“FOR TODAY’S TRUCKER” FEBRUARY 2025 ® Magazine SINCE 1993! Mason Smith... CATTLE, CROPS & TRUCKING OUR CALENDAR OF TRUCK SHOWS & EVENTS FOR 2025 REMEMBERING A TRUCKING ICON: FOXFIRE CUMMINS
2 10-4 Magazine / February 2025
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6 10-4 Magazine / February 2025 WANTED WE BUY INJECTOR CORES! TEXT 805-794-4083 WE PAY TOP DOLLAR S60 DDEC 2/3/4/5/6 • CUMMINS X15 XPI N14 CELECT+ • CAT C13 4-PIN & Y-STYLE CAT C15 4-PIN & Y-STYLE • VOLVO 4-PIN ...AND MORE! TEXT FOR DETAILS!! $ We only accept takeout injectors as removed with no broken plastic, water damage, or bio fuel residue. Some injectors subject to limited part numbers. WE ARE LOOKING FOR DETROIT, CUMMINS, CATERPILLAR & VOLVO $
20 54 10 ® 32 FUN: WordSearch 45 • Truckertoon 49 • Red’s Rides 61 • Crossword 65 • NumberSearch 71 • Words To Live By 76 FEBRUARY 2025 CONTENTS VOLUME 32 ISSUE 6 COVER FEATURE Mason Smith is All about Cattle, Crops & Trucking ........ 10 PERFORMANCE ZONE Properly Gearing Your Truck’s Rears & More ................. 17 TRUCK SHOW REPORT The Bobtail Apparel Truck Show in Dixon, CA ................ 20 CALENDAR OF EVENTS Upcoming Truck Shows and Events for 2025 ................. 25 WHO’S WHO IN 10-4 Our Longtime Health Contributor Norma Hannigan ....... 27 CLINT’S CREATIONS Oldenkamp Trucking and their “Big Tuna” Peterbilt ....... 29 SPECIAL FEATURE Enjoy Some Old Pictures of Trucks in the Snow ............. 32 IN MEMORIAL Remembering Trucking Icon Foxfire Cummins ............... 35 THE VETERAN’S VIEW The Road to Success Can Be Bumpy and Dirty ............. 46 HEALTH & HAPPINESS A Deep Dive into Sleep Disorders ................................... 51 TRUCKAPEDIA “Built Like a Mack Truck” is More Than a Slogan ........... 54 WAYNE’S WORLD New York City’s Controversial New Toll Plan ................... 59 SPECIAL FEATURE “Sons of Anarchy” Themed Scania Turns Heads ........... 62 TRUCKER TALK Wind is a Lot Heavier Than You Might Imagine .............. 68 POETRY IN MOTION Why 10-Mile Truck Pileups are Becoming the Norm ...... 73
8 10-4 Magazine / February 2025 We at 10-4 Magazine® love to hear from our readers. If you have any comments, suggestions, gripes, questions, or just some information you would like to pass on to other readers (truckers just like you)... VISIT US ON OUR WEBSITE: www.tenfourmagazine.com FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Search for Ten Four Magazine SEND US AN E-MAIL: 10-4@tenfourmagazine.com WRITE US AT: 10-4 Magazine Post Office Box 639 Dunlap, CA 93621 CALL US ON THE PHONE: (559) 338-2703 10-4 MAGAZINE IS: Daniel J. Linss - OWNER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/MARKETING Jean Osugi - OWNER/TRUCK SHOW SUPPORT/HR Tim Sieben - OWNER/TFK MANAGER/SHOW SUPPORT Shannon Linss - OFFICE MANAGER &DISTRIBUTION Eric Hill - PRINT SALES MANAGER/SHOW SUPPORT John Testa - SALES &DIGITAL CONTENT MANAGER Stephanie Haas - PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Parker Linss - PRODUCTION ASSISTANT/SHOW SUPPORT John Hambro -WEBSITE MANAGER Vic Vasselin - MONTHLY “TRUCKERTOON” ARTIST Mark McClain - CUSTOM CROSSWORD CREATOR Ron Kelsey - PRINT &DIGITAL SALES/AZDISTRIBUTION Jonathan Townsel - CENTRAL CALIFORNIA DISTRIBUTION Hugo Ruano - L.A. & L.B. HARBOR DISTRIBUTION Teresa Franco - LOS ANGELES COUNTY DISTRIBUTION Derek Bennett - HIGH DESERT DISTRIBUTION Julio “Junior” Tapia - INLAND EMPIRE DISTRIBUTION Terry Coombs - OR, WA & IDAHO DISTRIBUTION CONTRIBUTING WRITERS, EDITORS &PHOTOGRAPHERS: Wayne Schooling • Eric Hill • John & Kim Jaikes Bruce Mallinson• Stephanie Haas • Clint Moore Trevor Hardwick • Dennis Mitchell • Colin Kund Mark Harter • Duncan Putman • K.M. Stanfield Mike Bradford • Bryan Welsh• Miss Flatbed Red Frank Strohmyer • Kasey Aslinger • Troy Miller Lennart Larsson • Dr. Terence P. Hannigan WEBSITE: MEDIA: Magazine PHONE:
Cover Feature: By Stephanie Haas solidified a home at JDK Trucking since its purchase in 2003. Hauling cattle within the state of Kansas, in October 2021, while still driving one of the company trucks, Mason purchased his first truck and put a driver in it. Fast forward a year and he and his wife Esther were married on July 31. Also in 2022, Mason purchased that same gray 1999 Peterbilt 379 from his father. Pretty cool that this 379 is Kansas is a multi-faceted state, and when you drive through this flyover state, the vast land changes from east to west. This land is built on solid morals, firm handshakes for agreements, and where your word is the written contract. There is green grass, abundant crops, and beautiful landscapes on the east side of Kansas. Amidst that area is Burns, KS, home to Mason Smith (25), his family, a bunch of cattle, crops, and trucking. Three generations strong, Mason was no stranger to ranch and trucking life. Family-owned JDK Trucking LLC was started by John (Mason’s grandpa), David (Mason’s Dad), and Keith (David’s brother) in 1996. Mason was fortunate to have grown up in the industry among men who not only knew the value of the land, but the hard work that goes into being successful. He loved riding in the truck with his dad whenever he could, but around age seven or eight is when he fell in love with it when he got behind the wheel for the first time. Some might say, everything kind of fell into place as time went on, from there. His father David was responsible for teaching Mason how to drive, and it wouldn’t be until years later that Mason truly valued everything he was taught. His dad, along with his grandfather John, instilled a hard work ethic into Mason throughout the years. In 2014, David, along with Mason and Mason’s younger brother Austin, started MAD (Mason, Austin, David) Cattle Company. Just after his birthday in June 2017, Mason obtained his CDL, and it just worked out that one of their drivers quit, leaving their gray 1999 Peterbilt 379 open for Mason to hop into. This truck had already 10 10-4 Magazine / February 2025 CATTLE, CROPS & TRUCKING
