lines truck show. The patriotic wrap on is impressive on its own, but Daniels -- a military veteran himself -- took it a step further and has had veterans he's encountered during his travels sign the truck and tell their stories.
Seen at the 35th and final Waupun Truck-N-Show in 2024, Nelson Truck Lines driver Brian Beltran's 2019 Kenworth W900 company truck was coupled with the company's show trailer, which pays tribute to military service members.
The trailer doors of the Nelson Truck Lines combo are just part of the full trailer's patriotic theme.
Arkansas-based Brad Hartwick built this 1978 Kenworth W900A into a patriotic hot rod. The truck was first featured in Overdrive when Hartwick showed the unit at the 2017 Great American Trucking Show in Dallas. Hartwick still owns and shows the truck today.
Robert Burleson's 2019 Peterbilt 389, featured here from the 2023 Mayberry Truck Show, may not appear to have a patriotic theme from the outside, but the finer details inside the rig and elsewhere make it clear.
The floor of Burleson's rig features American flag graphics, and even the fan blades in the engine compartment are painted in a patriotic theme.
[Related: When celebrating Memorial Day, don't become a memorial yourself]
Browse Overdrive's Custom Rigs archives for more special tribute trucks. And for videos and custom-equipment features delivered to your email inbox, subscribe to Overdrive's weekly Custom Rigs newsletter via this link.
