“FOR TODAY’S TRUCKER” JANUARY 2026 ® Magazine SINCE 1993! THE EVOLUTION OF OIL PURIFICATION IS AVAILABLE SOON THE FULL ROUNDUP FROM OUR RODEO & 3 OTHER SHOWS Wisconsin’s TJ Timblin and Blue Logistics... PLENTY OF BLUES
2 10-4 Magazine / January 2026
20 64 10 ® 52 FUN: WordSearch 45 • Truckertoon 49 • Red’s Rides 59 • Crossword 67 • NumberSearch 71 • Words To Live By 76 JANUARY 2026 CONTENTS VOLUME 33 ISSUE 5 COVER FEATURE TJ Timblin and Blue Logistics: Plenty of Blues ............... 10 PERFORMANCE ZONE A New Generation of Oil Purification & More .................. 17 TRUCK SHOW REPORT A Roundup from the 10-4 Trucker Rodeo & Show .......... 20 WHO’S WHO IN 10-4 Get to Know Longtime Contributor Troy Miller ................ 27 TROY’S TREASURES Shawn Carroll and His Latest Colorado Cruiser ............. 30 TRUCK SHOW REPORT The California Trucking Show in Ontario, CA .................. 34 THE VETERAN’S VIEW New Perspective from a New Vantage Point ................... 46 OUT OF THE ARCHIVES Another Old Gem from Bette Garber’s Collection .......... 51 TRUCK SHOW REPORT 10-4 Magazine Gets Center Stage in Dixon, CA ............. 52 CLINT’S CREATIONS Fun Conversations with Keith Spinar .............................. 57 A TRUCKING DOG’S BLOG A Dirty Dog Dilemma and a Disgusted Driver ................. 60 THE BOOKWORM SEZ... Learning to Love and Embrace Winter ............................ 63 TRUCK SHOW REPORT Horsepower and Heart Combine in Lufkin, TX ............... 64 POETRY IN MOTION Trevor Shows Some Love for His Freightliner FLD ......... 69 TRUCKER TALK 46 Years of Trucking and a “Little Bit of Heaven” ............ 72
8 10-4 Magazine / January 2026 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: Bruce Mallinson• Kim Jaikes • Trevor Hardwick Dennis Mitchell • Stephanie Haas • Clint Moore Mark Harter • Duncan Putman • K.M. Stanfield Eric Hill • Colin Kund • Terence P. Hannigan Miss Flatbed Red • Kasey Aslinger • Ryan Rosetta Troy Miller • Terri "Bookworm" Schlichenmeyer WEBSITE: MEDIA: Magazine PHONE:
Cover Feature: By Stephanie Haas Tanner and one of his buddies that used to work for the company, would deliver all the loads that came in. The company then transitioned to flatbed, stepdeck, and RGN work, which included hauling Army trucks for a company in Wisconsin. But, as time went on, rates were getting cut by other carriers, so they got out of that line of work. Throughout all these transitions, not only was TJ learning the ins and outs of driving, but he was also learning the company operations, as well, along with maintenance of the trucks. Blue Leasing Through the years in our beloved industry, trucking companies have been known for the services they provide, but more importantly, the trucks out there on the road. A truck is in essence a rolling business card showcasing the company’s pride when it shows up at a warehouse, construction site, yard, or one of the many other locations a truck will load or unload. Not being biased because it is my home state, but I can think of plenty of large trucking companies in Wisconsin that bring cool to the roadways – and one that brings plenty of blues, too (not only are the trucks blue, but the companies are named Blue Leasing Corporation, Inc. and Blue Logistics Company LLC). The following is a story of Trevor “TJ” Timblin (35) of Kewaskum, WI, his love of cool trucks, and his Kenworth W900 that caught my attention. Third generation strong in his family of truckers following his grandfather (Henry), and father (Trev), TJ has obtained plenty of knowledge and experience in the industry from a very early age. All along his mom had said not to get into trucking, but that was all he knew, and it was inevitable that trucking was what he would get into. He learned how to drive around the age