the same age as Mason! The pictured truck looks quite a bit different from the original gray version. This 379 boasts a 1LW Caterpillar 3406E, an 18-speed transmission, 3.36 rears, a 279-inch wheelbase, and you’ll find it hooked to a 2023 Wilson livestock trailer. There are plenty of custom extras and bits of unique about this truck if you look closely. Mason did the air ride suspension himself. The truck sports a Lincoln Chrome bumper, Built by Bub visor, 7-inch Lincoln Chrome stacks, 12 Ga. Customs mirror brackets, American Eagle step boxes, York fenders, T Kane hub covers, Nu-Gen stainless deck plate box, Nu-Gen and House of Air glass lights, a classy stripe done by Thunder Grafix in Joplin, MO, and a rear “T” bar custom made by one of his buddies. The interior showcases Mason’s personal touch with the painted dash and custom gear shifter, along with a beautiful epoxy cowhide floor installed by our mutual friend Trevin Walck. The makeover process had actually started in 2019 when Mason put a low air disc brake cut off on and converted the steer axle to disc brakes. Moving to the sleeper fairings, which he pulled off, only made him decide he needed to re-skin the sleeper because of all the rock chips. At that point, he couldn’t just repaint the sleeper because the paint couldn’t be matched, so the whole truck was repainted in a Light Saddle Metallic color. Included with the paint was the installation of 2005 model doors, new style door handles, post mounted mirrors and sandblasting the frame. Through the rebuilding process, Mason wanted to give a shout-out of thanks to Trevor Peachey, Andy Koehn, and his dad for helping with the project, to Trevin Walck for taking care of the floor install, which is comprised of cowhide and epoxy, and to Bryce Peterson of BCP Polishing out of Elk City, KS for his polishing skills. Considering himself pretty lucky, Mason has been able to work alongside his father and grandpa and was even able to go trucking with his grandpa, once he obtained his CDL. Not only this, but these two men are also the ones that immediately came to mind when I asked Mason who the most influential people in his life were. He has based himself off these men as husbands, businessmen, and their strength of character. They have good Christian morals, are well liked in the community, and they became successful through their hard work. 10-4 Magazine / February 2025 11 BEFORE THE MAKEOVER
12 10-4 Magazine / February 2025 Today, JDK Trucking and MAD Cattle Company operations are taken care of by the family including their trucking company, red Angus cow/calf herd, starting yard (young stock before they are sent to the feed lots), custom hay farming, row crop farming, and more. As the facets continue to grow, the men each tend to something individually, but at the same time, all work together. Mason focuses on the row crop and custom farming, running three of his own trucks, and does the maintenance on the trucks and farm equipment. Austin focuses on the cattle, helping with the custom hay, and has a side hustle of training ranch horses. David assists and oversees all the operating companies.
10-4 Magazine / February 2025 13 Along with this 1999 Peterbilt seen here, Mason has two other trucks, which doesn’t include the first one he purchased. The current three include a driver behind the wheel of one of them and the third truck is just a spare. Back on July 17, Mason and Esther found out that Esther was pregnant with their first child (recently announced it is a boy) and he is due to arrive March 28. When time allows for some fun, it will be spent out on the lake with family and wake surfing, while waterfowl hunting is abundant during the winter months, as well. JDK has quite a variety of different trailers including seven livestock trailers, a stepdeck, a hopper bottom, a belly dump trailer, and an end dump. With this in mind, the commodity they haul for profit is cattle within the Midwest. The original 40 x 60 shop the company had (where Mason did much of the work on the restoration of his truck) caught on fire in August 2023. Plans were put in motion, and now there is a beautiful, new shop that is near completion that was erected. The new shop is 60 x 125 feet, which includes a 30 x 50 office. It is mainly a shop for all their trucks and farm equipment, as well as the headquarters for all the businesses, too. For just a little insight into what has to be dealt with living in the area, I asked Mason to tell me about the winter storm that came through just before I interviewed him for this article. Being from Wisconsin, this isn’t something our farmers deal with, and an unknown for people outside the ranching community. They knew the snowstorm was coming, but there is only so much you can do to prepare for something like that. The evening of Thursday, January 2, it started to get cold and foggy, then the freezing rain started, accumulating a half inch of ice on everything. Friday brought 40-50 mph winds, knocking down power lines, dropping the temps down into the teens with zero visibility, and then six inches of snow fell, covering that original ice. By Saturday, the continued wind caused large snow drifts to form and ended up pushing much of their cattle through the fences. It was a fight to keep the animals fed and keep the waterers clear of ice. The storm finally cleared out on Saturday night, and with the blowing wind, no tracks were seen from the cattle, of which there were about 80 unaccounted for. Sunday was spent doing damage control, which included fixing the downed fencing and making
