10-4 Magazine February 2024

Cover Feature: By Stephanie Haas because his mom made him finish school first. He started out driving for Gary Alan, who told Keith, “Hook up to that trailer, head to Dodge City, KS, and I’ll see you tomorrow.” At first he hauled anhydrous, and then he moved on to working for Del Speicher, hauling grain in a hopper bottom. Keith did some other driving jobs, and then started driving for Jerry Weber, hauling beer and produce, out of Fort Worth, TX. In 1995, Keith managed to get into a recognized company with a fleet of orange trucks – Tri-State Commodities, Inc. out of Greeley, CO. He was able to run their show truck to shows during the summers for about 20 years and then, during the winter months, he would work in the shop. In the early 80s, Keith The term “old school” is thrown around a lot these days, but most of the trucks that are described by this phrase aren’t the real deal. But this month’s cover truck most certainly is! Existing within the industry are some amazing generations of truckers that I have been able to meet, write about, and watch as the years go on, but something you don’t often see is a truck such as the pictured Kenworth, owned and operated by Keith Bothwell (67) of Wiggins, CO, that is still used every day. Keith is 50 years strong in the industry, and like his old truck, after being pulled from the weeds, it is a rolling representation of what trucks looked like in days gone by. This unique perspective gives us an understanding and appreciation for what trucking was and is today. Growing up in Colorado, mainly in the Fort Morgan and Greeley areas, Keith can’t recall a time he didn’t know he would get into trucking. He pushed around toy trucks on the sidewalk as far back as he can remember. His mother would get so mad because he would wear out the toes of his boots and the knees on his pants “driving” those toy trucks around. In his family, Keith is the third generation of truckers, with his grandpa being the first, who had a Case tractor dealership. With the onset of World War II, parts for the tractors were hard to get, so his grandfather bought an old 1934 Ford truck he could use to get his own parts and haul the tractors, as well. A child’s first teachers always seem to be their parents, and whether parents realize it or not, their children are paying attention. This wasn’t any different for Keith as a young boy, riding along with his father, and watching him while he was driving. Keith learned a lot from his father including how to treat people, how to be a professional driver, how to take care of equipment, and how to maintain the equipment. But what his father didn’t realize is that even though Keith didn’t pick up on how to shift a truck, he paid very close attention to his dad’s driving and learned how the truck sounded when it was shifted. I’ve heard about this from others as almost a form of art, much in the same way that those who know how, can shift without using a clutch. Keith got his chauffeur’s license at age 16 and, in 1974, at age 17, right out of high school, he went trucking. He ended up waiting until he graduated 10 10-4 Magazine / February 2024 A UNIQUE PERS PECT I V E