10-4 Magazine April 2023

10-4 Magazine / April 2023 25 running under the same parent company. The companies run local and regional, mostly on the east coast. Collectively, they run Peterbilts and Kenworths, and remain hauling the same commodities as they have always hauled, which includes livestock, dump trailers, and pneumatic tank trailers. Gary owns 20 trucks, Greg owns 16 trucks (including the pictured black 2020 Peterbilt 389 with purple stripes hooked to the livestock trailer), and Austin has his, and all the company equipment is maintained in-house. The engines will get torn down at the shop, and then they will have their motor guy come in, because they have so much other truck work and maintenance to do. Thanks go out to Austin, Taylor, Greg, andMelissa for the warmwelcome. I had a great time with all of them and left the area feeling like I was able to make some long-term friendships. One of the highlights of this trip for me was being able to take a four-generation photo of Papaw Gary, Greg, Austin, and his son Creed. Even though it was during winter, that area was beautiful, and provided the amazing photography locations we had (and Mother Nature did not ruin our plans for once). Life has a funny way of carving out the paths we are all supposed to take. Austin may have had a dream of being a baseball pitcher, but after life threw him some curve balls (pun intended), he is now living out the dream he was meant to obtain all along – being a trucker. As always, to all the drivers out there doing the deal, truck safe. n