14 10-4 Magazine / February 2025 sure the missing cattle were found and brought home safely. Special thanks from Mason to his dad for the incredible opportunities that he wouldn’t have ever had, for teaching him everything, for being a great father and mentor, for never giving up on him “no matter the heck I put him through,” and for allowing him to spread his wings early on (but still right there when Mason came back). To his wife Esther for all her love and support, for taking care of him, being there for him, and always ready to jump in with both feet with his sometimes crazy ideas. To his grandpa John for teaching him how to be a decent cow hauler, how to deal with customers, how to keep the left door closed (never stop), and how to conduct himself. Last, but not least, to Trevin Walck, for the great friendship and for having a level head to talk to while working through things in life and business. I would like to thank Trevin Walck (May 2019 feature) for the continued friendship, and without him and his trusted suggestions, I would not have photographed Mason’s truck this past summer. Trevin helped me organize the trip out and schedule the trucks I would be shooting. Thank you to Mason for your time, communication, running the truck around for photos, and for having the truck dialed in when I got there. I am humbled by the kindness and hospitality that was extended to me during my stay in Burns and the amazing people in Mason’s family. John (Mason’s grandpa) made homemade butter pecan ice cream I will NOT soon forget! I look forward to my next trip to Kansas, visiting with wonderful people, seeing the cattle dot the landscape, crops of plenty, and more views of trucking in this state. As always, to all the drivers out there doing the deal, truck safe. n
WESTOZ PHOENIX TruckPartsPhoenix.com Open Monday-Thursday 7:00-5:00 5240 S. 43rd Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85041 All Components Sold Exchange 2016 KW W900: 600-hp ISX15, 18-speed, full lockers, disc brakes, $36,500. Stk. #2107 2024 PETE 389 (PARTING OUT): 64K miles, double frame. Stk. #2074 We Also Buy Non-CA compliant Peterbilt and Kenworth trucks! 602-237-2000 2025 KW T680: 450-hp X15, 12-spd, only 16K mi, runs great, $45,000. Stk. #2089 2021 CUMMINS X15: 500-hp, 119K mi, #80301002, $18,000 Exch. Stk. #2062-1 2018 PETE 567: 550-hp ISX15, 244K mi, 18-spd, full lockers, $52,500. Stk. #2109 2015 PETE 579: ISX15, 13-speed, Flex Air, dash fire, parts or whole. Stk. #2085 2019 PACCAR MX-11: 400-hp, serial #X008917,$16,500 Exch. Stk. #2088-2 NEW KW T680/T880 CAB ASSEMBLY: wired for Paccar/auto, $16,500. Stk. #3933 2018 PETE 579 (PARTING OUT): Cummins X15, Low Air susp. Stk. #2096 2024 CUMMINS X15: 450-hp, 16K mi, #80628199, $30,000 Exch. Stk. #2089-1 EATON FULLER RTLO-18918B: inspected takeout, $3,500 Exch. Stk. #2091-2 (NAP) DETROIT DT12-DA: #71537401295401, $3,000 Exchange. Stk. #3963 (NAP) 2012 PETE 389 (PARTING OUT): Cummins ISX, 18-speed. Stk. #2091 2021 PETE 389 FOR PARTS: 565-hp X15, 460K mi, 18-spd, disc brakes. Stk. #2102 2016 KW T660: 450-hp ISX, 10-spd, Tri Pak APU, ready to go, $38,000. Stk. #2086 2018 PETE 567: 500-hp X15, 18-spd, 3.36, disc brakes, runs/drives, $38,500. Stk. #2036 2024 KW T880: MX-13, auto. trans, only 13K mi, clean title, $25,000. Stk. #2103 2017 DETROIT DD15: 455-hp, missing ECM, turns 360, $6,000. Stk. #2093-4 2020 PETERBILT 389 HOOD: repairable extended hood, $6,000. Stk. #3934 EATON FULLER RTLO-18913A: serial #S1143502, $3,500 Exch. Stk. #2082-2 (NAP)
2025 Be sure to see our February 2025 flyer for more great specials. Flyers available online and in-store. Franklin Truck Parts
10-4 Magazine / February 2025 17 The Performance Zone: By Bruce Mallinson Several emails recently asked me to explain gearing again. When a truck runs on the dyno, the transmission is always in direct gear, or 1 to 1. Direct gear is the BEST pulling gear, as the engine and transmission run cooler and quieter. This pertains mainly to 2018 and older trucks. In direct gear, 1 to 1, the additional horsepower gained is about 80, and the torque is about 240 pound-feet. When a loaded semi running in double overdrive approaches a hill, and the driver has to drop 2-1/2 gears, such as a 13-speed dropping to 11th gear or an 18-speed dropping to 16th gear, which is 1 full gear drop. Now, the engine comes to life, and you go over the hill or up the grade. Just think, if you were already in direct gear, 1 to 1, you would not have to touch the gearshift because you are already in the best pulling gear. Many think you will lose power on the hills, but that is not true. You will actually gain power because the downshifting is eliminated. Remember, the increase in torque in 1 to 1 or direct is 240-pound feet of torque, so the truck will go up the hill easily. Operating a truck that runs in double overdrive, which is almost all OD transmissions since the mid-1990s, when you drop 1 full gear, down to direct, the gain in torque is 240-pound feet but the speed is only 5 to 6 mph. Running in direct will increase the fuel mileage by 1/2 mpg at the same speed. So, how do you know what gear to install in the differentials? If you like the speed and RPM the current gear ratio is producing for you, subtract 90 from that number. Let’s say the current gear ratio is 3.55, minus 90 is 2.65. The closest gear ratio to that number is 2.64, which is pretty simple. Now, a 3.36 gear minus 90 is 2.46 – there is no such gear ratio, however, there is a 2.47, which is close enough. There can be a problem going to 2.47, as the ring gear diameter may notfitinsidetheexistinghousing. Asharppersonatagearhousewill be able to tell you if it’s possible once you give him the model number ofyourdifferentials. OlderWalmarttrucksrana2.47reargearwitha 10-speed direct, so the housings are available, and Rob from LKQ in Easton, MD might be able to help you, as well. Sometimes, he can sell you a cutoff with disc