of 14 while moving trucks and trailers around in the yard so he could wash them on Saturdays which, back then, working in the shop was a cool thing to do. There used to be a time when kids learned not only by watching, but there are times they were only shown once, then put in a truck to just figure it out, which is how TJ learned. There was training because Trev rode with TJ for a while when he had his permit, then, right when he turned 18, he got his CDL. Starting out when the company had refrigerated trailers, TJ would get trailers preloaded for the over the road drivers, so the loads were ready to go. On the flip side, with those same drivers that came in with loaded trailers to deliver in the local area, he, along with his brother 10 10-4 Magazine / January 2026 PLENTY OF BLUES
10-4 Magazine / January 2026 11 Corporation, which evolved from Trev Timblin Trucking in 2001, began getting into a lot of van and end dump work. In 2016, it was decided that Blue Leasing would split to have a sister company, Blue Logistics Company. Blue Leasing would take care of all the dry van loads with the over the road work, while Blue Logistics would focus on the local and regional hauling, including the scrap metal, which they were hauling a lot. October 10, 2012, TJ went to a garage party, where he met Justice, who he said, “I’m going to marry that girl.” They did get married on October 17, 2015, and have since had two sons, Truett and Tate. In the summer of 2023, TJ found a truck at an auction, and the best part is that it was not only painted factory blue, but it had a matching factory blue button tuck interior. After the truck was brought home, it was repainted in their company blue color in the fall of 2023. TJ put it on the road in February of 2024, but he wasn’t finished with it, yet. Not long after, I got a glimpse of this truck, and to my shock, it wasn’t a Peterbilt – it was a Kenworth. Blue Leasing has always been known for its cool Peterbilts through the years, and I’ve seen the trucks both in person and in pictures since probably their inception in 2001, only a few years after I got into some part of the trucking industry. What was their consistency? The unmistakable Bahama Blue that they have incorporated into every one of their trucks, including the Pictured W900. I had taken an interest in this truck partly because it had a different look than most trucks, including TJ’s twist on the 007 Kenworth stripes, but TJ said he had more he wanted to do to the truck, so I opted to bide my time and wait. The truck is parked in the winter, and in May 2025, TJ set out to stretch the frame. A 2019 Kenworth T680 was purchased at an auction which was used for the frame stretch. Between TJ and shop partner Jake Kopeschka, they did all the work on the truck except for the paint, graphics, and pinstriping. The most recent version of the truck you see today is a 2000 Kenworth W900L with a Cummins N14, 13-speed transmission, 2.64 rears, and a 308-inch wheelbase. The truck also sports 7-inch Dynaflex stacks, a Lincoln Chrome front bumper, and Hogebuilt fenders that have been in the upstairs of their shop for over 20 years as the fenders were originally intended for one of the old show trucks. It’s funny how some things can stand the test of time while others cannot! Finally complete (for now), we worked on a convenient weekend for me to come out to photograph the truck. Those who know me know I am a diehard red oval (Peterbilt) girl, but this truck was sharp, so I just knew I had to feature it! And, to top it off, it was hooked to a beautiful, painted-to-match, 2023 Coras end dump – one cool combination. The truck has a Cummins engine until, as TJ said, “When I decide to put it down again, it will get a new motor, and it ain’t going to be a Cummins!”
