12 10-4 Magazine / August 2025 being used regularly, was involved in a small “incident” so Gary decided to do a complete refresh of the classic rig. Giving it new “bones” (frame rails), the wheelbase was stretched out to a modest 255 inches, the cab and sleeper were converted to air ride, and a fresh coat of Viper red paint was applied. The sleeper had some damage, so it was replaced with an identical period-correct 36” flattop like it originally had. The custom 48” drom had been on the truck for years, so they kept it (they hauled a lot of pallets up there on that deck). The truck still has the 3406B CAT, and it is hooked to a Spicer 5+4 two-stick setup. Other features include a 6” Dynaflex exhaust, a stock stainless visor, “Double Bubble” lights, (5) glass watermelon cab lights, and pinstriping, done by Jeff’s Graphics out of Twin Falls. To help make it easier to get in and out of the Kenworth, the steps were customized, and a lower third step was added to the two stock steps (these old A-models were always really tall and that lower step was still way up there). Another unique feature is the custom flap weights from Gary’s friend (and ours) Colby Williams of Fueled Photography. If you don’t know him, Colby is a talented photographer that has done a lot of work for Gary and his company over the years. Gary put a set of his flap weights on the back of this truck to give a nod to Colby – and because they are really nice flap weights! The inside of the “K-Whopper” was re-done way back in the mid-1980s, and it is mostly stock (maybe too stock even for Gary’s liking). Done in tan leather with diamond button tuck, sitting in the cab is like going back in time. The 3406B under the hood is pretty stock, too, except for the fact that it is a Viper red CAT engine! Sorry, not sorry, purists. This truck is known as #3, because it is Gary’s third truck, but it technically is the second one owned by Gary Amoth Trucking (the 1976 Peterbilt 359, Gary’s second truck, would have been the first one for the company). One day, Gary hopes to find his first truck – the 1966 Freightliner cabover – but he has no idea where the old hay truck might be. Today, Gary Amoth Trucking mostly hauls general freight, lumber, and steel all across the country, and the container division (about 40 trucks) hauls drayage from the Southern Idaho area to the Northwest ports and Salt Lake City railyards. All the Apex Container trucks are blue and white, to help differentiate them from the rest of the fleet. Gary prides himself on taking great care of his drivers and employees. A few key people recently retired after 20+ years, and while there are many others who have been there that long or even longer, two examples would be Elden Easterday and David Whaley. Elden was hired as a driver in 1992 at the young age of 20 years old (he had to run locally at first because he was too young to run out of state). Gary actually taught him how to drive a truck, and 33 years later, he is a fleet manager and Gary’s right-hand man. David manages the Nampa facility and is the fleet manager for the
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