brakes and the correct gear ratio for a little more than the price of the two drop-ins or pumpkins. GEARING YOUR RIG'S REARS AND MORE! If you are running an older 60 Series Detroit, the gear ratio may be 3.70 or 3.73. If you install the 2.64, your RPM will be about 60 to 80RPMless,butyourenginewillpullharder. A2.64gear,withlowpro 22.5tires,willrun1,460RPMat65mph. At70mph,theRPMwillbe 1,560, which is okay for engines 2012 and older. There is a 2.53 gear, and the speed vs RPM is 65 mph at 1,425 RPM and 70 mph is 1,540 RPM. The 2.47 gear at 65 mph is 1,375 RPM, but I do not have the RPM at 70 mph. This gear ratio is a little high for an older 60 Series, but it is great for a 3406E through a C-15 Caterpillar. New low-RPM engines like the Detroit, X-15 Cummins, Volvo, and Mack use a 2.28 gear to keep the RPM lower where the engine is builttooperate. OlderenginesDONOTOPERATEatthelowerRPM like new ones. Running in direct (1 to 1) is great for over-the-road trucks, but it’s not meant for farms, logging, or any application that requires the operator to start out in soft dirt or thick gravel. This is not a good setup for heavy haul trucks, either. Final thought: a 22.5-inch rear tire will increase the speed by 2 to 3 mph, and a 24.5-inch tire will be 5 to 6 mph faster. When we are talking about gearing, it’s always with low-pro 22.5 tires. To finish off this month’s article, here is an update on our Annual Snow Mobile Conference. We are staying at the Comfort Inn in Ogden UT (I-15 and 21st Street). The price is $99 per night plus tax for two queen beds or one king bed, and the hotel is pet friendly. We will meet on Wednesday afternoon, February 19, ride on the 20th through the 22nd, then depart on Sunday the 23rd. Wednesday at 4:00 PM, we visitKarlMalone/ADSPowerSports,oneofthelargestintheUSA. On Thursday evening, we plan to watch Smokey and the Bandit, and then on Friday night we will be going to a local western bar to listen to some music and do some dancing (if you want). The riding area is Monte Cristo, and it is a 35-minute drive into the mountains. It’s a beautiful drive, and the snowmobile rentals are right there at the trailhead. Both the trail riding and off-trail riding are phenomenal, and Mike Lane will be our tour guide. For more information or to reserve your spot, call us as soon as possible at (724) 360-4080. n
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Truck Show Report: By Daniel J. Linss As the ‘24 truck show season began winding down late last year, we had one more event to attend before the final show of the season took place, which was our 10-4 Trucker Rodeo in November. This second to last event was the 3rd Annual Bobtail Apparel Truck Show, held once again at the Dixon May Fairgrounds in Dixon, CA on October 18-20. For the past three years, this event has been a casual and relaxing affair, with a nice collection of somewhat “local” iron, that we look forward to each year – and this year was no different. Driving up on Friday, October 18, Dixon is about a four drive north for us. Facing some strong winds along the way, a wildfire broke out south of the show just before we got there. We were able to get by the flames, but we had to drive through a lot of smoke and dodge several fire trucks along the way to do so. Thankfully, the wind was blowing away from town and the show, and the awesome firefighters got control of the blaze in just a few hours, but it was a little bit scary, nonetheless. Arriving at the fairgrounds just after noon, the winds were too strong for us to set up our canopies, see we opted to just do a makeshift setup inside our TFK trailer. Big thanks to our great friends Roger and Annette of Maggini & Sons Trucking who, once again, brought our 53-foot show trailer to the event with their famous yellow “Godfather” 1962 Peterbilt show truck with green flames. We love these people (the entire Maggini family) and cannot thank them enough for all they do for our Truckin’ For Kids charity event and 10-4 Magazine. With a bar inside the trailer stocked with drinks and snacks, plenty of chairs, music, and shelter from the wind, this trailer quickly became a hangout spot for many that afternoon. Of course, we also had a good supply of 10-4 posters and centerfolds, t-shirts, and the last four or five editions of 10-4 Magazine for folks to grab and enjoy. To make sure people knew we were in there, we hung one of our banners above the open side doors of the trailer (it’s a Kentucky furniture van). It actually worked out really well but the next day, since the wind had calmed down, we went ahead and put our normal setup together in front of the trailer. Friday night featured an unofficial light show, but we didn’t stick around for that, knowing we would be there the next night. Instead, we headed over to Bud’s Pub in downtown Dixon, which is just a mile or so down the road, with a group of friends from Central Valley Transport. Our digital manager and Studio 10-4 LIVE! weekly webcast host John Testa joined us, as well. We have been friends with brothers Mark and Keith Pounds at CVT (and their growing families) since they graced our cover back in August 20 10-4 Magazine / February 2025 of 2005. The specialty at Bud’s Pub is Blackened Prime Rib, which many of us got (and it is the best), while a few others opted for the equally tasty Blackberry Ribeye steak! It was a fun night with good friends and a great meal. Arriving at the show on Saturday morning, as mentioned before, the wind had died down, so we put our “regular” setup together, which features a canopy on the left side of the trailer doors for 10-4 Magazine, and a canopy on the right side of the trailer doors, which has a table and several chairs, and acts as a “lounge area” for people to just hangout in. There were about 17 other vendors which included Carballo Air Ride, Valley Tire, North Coast Wine, 972 Customs, Shine Supply Vacaville, Northgate Cargo Control, Western Trailer, Shine Master and Orozco Polishing, just to name a few, along with 147 registered trucks, so there was plenty to see and do. Walking around the beautiful setting of the fairgrounds, most of the trucks were parked on grass. Some of the ones WINDING DOWN