12 10-4 Magazine / January 2026 Shoutout to those who had a hand in the truck including TD-Graphics out of Kewaskum for the stripes and Karen at KB Lettering. Karen is responsible for the beautiful pinstriping on not only this truck, but many other trucks the two family companies own. I met TJ for the first time at the 2017 Guilty By Association Truck Show (GBATS) in Joplin, MO where he was awarded a calendar spot for the show’s 2018 calendar with his 1985 Peterbilt 359 daycab. I have always been a fan of cool daycabs, and this truck was no exception, with the top being chopped four inches, a Peterbilt emblem shaped rear window cut in the back wall, a stretched frame with a Peterbilt low air leaf cutoff, and a custom ostrich leather interior. ChrisFiffieofBigRigVideos and I worked together photographing the trucks for the calendar that year, which is how I had the opportunity to meet TJ for thefirsttime. Butbringingcooltrucksto big shows didn’t start or stop there. In 2016, TJ and a few other drivers went to the Mid-America Trucking Show in March where they brought four Blue Leasing trucks including the previously mentioned 359, a 1982 Pete 362 cabover that TJ’s grandpa bought new, a 1987 Peterbilt 359, and a 2017 Peterbilt 389 Pride and Class (I was at MATS that year but did not meet TJ). If you saw photos or videos from that year at MATS, the epic four-wide formation around the Circle of Champions loop was amazing to witness! TJ has taken plenty of trucks to SuperRigs, as well, including Tulsa, OK in 2017 with the 389, and Branson, MO in 2022 with the cabover. Oddly, all these years, including the Waupun Truck-N-Show, TJ and I hadn’t crossed paths anywhere until GBATS 2017. Unfortunately, TJ never had the opportunity to know his grandfather Henry, because he passed away when TJ was only a couple years old. He said he would’ve definitely looked up to him and would’ve been able to learn a lot from him,too. Themostinfluentialpeople in TJ’s life are his parents because he learned about going to work, what it meant to work hard, and working until the work is done. He is grateful for his father to still be around, but due to early onset Alzheimer’s, he lost his mother about three years ago. He said she was one of the nicest ladies ever, and she did all the accounting and computer work for the companies. Something most may not know, unless you’ve been around him, is that TJ has a prosthetic on his left leg. Due to an accident when he was 20, he lost his leg from just below his knee and down. One wouldn’t know by the way he carries himself, but back then, he had a month’s stay in the hospital, 14 surgeries, and had to retake his road test to get his CDL back again. Today, their two companies are based out of West Bend, WI with a shop complete with multiple bays including a wash bay, and a storage building for
10-4 Magazine / January 2026 13 those trucks we’ve seen parked at some notable shows and rolling through the judging lines and parades. The company owns 20 trucks and around 30 trailers, being mostly end dumps and dry vans, but also stepdecks, RGNs, and hotshots. They strive to make it a family dynamic at their companies versus a corporate dynamic to make it a good place to work. They take pride in the trucks, both mechanically and in appearance, which the employees appreciate. Besides driving, he and Jake team up to manage the shop with servicing, fabricating, and when there is “spare” time, building trucks. Finding loads and doing the paperwork also happens in addition to driving and shop work. The shop work is done in the evenings, when they get back from driving, and on the weekends. All service and repairs are done in-house apart from paint work, because they don’t have room for a paint booth. As previously mentioned, TJ and Justice, along with Truett (8) and Tate (4), reside in Kewaskum. When there is free time, TJ is all about hanging out with his family and doing various activities including fishing, hunting and golfing. He coaches Truett and they also play golf together, which Justice also enjoys. We photographed on two different days, back in July and then in October, to capture some fall colors. Those two days took us to their customer’s scrap yard where Blue Logistics often loads, a
