Custom Rigs: Page 2

Joel Dawes’ viper-red Kenworth T660

Color scheme inspired by University of Wisconsin

December 3, 2020

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The long-well-known 1999 Peterbilt 362 cabover now powering Landis & Sons Trucking

Follow the tale of the 1999 Peterbilt 362 cabover as it passed from owner-operator Bennie Thomas to Mike Landis of Landis & Sons Trucking.

December 1, 2020

Landis, of Lititz, Pennsylvania, spoke for this video from this year’s “That’s a Big 10-4 on D.C.” event on the National Mall. Read more about the owner-operator’s participation in the event and other advocacy efforts in the nation’s capital via the October edition of the Overdrive Radio podcast that featured Landis and C.J. Karman’s story of their White House meeting in May around the issue of freight transaction transparency.

Stacy Cox’s 2015 Peterbilt 389 glider

The truck features a 12.7-liter Detroit with a 10-speed Eaton-Fuller, which will soon be upgraded to an 18-speed. The interior of the truck sports a custom white steering wheel, white air knobs and shifter knob to match an old-school shifter.

December 1, 2020

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‘Band of Brothers’ Purple Heart Pete

Specially-wrapped 379 honoring wounded veterans

November 28, 2020

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Emil Baran’s 2020 Freightliner Coronado glider

The Viper Red truck is powered by a 500-hp Detroit 60 Series with an Eaton-13 speed. It sits on a 260-inch wheelbase.

November 27, 2020

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Virginia-based owner-op’s dream hauler

Classic 1990 Kenworth W900

November 25, 2020

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Wayne Jones’ 2016 Peterbilt 389 glider

The rig is powered by a 3406E 2WS Cat with an 18-speed and 3:55 rears. It features a drop visor, under glow lights and plenty of chrome outside with leather and wood accents inside.

November 24, 2020

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Randy Stoll’s 1992 Peterbilt 379

The rig sports a B-model Cat set at 600-hp with an Eaton 18-speed and 3:70 rears. Stoll’s operation, Stoll Trucking, is based in Decatur, Texas, and runs three trucks in Texas and surrounding states.

November 20, 2020

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Luis Vilar’s 2021 Kenworth W990

The rig is powered by a 505-hp Cummins ISX15 with a Fuller RTLO19613 13-speed with 4:56 Meritor rears. The truck’s purple paint scheme is from the 2006 Kenworth color chart.

November 17, 2020

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Oklahoma hauler’s restored ’87 Pete

359 with original-style interior

November 16, 2020

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‘Lime gold’ Peterbilt

1995 379 with one-of-a-kind paint scheme

November 15, 2020

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Surjit Singh’s 2021 Kenworth W900L

The rig sits on a 295-inch wheelbase and is powered by a 565-hp Cummins X15 with an 18-speed and 3:36 rears. Singh, based in Stockton, California, pulls a 53-foot reefer running from California to the Midwest.

November 13, 2020

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Owner-op Todd Graham’s two-truck leased operation, powered in part by this 2003 KW W900

Find out all about Todd Graham's advocacy efforts, business philosophy, and what powers his two-tractor leased trucking operation here on Overdrive.

November 12, 2020

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Photos: Patriotic graphics from fleets around the country

With today being Veteran’s Day, here’s a look at some military- and patriotic-themed trucks from fleets across the country to thank those who have served in the United States military.

November 11, 2020

Werner Enterprises, Omaha, Nebraska

‘Hillbilly Hilton’

2000 Freightliner Classic features 163-inch sleeper

November 10, 2020

Davis’ 2000 Freightliner ‘Hillbilly Hilton’

Ross Wilson’s 2018 Peterbilt 389

The rig is equipped with a 72-inch sleeper and sits on a 264-inch wheelbase. It’s powered by a 510-hp Paccar MX-13 with an Eaton-Fuller 13-speed.

November 10, 2020

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Gavin Davis’ 1999 Peterbilt 379

The rig sports a Cat C15 with an 18-speed. It’s used to haul steel.

November 6, 2020

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This brain trick worsens the danger of cumulative sleep loss | Cabover ‘Joy Ride’ to the port

Bill Hambrick discusses logistics culture valuing timeliness above nearly everything else and Ben Cadle speaks on supply chain stress and irregularities.

November 5, 2020

That’s Cadle’s “Joy Ride 3” 1982 Freightliner cabover at the Port of Savannah early this week, working a train derailment not far from his Augusta home base.

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The trucker cap in teacher Amy Watson’s selfie from the day she was tested for COVID-19 later inspired her choice of “long-haulers” to describe COVID survivors with persistent symptoms. “My school’s mascot is a squirrel,” she said, which she finds appropriate, given that her pre-school students, with their short bursts of activity, are “very squirrel-like.”

Trucking’s bit part in the 'COVID long-haulers’ name

A teacher's trucker cap provides inspiration for her to borrow trucking's "long-hauler" designation for COVID-19 survivors who discover they're facing an indefinite period of further suffering.

Small-fleet owner Jesse McGinness was going for originality with the look of this 2021 Peterbilt 389, spec'ing the black Alcoa rims from the factory. After his maiden voyage in a Class 8 tractor years ago, in a Peterbilt 379, he fell in love with the classic square-hood series. He plans to modify the stacks, the grille and more to all-black finish -- committing sacrilege, says the operator who took him on that first 379 run. McGinness'll maintain plenty in chrome/stainless accents, not to worry. The flattop with lift-axle is powered by the X15 Cummins at 605 hp, with an 18-speed transmission. 'I wanted this truck to be a truck that I thought was cool,' McGinness said, in addition to doing the tough over-dimensional/heavy hauling he'll require of it.

'WTF' stresses service for long-term success

The glider market grew from a few hundred sales a year in 2010 to upwards of 10,000 as recently as 2017. Gliders sported pre-emissions-regs engines -- no exhaust gas recirculation or selective catalytic reduction components and, thus, no need for DEF. With simpler technology and refurbished engines, the products were much cheaper than new trucks with new engines, making them attractive buys for small-business truckers.

Glider kit market hits fatal nosedive with latest emissions regs

Fuel Fueling Truck Stop

After weakened demand in 2020, diesel prices jump back to pre-pandemic levels

Junior Elmore’s Marmon caught Christner's eye right off for a very simple reason: 'I’d never seen a Marmon cabover in the flesh before,' he wrote. 'Up close, it’s easy to see why a Marmon cabover was used in the movie 'Transformers: Age of Extinction' as the Autobot Optimus Prime. Elmore’s Marmon COE #31 HDT-BC-86 was Manufactured 03/1977 in Garland, Texas. This is a complete truck with no parts taken off. Still running when parked in 1999. A good honest work truck that’s nicely spec’d out.' Find more details, and history, via this link.

Look back at Junior Elmore's classic 1970s rigs

Beware: Human smugglers luring truckers along the border

More episodes »

The Business Manual for Owner-Operators

Overdrive editors and ATBS present the industry’s best manual for prospective and committed owner-operators. You’ll find exceptional depth on many issues in the 2021 edition of Partners in Business.

Partners in Business Issue Cover