10-4 Magazine / February 2025 21
22 10-4 Magazine / February 2025 that stood out to us were names you’ve probably heard before – names like North Coast Wine, Mike Lowrie Trucking, Hildebrand’s Black Market Express, and Central Valley Transport. Along with those larger fleet operations were several small fleets and single truck owner operators you might have heard of like CG Soza, Chris Rocha, Mike Viviano, Bruce Campbell, Mitch Railsback, Phil Miller, and Stan Silva. A few folks you maybe have not heard of but who had sweet rides at this show included Chad Hudson (a brown, orange and yellow 1985 Peterbilt 359), Mike Nelson (a caution yellow 1985 Peterbilt 359), Kirtis Burroughs (a “rusty” and highly modified 1987 Super-Liner rat rod roadster with a chopped top), and Troy Lathrop (a dark metallic green 2018 Peterbilt 389 with a standup sleeper). Along with Troy Lathrop’s green 389 bobtail, my other personal favorite was Jared Morrison’s 2020 Peterbilt 389. Painted red and silver with a classic Seminole scheme, this sweet little 2-axle hay truck was sitting just right – and screamed California cool! Two other standouts included Tom Donaldson’s white, silver, and red 1966 Peterbilt 351 (which is built on a modern Peterbilt chassis with a 2005 model C-15 CAT under the hood), and P.J. Pedroncelli’s newly built dark maroon 2024 Peterbilt 389. I would not want to be a judge, but, thankfully, they had a few seasoned pros on hand to do it – Rod and Kevin Pickett, Steve Mitchell, and Missy and Rich from Bed Rock, a company that goes way back in California’s cool truck scene. Saturday involved a lot of picture taking, a lot of talking, and a lot of those famous margaritas that are so popular at this event each year. When the day ended and the night began, the trucks turned on their lights in a dazzling display for the “official” light show. Shannon and Annette decorated our 10-4 booth for Halloween, adding all sorts of spooky lights and other fun things, and handed out candy. I love taking night shots, so I spent several hours capturing as many as I could. Admittedly, I am a little slow and meticulous when taking light show shots, but night pictures take a bit more time to do them right, so I never rush. By the time we closed down our booth and got in the car to head back to the hotel, it was well after 11:00 PM, and most of the show was pretty quiet. Sunday morning came fast, and before we knew it, we were packing our trailer and getting ready to go home. This year, the trophies were passed out inside a building, instead of outside. With the ceremony starting at 11:00 AM, I arrived early to find a place near the front to take pictures alongside my friend and occasional 10-4 contributor, Chad Violet. Chad and his fiancé Amanda came all the way from Ohio to help take pictures and videos for Madison Lowrie, the show’s founder and producer, and rumor has it, they’ll be back next year! This show has a few unique awards including “Fred’s Choice” (in memory of Fred Campigli), and “Heather’s Choice” (in memory of Heather Echarte). Both of these awards were made from a 5-foot tall piece of chrome exhaust pipe with pinstriping, and both awards went to worthy recipients. The Best Fleet award went to Central Valley Transport (CVT), and the Best of Show award, which was the biggest “trophy” we had ever seen, went to Colton Pounds of CVT and his red 2020 Peterbilt 389. Once the awards were handed out, we went outside to get a few final photos, and then off we went, headed home. Big thanks go to Madison and her crew for always taking such good care of us. Next year’s show is scheduled for October 17-18, 2025. We will be there, and we hope to see you there, too! n
10-4 Magazine / February 2025 23 BOBTAILS (2022 & NEWER): 1st Ron Ponchetta, 2024 Peterbilt 389; 2nd Ricky Guzman, 2024 Peterbilt 389. BOBTAILS (2011-2021): 1st Troy Lathrop, 2018 Peterbilt 389; 2nd Jared Morrison, 2020 Peterbilt 389. BOBTAILS (1981-2010): 1st Mitch Railsback, 1987 Pete 359; 2nd Harold & Nick Silva, 1999 Pete 362. BOBTAILS (1980 & OLDER): 1st Jake Wheeler, 1967 Peterbilt 288; 2nd Charlie Cunningham, 1965 Pete 352. BOBTAILS (PRO. SHOW TRUCK UNDER 50K MILES): 1st PJ Pedroncelli, 2024 Peterbilt 389; 2nd Westen Williams, 2022 Pete 389. BOBTAILS (PRO. WORK TRUCK OVER 50K MILES): 1st Jacob Rodriguez, 2016 KW W900; 2nd C.G. Soza, 2022 Kenworth W900. COMBOS (PRO. SHOW TRUCK UNDER 50K MILES): 1st Cole Barbieri, 2023 Peterbilt 389; 2nd Stan Silva, 2023 Peterbilt 389X. COMBOS (PRO. WORK TRUCK OVER 50K MILES): 1st Vince Anchondo, 2013 Pete 389; 2nd Preston Ketcherside, 1996 Pete 379. BEST LIGHTS (BOBTAILS): 1st C.G. Soza, 2022 Kenworth W900; 2nd Troy Lathrop, 2018 Peterbilt 389. BEST LIGHTS (COMBOS): 1st Stan Silva, 2023 Peterbilt 389X; 2nd Chris Rocha, 2020 Peterbilt 389. SPECIALTY: 1st Colton Pounds, 2020 Peterbilt 389; 2nd Jared Reed, 2019 Peterbilt 389. TANKERS: 1st Tommy Stine, 2022 Peterbilt 389; 2nd Mark Pounds, 2015 FL Coronado. TRANSFERS: 1st Bruce Campbell, 2022 Pete 389; 2nd Miro Dragich Jr., 2021 Pete 389. HEAVY HAULERS: 1st Stan Smith, 2023 Peterbilt 389; 2nd Alfonzo Garcia, 2020 Peterbilt 389. FLATBEDS: 1st Cody Lowrie, 2021 Peterbilt 389; 2nd Wim Sirks, 2011 Peterbilt 389. BEST STEREO: Tommy Stine of North Coast Wine. FRED’S CHOICE: Phil Miller of Phil Miller Livestock. HEATHER’S CHOICE: The Morrison Family. BEST FLEET: Central Valley Transport. BEST OF SHOW: Colton Pounds of Central Valley Transport, Bakersfield, CA.