14 10-4 Magazine / January 2026 cul-de-sac by their shop, running up and down Highway 45 around West Bend, an old quarry in Kewaskum for some (what we had hoped for) light shots and sunrise photos, a couple side roads with a bridge or overpass above, and running one of the main roads outside of West Bend to get a good view of the fall colors. We (TJ, Jake and I) had a great time, enjoyed plenty of laughter, great conversation, and ended the photography in July just in time to get the truck parked and get to our lunch destination before the sky opened up and the rain poured down. Up until that point, it was a nice day, with a variation of sunshine and cloudy skies. During the October portion of the shoot, it was a perfect day of sunshine, but that was only a short session, for a few specific photos. Special thanks from TJ to his wife Justice because he absolutely couldn’t do any of this without her. He really appreciates her understanding of the family business, the way she handles everything at home and with the kids, and for all her love and support. Shoutout and thanks goes to Jake for not only all the work on this truck but also working alongside TJ on all the shop work, and for his reliability as a driver, as well. In short, Jake is great at dealing with TJ’s wild and sometimes stupid ideas, and they are a great team. Thank you to TJ for the continued friendship through the years, for getting the opportunity to learn more about the companies, your time to be able to photograph the truck, and meeting your beautiful family. In the business world, the color blue is associated with trust, honesty, and dependability. And for Blue Leasing and Blue Logistics, where there are plenty of blues, it is more than just the color of the trucks or the names on the doors – it is their signature and calling card, which highlights their consistency, pride, and work ethic throughout their companies. As always, to all the drivers out there doing the deal, truck safe. n
2026 Be sure to see our January 2026 flyer for more great specials. Flyers available online and in-store. Franklin Truck Parts
10-4 Magazine / January 2026 17 The Performance Zone: By Bruce Mallinson Downtime is always a surprise, at least that is what people say. In the real world, most engine failures do not show up like lightning. They are a slow grind – heat, soot, fine debris, and oil that keeps doing its job until it doesn’t. Because the truck still starts and pulls, it is easy to pretend everything is fine, until it’s sitting on the side of the road. That is the whole point of OPS (Oil Purification System) Gen 2. It is built for the miles between oil changes, where the damage actually happens, caused by microscopic contamination circulating through tight clearances all day, every day, wearing things down one invisible scrape at a time. You can run good oil, you can have a clean-looking dipstick, and you can still be grinding away at bearings and rings, trying to “save money” in the most expensive way possible. OPS Gen 2 leans hard into filtration because that is where it counts. Using a synthetic micro glass filter designed to catch particles down to 3 microns, OPS Gen 2 captures stuff you are not going to see, feel, or brag about, but the stuff that contributes to long-term wear. Long-term wear is how you end up writing five-figure checks while telling yourself it “came out of nowhere.” Keeping that contamination out of circulation is how you make the engine’s life easier and your wallet less emotionally involved in your maintenance plan. Gen 2 also takes a more modern approach to system design. Engines built since the mid to late 2000s often run hot enough, depending on duty cycle and operating temps, that some of the liquid contaminants can be driven off during normal operation. So, instead of leaning on an external evaporator as the centerpiece, Gen 2 keeps filtration and monitoring as the main act. Translation: fewer extra parts to mount, fewer things to route, and fewer “creative” installation solutions that look good until service day. Let’s talk about the part that directly saves you money. OPS Gen 2 gives you real-time visibility into oil condition, so you can make smarter decisions instead of changing oil on a calendar because that is how it has always been done. When you can see what the oil is doing, you can tell the difference between oil that is actually done and oil that is still serviceable. That means you are not dumping good oil, and you are not gambling by running oil past its usefulness either. It can also help you identify when you need to add base oil to maintain the proper level and keep the oil performing correctly. In plain terms, it helps you decide whether to change the oil, add base, or let it keep going. Now let’s talk about oil sampling. The old way usually involves a mess, wasted time, and someone saying they will do it later. Later turns into never and never turns into guessing. OPS Gen 2 includes a push-button sampling valve, which means you can pull a clean sample quickly without turning it into a production. When sampling is easy, it happens, and oil analysis becomes useful instead of decorative. One oil report does not tell you much. It is a snapshot. With consistent samples, you can track contamination patterns, wear metal movement, and changes that indicate that something might be going sideways, catching problems early instead of catching them with a tow bill and a hotel receipt. Gen 2 is designed for versatile mounting on the frame and runs under constant oil pressure, which helps around A NEW EVOLUTION OF OPS AND MORE real chassis limitations and makes installs repeatable and serviceable across multiple units. Finally, Pittsburgh Power is involved as part of