10-4 Magazine December 2023

Cover Feature: By Daniel J. Linss Graduating from high school in 1998, Kenny took a job where his dad worked at Wallace Transpor t, loading trucks, while attending truck driving school. After earning his CDL, he began driving a 3-axle Freightliner cabover, pulling dry vans, doubles, and flatbeds. He remembers his first trip down to Southern California with nothing but a paper map – he was terrified! About a year later, he got a job at Gardner Trucking, driving out of their small yard in Banta, CA. He drove their plain white (but very clean) trucks for about eight years before getting an oppor tunity to move into a management position. Gardner Trucking, based out of Chino, CA, has a rich history out West. We did a feature about their operation back in January 2005 titled “Quiet Giant” that highlighted their unique and innovative business tactics and introduced all the Lanting family members that helped run the company. At that time, the main players were Ron Lanting Sr. and his four sons – Ron Jr., Tom, Brad, and Cur t. When Kenny first got hired at Gardner, they only had about 260 trucks and probably triple that number in trailers. One of the options Gardner offered their customers was the ability to be a dedicated site. At these sites, Gardner would provide companies with an entire, dedicated, transpor tation staff including an on-site supervisor, drivers, and equipment. Gardner would run and manage the entire operation from the customer’s location. With over 70 dedicated sites, as well as several line hauls and other freight, Gardner Trucking surged to the forefront of the transpor tation industry in the West. After driving for several years, Kenny was offered one of these on-site supervisor positions, and he took it. Working with several different customers at locations throughout Central California over the next few years, Kenny really enjoyed the freedom and independence he had. He answered to Tom Lanting directly and learned a lot from him over the years. But being in a remote location and not having a “boss” always looking over his shoulder From an early age, Kenny Campos Jr. was always told, “If you are going to do anything, be the best you can be. Always bring the heat!” That lesson has stuck with him his entire life, and today he “brings the heat” as an up-and-coming trucking company owner, a broker, a venue host, a storage facility manager, a husband, and a father. Kenny is a very ambitious man and is always looking for ways to be better and do better. His company, Heet Trucking, LLC out of Dinuba, CA, which got its name from his father’s continuous “Bring the heat!” life lessons, is on the grow, and his unique Freightliner Cascadia recently caught our eye at a truck show in Fresno, CA – yes, that’s right, a Cascadia!! We have never had a Freightliner Cascadia on our cover, mostly because they are usually not wor thy, being primarily plain white fleet trucks and such. However, we are always looking for something different and unique, so when we saw Kenny’s Cascadia sitting there all polished up and laid out on the ground, we had to find out more about the truck and its owner. And, as usual, the people behind the truck did not disappoint. We had a great time getting to know Kenny and his wife Claudia, along with their in-house customizer and friend, Noah Rios of RNR Custom Rigs, who did all the paint and fabrication work on this – dare I say – fabulous Freightliner. Born and raised in Madera, CA, Kenny Campos Jr. (44) grew up in a trucking family. His father, Kenny Campos Sr., star ted trucking in 1973 after returning home from Vietnam. Over the years, his dad drove a lot of cabovers, pulling mostly reefers throughout the country, because those were the trucks of choice back then, and Kenny went out with his dad whenever he could. Being an owner operator when he first star ted out, Kenny’s dad eventually became a company driver at Wallace Transpor t out of Planada, CA where he spent almost 30 years. Spending the final six or seven years of his career at Gardner Trucking, Kenny’s dad retired in 2015. Running OTR for most of the years Kenny was a little kid, his dad was not home much. It was not uncommon for him to be out trucking for months at a time. His mom was the “present” adult, so she became a very impor tant par t of Kenny’s life. This early connection he had with his mom and somewhat disconnected relationship with his father would later help him to make better choices as a dad when raising his own kids. He wanted to be present, and not spend his life out on the road, away from his family. He fully respected his father and what he was doing for their family, but Kenny wanted to be around to see his children grow up and help shape who they become as adults. 10 10-4 Magazine / December 2023 BRINGIN’ THE HEET