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10-4 Magazine / February 2025 25 DIESELS IN THE DESERT March 7-8, 2025 Firebird Motorsports Park in Chandler, Arizona. For details, call (855) 658-4353 or visit www.nhrda.com today. MID-AMERICA TRUCKING SHOW March 27-29, 2025 Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville, Kentucky. For details call (502) 899-3892 or visit www.truckingshow.com. 75 CHROME SHOP TRUCK SHOW April 25-27, 2025 Held at 75 Chrome Shop in Wildwood, Florida. For details, call (866) 255-6206 or visit www.75chromeshop.com today. TRUCKIN’ FOR KIDS SHOW & DRAGS May 3-4, 2025 Held at Famoso Dragstrip in Bakersfield, California. For details, call (559) 338-2703 or visit www.truckinforkids.org. SOCAL ATHS ANTIQUE SHOW May 17, 2025 Southern California Railway Museum in Perris, California. Call (909) 851-6053 or visit www.socalaths.com today. NOR CAL SPRING FLING May 30-June 1, 2025 Tehama District Fairgrounds in Red Bluff, California. Call (530) 720-4266 or visit their FB page (Nor Cal Spring Fling). ATHS NATIONAL ANTIQUE SHOW June 5-7, 2025 Held at Alliant Energy Center in Madison, Wisconsin. For more details, call (816) 891-9900 or visit www.aths.org. WHEEL JAM TRUCK SHOW June 5-8, 2025 South Dakota State Fairgrounds in Huron, South Dakota. Call (605) 881-6725 or visit www.wheeljamtruckshow.com. ROY HUBBARD MEMORIAL TRUCK SHOW - June 13-14, 2025 Held at Zippel Park in Gillett, Wisconsin. For more info, call (920) 598-0145 or visit www.rhmts.com or find them on Facebook. OHIO VINTAGE TRUCK REUNION June 27-28, 2025 Ashland County Fairgrounds in Ashland, Ohio. Call (330) 682-1707 or visit www.ohvintrkreu.com for more details. SOUTHERN IDAHO TRUCK SHOW June 27-28, 2025 Twin Falls County Fairgrounds in Filer, Idaho. For details, call (208) 927-0218 or visit their page on Facebook. UNC'S SEMI STAMPEDE (DRAGS) June 27-29, 2025 Held at Kuhnle Motorsports Park in Thompson, Ohio. Call (440) 298-1350 or visit www.kuhnlemotorsports.com. WALCOTT TRUCKERS JAMBOREE July 10-11, 2025 Iowa 80 Truck Stop (I-80 exit 284) in Walcott, Iowa. Call (563) 284-6961 or visit www.iowa80truckstop.com today. DIRTY BUSINESS TRUCK SHOW July 18-19, 2025 Being held at HD Equipment in Ground Mound, Iowa. Call (563) 847-1895 or visit www.hdequipmentinc.com for details. GEAR JAMMER TRUCK SHOW July 18-19, 2025 New England Dragway in Epping, New Hampshire. Call (508) 212-9998 or visit www.gearjammermagazine.com. THE MIDWEST CLASSIC August 1-2, 2025 Burt County Fairgrounds in Oakland, Nebraska. Call (402) 630-8103 or visit their FB page (The Midwest Classic). GREAT SALT LAKE TRUCK SHOW August 15-16, 2025 Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, Utah (just south of Salt Lake City). Call (800) 877-1320 or visit www.saltlaketruckshow.com. BROOKS TRUCK SHOW August 22-23, 2025 Pacific Northwest Truck Museum in Brooks, Oregon. For details, call (503) 463-8701 or visit www.pacificnwtruckmuseum.org. NO COAST LARGE CARS SHOW August 30-31, 2025 Heritage Park in Forest City, Iowa. For details, call (641) 512-4505 or visit www.nocoastlargecarstruckshow.com. THE BIG IRON CLASSIC September 5-6, 2025 Dodge County Fairgrounds in Kasson, Minnesota. Call Jim at (507) 208-0222 or visit www.bigironclassic.com. DMF-OH 5 CHARITY SHOW & PULL September 20, 2025 Portage County Fairgrounds in Randolph, Ohio. For details, call (330) 351-1673 or visit their page on Facebook. GUILTY BY ASSOCIATION SHOW September 25-27, 2025 Held at 4 State Trucks in Jolin, Missouri. For details, call (888) 875-7787 or visit www.chromeshopmafia.com. MAYBERRY TRUCK SHOW September 26-27, 2025 Held at Bottomley Enterprises in Mt. Airy, North Carolina. Call (336) 673-3058 or visit www.mayberrytruckshow.com. SOZA MEMORIAL TRUCK SHOW September 26-28, 2025 Stanislaus County Fairgrounds in Turlock, California. For details, call (209) 261-3364 or visit their page on Facebook. UNC'S FALL BRAWL (DRAGS) September 26-28, 2025 Held at Kuhnle Motorsports Park in Thompson, Ohio. Call (440) 298-1350 or visit www.kuhnlemotorsports.com. CALIFORNIA TRUCKING SHOW October 4-5, 2025 Ontario Convention Center in Ontario, California. Call (909) 505-0400 or visit www.californiatruckingshow.com. BOBTAIL APPAREL TRUCK SHOW October 17-18, 2025 Dixon Fairgrounds in Dixon, California. For details, call (707) 408-4509 or visit www.bobtailapparel.com. STARS, STRIPES & WHITE LINES November 7-8, 2025 Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Georgia. Call (920) 979-0386 or find them on www.thetruckshowlist.com. 10-4 TRUCKER RODEO & SHOW November 7-9, 2025 Held at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway in Bakersfield, California. Call (559) 338-2703 or visit www.truckerrodeo.com. Calendar of Shows & Events 2025
10-4 Magazine / February 2025 27 Our dedicated contributors bring a little of everything to the trucking industry, including long-time contributor Norma Hannigan (71), a retired nurse from Newburgh, NY. Since 2003, she has brought useful health information to our readers with her quarterly “Health & Happiness” article. Norma had wanted to be a writer in high school and was prepared to go off to college with a major in English, but in an interesting turn of events, her name was announced during her senior year of high school that she earned the regents nursing scholarship – which she hadn’t applied for! With this opportunity, her mother, having been a nurse, didn’t think she should pass up the chance. After that, Norma definitely embraced the opportunity, racking up an impressive number of educational achievements including earning her Bachelor’s degree in nursing in 1975, Master’s degree in public health in 1983, Master’s degree in nursing in 1994, and her Doctorate in 2007. She married her husband Terry in 1975, and together they have three children. Norma’s experience in the medical field is vast, including working at a clinic in Laredo, TX that provided services to truck drivers. In the early 2000s, she mailed letters to a few trucking magazines proposing a regular column, and 10-4 was the only one wanting to move forward with her idea. Her first contribution appeared in our February 2003 issue. From 2007 to 2013, Norma was a faculty member at the Columbia School of Nursing and was nominated as a fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine. The interesting part was her contributions to 10-4 Magazine are what sold them on this nomination because it serves as a type of community service and was well received. In 2017, Terry (who has a doctorate in counseling psychology) retired, but still runs a small practice providing therapy. In 2018, Norma retired, and as she enjoys her retirement, she works as a standardized patient at a local medical school twice per semester. Standardized patients have a script to work off of which doesn’t allow Norma to give guidance, but merely present for students to practice questioning and examinations prior to beginning clinicals (real experience in a healthcare facility). In the February 2022 issue, Norma’s husband Terry (now 73) came on board to share the quarterly contributions, splitting the duties with Norma, which has brought a different perspective with mental health topics to the column. Look for one of these features for Terry in a future issue of 10-4. Though she doesn’t have a background in trucking or have family that was in the industry, her medical expertise has enabled her to contribute beneficial health information to our readers. We are grateful for the 22 years and counting contributions from Norma (and Terry) and for having both of them as part of our 10-4 family. n Who’s Who in 10-4 Magazine: By Stephanie Haas 22 YEARS AND COUNTING!