the OPS Gen 2 system, not just as a logo on the box. Our team helps monitor results and supports fleets and owner operators with real mechanical advice rooted in decades of seeing what fails, why it fails, and what “normal” actually looks like. Because oil analysis does not help if you do not know what to do with it, and what you really need is a clear plan and straight answers. OPS Gen 2 will be available soon. On a final note, I took over Diesel Injection from Chuck Passmore on December 1, 1977. Later, we changed the name to Pittsburgh Power, and this month marks the start of our 49th year in business. Our emphasis has always been on performance, longevity and fuel mileage. Working with owner operators and small fleets for 48 years, our customers have proven the industry wrong. For years I was told I would never be successful giving truck drivers horsepower and torque, but with your help, we proved them wrong. I want to thank many of you owner operators for your friendship, loyalty, and giving me the opportunity to make your life better (along with mine). Please consider joining me at the annual Owner Operator Snowmobile Conference in Dayton, WY at Bear Lodge on February 18-22, 2026. Our speaker and tour director is Mike Johnson, retired US Army and now an owner operator. Mike was in the Army for 21 years and will talk about being a sniper. The phone number for Bear Lodge is (307) 753-2444. This is the 20th year for the snowmobile conference, and it is always a great time, so don’t miss it! For more information, feel free to call us at (724) 360-4080. n
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20 10-4 Magazine / January 2026 Most truck shows are relaxing events that include a lot of sitting around and talking with fellow drivers, business associates, and friends – not a bad thing at all, and something we enjoy doing immensely as we travel the country each year attending, participating, and being on display as vendors at trucking events. But the “10-4 Trucker Rodeo & Show” is a different kind of event, featuring fun (and sometimes silly) trucker skills competitions throughout the weekend, keeping the participants and attendees both busy and entertained. Now in its second year, the 2025 event, held again at Kevin Harvick’s Kern Raceway in Bakersfield, CA on November 7-9, 2025, grew exponentially this year. After a successful first-ever event in 2024, we learned a lot and made a few adjustments and improvements for the 2025 event, which included introducing new competition classes and modifying some of the existing classes, expanding the size of the show lot to accommodate more vendors and trucks, and adding a few new fun events, including Trucker Karaoke on Saturday night, which was a lot of fun and a huge hit. Last year the show brought in about 150 trucks, but this year we saw that number increase to around 275. And since about 95% of those trucks were full combinations, you can imagine the space it took to accommodate them all. We basically ran out of space at the perfect time and did not have to turn anyone away. Friday, November 7, was the “load in” day for vendors to get set up and trucks to begin getting parked – and it was a busy day, as our amazing team of helpers and volunteers parked 175 trucks that day. Not expecting Saturday to be very busy at the truck gate, we were blown away when another 100 trucks rolled in to get parked! We also offered golf carts for rent this year, and that turned out to be a very popular thing (the carts sold out for the weekend pretty quickly). The official show shirts and hoodies went fast, too. After getting delivered to us a little late on Saturday morning, even though we ordered more than last year, they were all sold out by early Sunday morning, as well. Kern Raceway is a great facility, sitting on 125 acres, with a high-banked half-mile oval race track and grandstand seating (and luxury suites) for thousands of fans. There is even a tunnel going to the track’s infield, which is where all the trucker skills competitions are held. And with 12 events including four classes of backing, a transfer dump competition, equipment loading, tire changing, loudest stereo, cow loading, hay loading and unloading with a squeeze and a boom, and a burnout contest, we were very busy both days – but especially Saturday. Competitions began at around 11:00 AM Saturday morning and didn’t finish until about 7:00 PM that night. For most of the backing contests, to make it harder, we decreased the width Truck Show Report: By Daniel J. Linss of the “chute” by six inches and made it ten feet longer, which proved to be much more difficult. Last year, drivers were backing hammer-down through the chutes without hitting any of the cones, but this year they were knocking down and running over tons of them – so many, in fact, we almost ran out of “straight” cones to use. I think next year we will increase the chutes back to their original width and decrease the length, making them 10 feet wide x 30 feet long. We also might modify the rules to allow the cones to be “touched” as long as they are not knocked over. Stay tuned. One of our new classes this year was Heavy Equipment Loading, which turned out to be a great success, and a lot of fun. Obviously, we want trucker skills to be highlighted in these contests, but we also don’t want to take it too seriously, because this is all just for fun (well, there are amazing custom belt buckles at stake, too)! So, in this case, our “heavy equipment” were little John Deere pedal tractors with trailers attached. Drivers were required to back up around a curve and then through two cones spaced 10 feet RODEO ROUNDUP
