20 10-4 Magazine / August 2025 For the last four years, the town of Chillicothe, Ohio, has been celebrating the world’s best. 2022 was the inaugural show and parade, while 2023 celebrated Kenworth’s 100th anniversary, and then 2024 celebrated Kenworth’s Chillicothe assembly plant’s 50th anniversary. And for this year’s (2025) show and parade, Kenworth celebrated the end of an era with a big tribute to their legendary and iconic W900 line of trucks. Introduced in 1963, the Kenworth W900 is one of the most iconic, popular, and recognizable rigs ever built. Three iterations of the truck have been built over the last 62 years beginning with the W900A, followed by the W900B in 1983, and the W900L (1990) models, along with a vocational version, known as the W900S. The W900 model is truly historic in that it helped shape the North American trucking culture and tradition as we know it today. Featured in movies (Smokey and the Bandit) and TV shows (Movin’ On), along with proud owners showing off their W900s at truck shows around the country, the W900 is a truck that’s cherished by so many truckers and trucking aficionados alike for its timeless styling and classic look. Of the 55 trucks invited to this year’s truck show and parade, 31 of them were W900 models. Some examples of the W900A that caught my attention were owned by Radco Trucking out of Gridley, California, who brought a pair (1973 and 1974) of W900s, Clyde and Melody Green of Cheyenne, Wyoming, brought their beautiful 1982 W900A, Kate Whiting of Chetek, Wisconsin, had her gorgeous 1973 W900A named “Cherry Pie” at the show, Kyle Weaver of Wooster, Ohio, had his 1981 W900A on display, and Wes Roberts of Maceo, Kentucky, who had his custom built 1978 W900A there. Sporting a 324-inch wheelbase and powered by a Cummins N14 pushing over 600-hp and mated to a 5x4 Spicer transmission, Wes’ truck has a custom 120-inch Aerodyne sleeper on it with a custom interior by ATG of LaGrange, Indiana. Of the several W900L models in attendance, Jerry Linander of Winona, Minnesota, had his 1994 W900L named “No Fences” at the show. Driven by Jerry’s brother Odell in the parade, the truck is painted black with red frame rails, sports a classic Aerodyne sleeper, and rides on a 300-inch wheelbase. The truck is powered by a 3406E Cat, a 13-speed, 3.25 rears, and rides on a Paccar low air-leaf suspension. A pair of fuel tanks, totaling 400 gallons, are strapped to each side of the rig. Pulling a matching black 2025 spread-axle Great Dane van trailer, a large image of a Texas Longhorn adorns each side of the trailer and turned heads as it rolled through downtown Chillicothe on the Parade route. An orange 1994 W900L pulling a Wilson livestock trailer that caught my attention was owned by Aaron Smith of Kanorado, Kansas. I was shooting some photos of his truck at the Ross County Truck Show Report: By Mark Harter Fairgrounds on Thursday evening, June 12, when Aaron walked up to me and introduced himself, his wife, and son. I had never met Aaron before this, but needless to say, I was humbled when Aaron told me that he had heard of me and knew my story (I am legally blind for those of you who don’t know), along with telling me that I was an inspiration for not giving up and continuing to do what I love in the trucking industry. Guys like Aaron are proof positive that there’s so many great men and women in the trucking industry who go about their lives quietly every day to keep America moving and provide for their families. So, from me personally, thank you Aaron, and a big shout out to you. Yet another awesome W900L that was in attendance was owned by Nate and Ann Peterson of Clear Lake, Iowa. “Spirit of the Glades” is a 2022 W900L that sports a 72” Aerocab flattop sleeper and rides on a nice 303-inch wheelbase. Painted in a beautiful turquoise green pearl, the W900L is powered by a 6NZ C15 Cat, a 13-speed transmission with an AG400L suspension, and 3.25 rears. “It’s truly an honor to be invited to the CELEBRATING THE WORLD’S BEST
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