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Clint’s Creations: By Clint Moore because it was a replica of that truck. Following that philosophy, this next truck seen here was given #18, because there are now 18 people in the family (adding spouses and grandchildren). They also told me how every day they are at the office, they walk by a picture of their dad Butch standing next to a big Tuna he had caught on one of his many fishing excursions. Grabbing onto the fish story, it was decided that this Peterbilt would be called “Big Tuna” in remembrance of their dad. The very big Tuna he caught was known as a “super cow” – it was a Yellowfin Tuna that weighed 302 lbs. and was caught off the coast of San Diego, CA. At that point, it was decided that the truck’s wheelbase would be 302” in honor of dad’s 302-pound catch. The boys also knew the truck would have a 48” sleeper, as well. Of course, it needed to be painted in the official corporate blue color that the rest of their Peterbilt fleet is painted, too. During the order process, I was able to get approval for a few 389X limited editions with smaller sleepers. I was pretty excited to share with the guys how cool it was to not only be one of the last 389s, but “Big Tuna” would also be an even rarer 389X limited edition. They even allowed us the opportunity to secure number #1302 for this truck because #302 was already gone. I appreciate and want to thank the great group of people that make Peterbilt who they This month’s truck was for one of our friends and customers, Oldenkamp Trucking, from Bakersfield, California. We did an article in March of 2016 about their truck “The Legend” to help honor their dad, Butch Oldenkamp, who passed away in August of 2014. Well, a lot has changed since then, so I figured it might be time to do a follow-up article on these awesome folks. Growing at a fast pace for the last few years, John Oldenkamp called me and said that he and his brother Nathan had been talking about getting a new truck to pull a Landoll trailer to help move equipment from location to location, and they wanted it to honor their dad. After building “The Legend” rig, Nathan and his brother John started an interstate company in 2017 called Legend Milk Trans, Inc., which started their business partnership together as equals. Nathan became Vice president and CFO of Oldenkamp Trucking in 2018, and their mom Dana took a lesser role, but continued helping. A few years later, she sold Oldenkamp to the boys so she could spend more time being “Mimi” (grandma) to her ten grandchildren. In 2024, John and Nathan also bought into another company that hauls milk out in Texas. Their dad’s first truck was given the #5, because at the time, there were five people in their family – dad, mom, John, Nathan, and their sister. “The Legend” was also given that number 10-4 Magazine / February 2025 29 are. They are more than a brand – they are a group of hard working people that continue to produce trucks that represent the American dream, while still abiding by all the new and often difficult rules, and that has not been easy. After the truck showed up last winter, Mike was given the task of getting “Big Tuna” dialed in. Mike changed the grill to an OEM stock grill with extra bars, added a Lincoln 18” bumper with lights on the corners, and an air ride kit from NorCal customs. He then removed the factory polished fenders and skirts, and then Jimmy painted the fenders, along with the frame. Mike added small stainless skirts and new custom cowl panels, a special 32F drop visor, cab lights, and a full-function 7” exhaust. Mike also hid the DEF tank, my dad chopped the air cleaner screens, and breather lights were installed. The back got a painted Merritt deck plate with one of my hidden boxes, stainless Hogebuilt half-fenders, a Jim Crain light bar, and all the lights were changed to dual revolution blue LEDs, just like what “The Legend” Peterbilt got. While building this truck, the Oldenkamp family ordered a matching Landoll trailer from their local Landoll/KW dealer. The trailer was completed before the truck, so they moved it to our St. Joe location until the truck was done. We really appreciate Landoll for their help with this project – they make amazing equipment. To finish it off, Chad at C4 did the wet kit and hid everything, as well, so truck #18 would look as clean as possible while traveling from site to site. I appreciate the Oldenkamp family for their friendship and allowing our family at K.C. Peterbilt the opportunity to put together another truck to honor their dad. I am excited to see some road shots of “Big Tuna” out doing what it was built to do – work! Butch would be proud!! n BIG TUNA - BIG TRUCK Butch Oldenkamp Yellowfin Tuna 302.3 lbs.