10-4 Magazine / January 2026 21 apart. Once their front bumper cleared the cones, they had to shut off their truck, exit the cab, run to their awaiting pedal tractor, ride it back to their trailer, and then load and strap it on their deck. If you haven’t seen any of the videos of these big strapping truck drivers riding those little pedal tractors, you really need to, because it was hilarious. Once the competitions were done for the day, we headed out to the parking lot where the light show, held this year in honor of the late Harm Speerstra and Jack Miles, was already glowing in full display – and what a display it was. I’ve been to a lot of truck shows over the past 30 years, and I have to say (even if it sounds biased) this was one of the most amazing sights I’ve ever seen at a truck show. All the photos and videos are awesome, but they don’t even do it justice. Then, at about 8:30 that night, the Trucker Karaoke party started, and I think that was my favorite part of the weekend. Everyone was just having fun, hanging out, laughing and singing – it was exactly what we wanted it to be. At the end of the night (at about 11:30 PM), the coveted Karaoke Champion trophy was awarded to our resident cowboy crooner and friend Marty Miles. With daytime temperatures in the mid to upper 70s and nighttime temps in the mid to lower 50s, the weather was perfect all weekend. On Sunday, the competitions began at around 10:30 and started with the always popular cow loading. After backing up to a portable cattle chute and opening all their doors and ramps, contestants have to load three inflated vinyl cows, one at a time, into the nose of their trailer. But this year, to make it a little more difficult (and fun), we put numbers on the cows, in various places, and each driver had to find either the even or odd numbered cows to load. It was fun watching them look for the numbers, as we put some of them in “funny” places (like under their tail). After the cow loading was done and the buckle was awarded once again to Ronnie DeVries Jr. (now a two-time cow loading champion), it was time for the hay squeeze competition. Again, to make it more challenging, this year we switched from big bales to small bales, and also added a few other obstacles, which proved to make the contest much more difficult. This year, we made the drivers start outside of their squeeze, and also on the back side of the haystack, so when the air horn sounded to start the race, they had to jump in their squeeze, drive around the stack, load and then unload three blocks of hay, then sprint between two cones without hitting them to complete their run. In addition to earning a buckle, this year, the winner also received a certificate for (2) free Pirelli steer tires, compliments of our friends Nick and Dylan at Cost Per Mile Tire in Fresno, CA. After the squeeze contest ended, it was time to start setting up for the hay boom competition. While this process was happening, we took advantage of the downtime and handed out a few raffle prizes to the participants that registered
22 10-4 Magazine / January 2026 for the show early. Thanks to Valley Chrome, A&L, Hogebuilt, and Dane Nelson Bugshields for donating some great prizes. Another contest we had this year included our vendors. Attendees were given “Vendor Stamp Cards” and, if they got all the vendors to stamp their card, they were entered to win a cool custom table, made by our friend Tom Donaldson, out of a polished truck wheel, encircled in wood strips (like a barrel), with a glass top. Big thanks to Tom for donating this super cool table, worth about $600! Once the raffle prizes were handed out and the Vendor Stamp Card winner was announced, it was time to reveal the winners of the Show & Shine trophies. Four of these five awards, which were all determined by a competitor’s choice vote, were made by Rockwood Products. These same four were all sponsored by our friends Troy and Tanya Charboneau ofKTCharboneauTrucking. Thefifth award, for best engine, which was also determined by a competitor’s choice vote, was sponsored by Chris Rocha of C. Rocha Enterprises and made by our friends at Pickett Custom Trucks. The beautiful custom belt buckles for all the competition winners were, for the second year in a row, sponsored by our friend Jeff Botelho of Botelho Custom Trucks. We would