‘Gold trucks’ shined up, back on the haul

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Updated Apr 26, 2018

I wondered why it’d been so long since I’d heard from a regular contact, ever ready with a tip and/or anecdote from the road: TMOG, LLC (that’s for “These Trucks Are Made of Gold”) independent owner-operator Howard Salmon, hauling reefer freight and back to a longtime base of operations in Northern California after some years in Wisconsin. Turns out, he’d been off the road the last four months or so putting plenty of work into his vintage 1999 Kenworth W900:

She was showing her age a bit here and there, as you might be able to see in this before pic, after which Salmon got to work on the paint here and on his reefer trailer as well.She was showing her age a bit here and there, as you might be able to see in this before pic, after which Salmon got to work on the paint here and on his reefer trailer as well. After the first coat of paint was laid on, above, Salmon spent some prep time streamlining things by removing hood KW emblems and other extraneous items and filling holes, sanding, priming, painting, then sanding down again.After the first coat of paint was laid on, above, Salmon spent some prep time streamlining things by removing hood KW emblems and other extraneous items and filling holes, sanding, priming, painting, then sanding down again. More in process on the rig’s painting.More in process on the rig’s painting. When it was nearing completion, Salmon had also put new LEDs along the bottom of the cab and installed these new 7-inch stacks.When it was nearing completion, Salmon had also put new LEDs along the bottom of the cab and installed these new 7-inch stacks. The rig also got new aluminum rims under both tractor and trailer and a variety of other small touches, including headlight housings. Not bad for a little winter vacation work, would you say?The rig also got new aluminum rims under both tractor and trailer and a variety of other small touches, including headlight housings. Not bad for a little winter vacation work, would you say?

The ELD-exempt unit, Salmon says, has made his principal broker customer glad to have him back out on the haul and available. Thus far, Salmon himself been heartened at the rise in rates coming his way, with well over $3/mile the norm with just more than a week back out along the irregular-route journey.

Here’s hoping things continue well in that regard. What are you seeing?