30 10-4 Magazine / February 2025 909-990-5425 18651 Valley Blvd, Unit B Bloomington, CA 92316 Bumpers, Fenders, Grills, Lights, Stacks & More. WE INSTALL WHAT WE SELL TOY’S TRUCKS TRUCKS TOY S TRUCKS 4 Grand General
Special Feature: By Duncan Putman Unlike most of my friends, I love snow and winter. I love watching snow fall, skiing in it, playing with my dogs in it, and snow shoeing in the white stuff. Many of those same friends retired to the Carolinas or Florida area while my wife and I chose to retire in Western New York. With the warming climate, even Upstate New York is seeing milder temperatures and less snow even from only five or six years ago. Yes, the area around Erie, PA and Buffalo, NY still gets walloped with huge lake-effect snowstorms, often times dumping a couple of feet of snow in a single storm. The Buffalo Bills’ stadium gets piles of snow, and the local TV news will do reports of die-hard fans who line up with their snow shovels to clear it from the stands before some games. It’s easy to love snowy winters when one’s retired and doesn’t have to get to a daily job while driving through snow and ice. I was lucky as I was self-employed and when the roads got really bad and the car drivers showed no common sense, I just stayed home. But that’s not the case for so many workers who are either trying to get to their job or have a job which entails driving. Although I haven’t had a lot of truck driving experience, I’ve spent a lot of time in the passenger seats of many trucks attempting to get down the road in “iffy” conditions. Probably more so than many other professions, truck drivers are extremely vulnerable to changing weather and road conditions as part of the job of getting business done. This past December 2024, there were two or three incidents of quickly changing conditions which stranded many trucks and cars on the NY Thruway and other highways near the Erie-Buffalo area. More recently than that, there were large amounts of snow in some of the main, high passes in a Western state and, unfortunately, the mandatory truck chain warnings did not get posted in time, causing many 32 10-4 Magazine / February 2025 18-wheelers to start up steep, icy roads only to end up spinning out and sliding, which closed the roads for hours. A driver friend of mine recently battled the elements during a Midwest blizzard. After safely arriving at the drop point, he discovered that the facility was closed due to the snowstorm, and nobody was going to be there to accept the load until the local roads were cleared. But at least he made it to his destination! Even having clean, open roads, which makes driving easier, there are still problems in the bitter cold with frozen fuel and air lines and thick ice build-up on windshields and mirrors, making it TRUCKS AND SNOW!
10-4 Magazine / February 2025 33 hard to see. I can remember a driver I was with in the mid-70s who had to shoot almost a full can of ether down the air intake to get a 290 Cummins started in the cold (I don’t know whether ether is still used, but we all know it can cause a lot of problems when spraying too much). I have much admiration for the intrepid truck driver who has to be out in lousy winter conditions delivering goods throughout the more northern parts of the country. My hat’s off to you, ladies and gentlemen, of the trucking industry. With all this in mind, I thought I would share some random pics of trucks in the snow I’ve taken over the years. We also threw in some pictures of trucks in (or near) the snow that were featured in past issues of 10-4 Magazine. Please be safe out there, and if possible, avoid driving in the snow altogether. n
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In Memorial: By Stephanie Haas 2000. This house was originally built in 1822 and holds the status of the oldest house in Kenosha County. In 1976, on the 200th anniversary of our nation’s independence, Peterbilt was one of the truck makers to acknowledge that milestone by creating a limited edition line of trucks. Painted red, white and blue, and fitted with special extras, 100 cabovers and 100 conventional trucks were built. On September 13, 1976, Foxfire and a friend drove to United Diesel Services in Elmhurst, Illinois, to look at one of those rare, limited edition, Bicentennial Peterbilt 359 Patriots. Foxfire was not sold on the color, but once he opened the door and saw that Oxblood Classic interior, he bought the truck that day and took her home three days later. It is not the truck that makes the man, but rather the man that makes the truck. Many know this truck, a rolling representation of days gone by, and a truck that no matter the suggestions, remained in original condition through regular care and pride. Bryan was more than happy to offer help to the younger generation, taking them under his wing to guide them in the ways of trucking, and teach them how to do things the right way. He said the older generations know the way, but if they do not mentor the younger ones, real trucking and truck drivers will end up getting lost. We welcomed Bryan into the 10-4 family in July 2018 as our cover feature Bryan “Foxfire Cummins” Levernier (73) of Bristol, Wisconsin, passed away peacefully at home on January 17, 2025, with Claudia, his loving wife of 25 years, at his side. Born on June 4, 1951, in Highland Park, Illinois, Bryan later served in the United States Army and was stationed at Fort Hood, Texas. Bryan and his wife owned and operated Starship Transport together, a nationwide nursery stock hauling company. Bryan was known for his work ethic, easy smile, and his well-known Peterbilt 359. It is the first and only truck that he owned, and he spent 48 years and nearly five million miles in it, gaining respect from coast to coast. How do we remember Bryan – the man, the mentor, the husband, the veteran, the memories, the lessons, the laughs, the moments, the meetups, and the trucking. All these things embody Bryan (AKA Foxfire Cummins) as someone we looked up to, and he was known most importantly as our friend. Raised in Illinois, Bryan spent the beginning of his working years at the family nursery. He didn’t necessarily care for this line of work, but it helped him figure out what he wanted to do, thanks to the big trucks that would pass by the nursery. In 1969 he began his trucking career, but he took a hiatus when he was drafted into the Army. Bryan went on to serve our country from 1970-1972. After he and Claudia married in 1999, they bought a house in Bristol, Wisconsin, in 10-4 Magazine / February 2025 35 entitled “Two American Patriots.” I’m honored that I had the opportunity to tell his story and for the friendship we gained. In 2018, he had already cleared four million miles on the truck and didn’t quit adding miles on until the fall of 2024 when he became ill. On the morning of January 17, 2025, our lives were shaken when cancer took Bryan from us. A celebration will be held on Saturday, June 7, 2025, to commemorate Bryan’s birthday and his incredible life (time and location to be determined at a later date). In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund (truckersfund.org) or Truckers Final Mile (truckersfinalmile.org) in Bryan’s honor are appreciated. Arrangements were entrusted to the Strang Funeral Home. Please sign their online guest book for Bryan at www.strangfh.com. Our hearts are with Bryan’s wife Claudia and all those affected by this loss. Thoughts and prayers go out to everyone at this difficult time. Though he is gone, he will never be forgotten. Foxfire’s memory will live on in our hearts, minds, stories, and photos. n FAREWELL TO FOXFIRE
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