like to thank all these sponsors for helping us have an event we are proud to host and produce. For the Hay Boom competition, this year we had five teams of two, all running at the same time, competing for the buckles. Having to “boom on” 48 small bales, then jump in the truck and back up about 80 yards, then hand unload and stack them, it was a fierce and fun competition, with the winning team finishing just a few seconds before the second place team. Yes, there was some blood, sweat and tears (literally), along with a puke or two, but these guys put on one hell of a show for the fans. And those old boom trucks, mostly from the 70s and 80s, are just the coolest. The final event was the burnout contest, and Mark Tarascou in his old Peterbilt 359 transfer proved he is a hard guy to beat. After his burnout, he left a big steaming pile of rubber on the track, and as he did his victory lap, it caught fire, forcing the track’s safety crew to go out and extinguish it. And this was no small fire – the flames were like three feet in diameter and two or three feet high. It was a pretty intense way to end the day and the show, but everyone loved it. And, as an added bonus to the belt buckle, Mark was awarded (4) Pirelli drive tires once again from Nick and Dylan at Cost Per Mile Tire in Fresno, CA. We can’t thank CPM enough for deciding to donate all these tires, and I’m sure Mark will be needing a set after that smokin’ burnout he did! In addition to all the companies and individuals that sponsored and/or donated the items mentioned before, we also had sponsors for each of our competition events. These sponsors included Double E Trucking, Hettinga Trans, Central Valley Transport, Interstate Truck Sales, Hammett Excavation, Fletcher’s Diesel, Lagomarsino Transport, Silva Trucking, Rollin’ R Enterprises, Maggini & Son Trucking, Kimm Hay, and Ten West Towing. We also had 27 vendors that came out to support the event, and we can’t thank them enough. Ten West Towing also provided the American flag on the edge of the track, as well as a huge American flag out in the parking lot, held up by two of their amazing rotators, and flanked by several of their cool heavy duty wreckers. Thank you!! What makes this event so unique, in addition to all the fun trucker skills • Live Special Guests • 10-4 Magazine News • Truck Show Coverage • Trucking Discussions • Interact w/Team 10-4 • And Much More Fun! Join John Testa for the “Studio 10-4 LIVE!” Weekly Update on Facebook & YouTube! Wednesdays @ 5:00 pm (PST) @“Ten Four Magazine”
10-4 Magazine / January 2026 23
24 10-4 Magazine / January 2026 competitions, is the fact that it is truly a grass roots movement – our sponsors are mostly local trucking companies and friends, and everyone who helps us put it together and run it are all volunteers, friends, and family. And let me tell you, it takes a lot of folks to run an event like this, as we had almost 40 people onsite for the weekend, not counting the track personnel. Special thanks to Tim and Will and their crew at Kern Raceway for all their help and support. Some final “thank yous” would include Kris and Angelina Gaare for all their help before, during, and after the show, along with “Okie Dan” Jacobson, Marty Miles, and Pierson Gravance. Also, thanks to DeVries Transport for providing the portable cattle chutes, B&G Hay for bringing some of the hay and helping us with the hay squeeze and boom competitions, Chavira & Sons for providing hay and helping with the squeeze contest, West Coast Equipment for providing the trailers for the hay squeeze competition, Jimmy Perry at Fresno Equipment for donating the John Deere pedal tractors and trailers, and Central Valley Transport for providing the trailer and extra tires for the tire changing contest. Lastly, thanks to our new friends at Heavy Power Systems (HPS) and Keep It Running Mobile Truck Repair for stepping up at the last minute and helping us with the tire changing contest. You guys were super awesome and a lot of fun. Typically, at a truck show, I take my own pictures, but obviously, running this one, I was not able to do that. With a few of our key contributors not able to be at the event, we were forced to hire some outside help, but I am sure glad we did. BringinginJimmyMillerofMiller Media and Kara Mathews of Bar M Media, these two were running around all weekend, working their butts off, taking photos and videos of as much as they could. I cannot personally thank them enough for their help, and they get all the credit for the pictures you see here (and the videos you will see later). One more person to mention would be John “JT” Testa, my right-hand man out on the track all weekend, helping emcee and doing the play-by-play during all the trucker skills competitions. To address the space and dust issue for next year, the track has already begun expanding the parking lot space and is committed to having it paved, to some degree,bynextyear. Ourfingersare crossed for that to happen, and we will keep you posted about that throughout the year. Next year’s dates are set for November 6-8, 2026, once again at the same location, and we are committed to keep learning, growing, and improving this event. If you want to have a good time that is drama-free and reminiscent of the shows of yesteryear, we invite you to come out and attend and/or participate in the 10-4 Trucker Rodeo & Show in 2026 – you will not regret it! n
