10-4 Magazine April 2023

14 10-4 Magazine / April 2023 and really enjoy it. Happy with how things are, they both like being single-truck operators, and are now both running under the Cone Trucking name. Not sure of their future, they recently bought land in Tennessee, and are considering retiring there – when that time comes. But for now, they love running together when they can, and currently haul lumber from a dedicated customer in Southern Oregon to delivery points in Nor thern and Central California. Bruce pulls a 2020 MAC 48’ flatbed with spread axles and is currently “fixing it up” to match his truck. Always a dog lover, as proven by the mural on the back of her visor, Kellie also star ted a nonprofit charity called Communities for Police Canines (C4PK9s). This organization promotes awareness and raises funds for the purchase, training, and veterinary care of active and retired law enforcement canines in Redding. Through this organization, Kellie has been able to buy several K9s for the police depar tment. Also, Kellie and Bruce currently have a Frenchie dog named “Madden” (AKA Maddie). Maddie loves to ride in the truck. She came along one day on the photo shoot and had a great time! Wanting to recognize a few people, Bruce wants to thank his entire family, especially his father and brother, Kellie (of course), Stuar t at Nor Cal Customs, and everyone else who helped with his truck. Kellie wants to thank all the companies that supplied par ts for her truck, along with Brent at Brent’s Custom Trucks, Corwin Koehn at Platte River Sales, and Bruce (of course). Both Bruce and Kellie would also like to shock box cover, and a 50-pound cast iron train bell, mounted under the frame. Like Bruce’s truck, Wonderland Signs made and applied two brushed black stripes with silver metal flake outlines and thin light pink accents. Both of the trucks are fairly stock inside, but they are both loaded up with all the good stuff. Bruce’s truck has a wood steering wheel and an upgraded Pioneer stereo, complete with extra speakers in the overhead console, and a subwoofer in the sleeper. Kellie’s cab features a few added pieces of chrome, along with a wood steering wheel, and a CB mounted above in a rosewood box. Painted on the inside of her window chops in delicate script lettering it says “p.s. you got this” as a reminder of her resilience. These two are always teasing each other about who’s truck is better (well, mostly it’s Kellie teasing Bruce). She jokes about how more people flock to her red truck and take pictures in front of it than his. Also, her stacks are two inches taller than Bruce’s, and she will never let him forget that! But it’s all in good fun. On vacation in Mexico, at a nice dinner, Bruce had a marriage proposal all planned, but after Kellie jokingly told the waiter it was their anniversary (in hopes of getting a free bottle of champagne), Bruce could not go through with it. However, after dinner, on the beach, he popped the question, and once she realized what had happened, she said, “Yes!” Based on how he was speaking and what he was saying, she thought he was breaking up with her at first!! The two were married in May 2021, and now live an amazing life together. Kellie is very aware of her blessings and takes nothing for granted. On several occasions during the two days and three nights we spent with them, Kellie stopped, looked Bruce in his eyes, and asked, “Are you present?” She doesn’t want either of them to miss a thing, so “being present” is a big deal to them. The trucks have been done for about a year now, and although they never thought they would do truck shows, they have been to a few, say “thank you” to the folks at Allweather Wood in White City, OR. They have always been great people to work with. We at 10-4 would like to thank Bruce and Kellie for allowing us to “take over their life” for about a week. When we are on a mission to get the perfect shots, we don’t quit until we get ‘em! We would also like to thank Kristy Coughlin at Sierra Pacific Industries. We spent the better par t of a day at their mill in Shasta Lake, CA, and they took great care of us. The cool thing about this location is the fact that Bruce is the third generation to haul either in or out of this facility. His grandfather and father hauled logs into this mill, and he and his dad (and Kellie, too) have all hauled finished lumber out of this location. Because of that, it seemed like a fitting place to star t taking our pictures (see cover). The other location was a popular turnout near Shasta Dam, which overlooks Shasta Lake, with Mount Shasta looming in the distance (see centerfold). The death of a loved one can change your perspective – in fact, it can change everything. It’s a hard lesson, but maybe one that people should go through, because it gets you focused on what really matters, which is life itself. Death is a harsh reality of life, and we never know when it will happen. So, live every day like it might be your last, tell people you love them often, and realize your job is not everything. Bruce and Kellie Cone work hard to balance their lives. They have learned to enjoy every moment, to be present every day, and to not take anything for granted – and you should, too. n