10-4 Magazine / January 2026 25 COMPETITION CLASS BUCKLE WINNERS: CLOSED BODY BACKING: Levi Dominguez (with a penalty-free time of 30.71 seconds). OPEN DECK BACKING: Ryan Feijo (with a penalty-free time of 26.93 seconds). TRUCK & TRAILER BACKING: Chris Sotello (with a penalty-free time of 44.95 seconds). DOUBLES BACKING: Kenny Maino (1 minute 6 seconds, beating Mike Maggini by 3 seconds). TRANSFER CONTEST: Chris Yates (who hustled the most and earned a time of 3 minutes 20 seconds). EQUIPMENT LOADING: Stan Silva III (with a time of 1:37.53, which was 1 second faster than Colton Pounds’ 2nd place time of 1:38.58). TIRE CHANGING: Fernando Garibay (with a time of 7 minutes 28 seconds). LOUDEST STEREO: Luis Ruiz of LR Transport (130.60 decibels) – OUCH!! COW LOADING: Ronnie DeVries Jr. (2 minutes 15 seconds) – he’s a 2-time champion. HAY LOADING (SQUEEZE): Robert Munoz (with a penalty-free time of 2 minutes 30 seconds). HAY LOADING (BOOM): Ross Detweiler and Raymond Juarez (6 minutes 17 seconds). BURNOUT COMPETITION: Mark Tarascou in his blue Peterbilt 359 Transfer/Dump Truck. BEST INTERIOR: Billy Ezernack/Double E, Light Grey and Purple 2024 Peterbilt 389. BEST ENGINE: Stan Silva Jr./Stan Silva Trucking, Turquoise 2024 Peterbilt 389X. BEST LIGHTS: Stan Silva Jr./Stan Silva Trucking, Turquoise 2024 Peterbilt 389X. BEST BOBTAIL: Dylan Badders/DTB Trucking, Purple and Gold 2005 Kenworth W900L. BEST COMBINATION: Andrew Tremper/Andrew Tremper Trucking, Red and Cream 2024 Peterbilt 389 and matching Western drop-deck. COMPETITOR’S CHOICE SHOW & SHINE AWARDS:
26 10-4 Magazine / January 2026 David's Radiator Service 1230 W. Anaheim St. Wilmington, CA 90744 Local (310) 830-4013 Fax (310) 830-6418 REPLACE YOUR PLASTIC RADIATOR WITH A MORE EFFICIENT 4-ROW COPPER & BRASS REPLACEMENT. 35% MORE COOLING - CALL FOR A FREE QUOTE! • Truck, Automotive & Industrial • Plastic Radiators • A/C SERVICE • Plastic Coated Fuel Tanks • Delivery Available • Se Habla Español Pacific Coast Hwy. Anaheim Street Figueroa St. 405 110 1-800-RADS-N-AC 1-800-7237-6-22 HOURS: Mon-Fri 8-5 & Sat 8-2
10-4 Magazine / January 2026 27 Asafirst-generationtrucker,TroyMiller(34)knewhewantedtogetintotruckingsincehewasachild. Hewasbornandraised inColorado,wherehestillresidestoday. Hisconnectionto10-4Magazinestartedin1999. Whilesearchingtheinternetfortruck photos,hestumbleduponourwebsite,backwhenablaringhornsoundedwhenyouhitthehomepage. Afterseveralemailexchanges, TroymetourveryownDan,Shannon,Erik,andJeanatthe2003LasVegasTruckShow. Notlongafter,12-year-oldTroywas contributing to the magazine, with his first entry published in April 2004 titled “Westerners” that featured Sterling and Grant Walker andtheirfather,alongwithoneoftheirtrucks. Inhighschool,TroytookaFineArtsclasstograduate. Later,heobtainedaBachelor ofArtsdegreeinEnglishLiteratureandcontinuestostudyFrench. Thatclassbackinhighschoolturnedintofivemoresemesters andsomethingheappliesregularlytothisday–photography. Astheyearswenton,Troybecameambitiousinchallenginghimself throughout life including studying philosophy and maintaining a healthy and disciplined life on the road, having chosen to be vegan becauseitwassomethingthatworkedforhim. Hisextensiveexperienceintruckingwasdrivenbyadesiretocontinuelearning andchallenginghimselfwithawideandimpressivevarietyofdifferenttypesofhauling. Histruckingexperienceincludesheavy haul, dry van, refrigerated, power only, hazmat, moving drill rigs with winch trucks, low boys, flatbeds, stepdecks, heavy wrecker towing,dumptrucks,pintlehitchtrailers,andevenworkasaheavyequipmentoperator. Histruckingtravelsnotonlyinclude44 of the continental 48 states, Canada, and the Yukon Territories, but Troy also spent three winters in Alaska andmadeoverfiftychallengingtripstoPrudhoeBay. TheprimarymenwhotaughtTroyhowtodrivewere BobbyEwingandGaryDisher,andbothhadahandinmakingTroythedriverheistoday. ToTroy,his parents are his world, and he appreciates the opportunities he has to help them where he can, and be able to havequalitytimewiththem,aswell. Whenaskedabout10-4Magazine,Troyappreciatesthatitshowcases industry pride and the fruits of hard work, focusing on these positive aspects rather than being a publication centeredonregulations. Themagazinefeaturespeople,companies,andtruckswhobuiltsomuchofthis industry. TroyMillercreditshisinvolvementwith“Team10-4”fortheopportunitieshehashadandthe connections he has made, including those who taught him how to drive and gave him a chance, and also allowing him to meet a lot of amazing people – experiences he says he would never trade. n Who’s Who in 10-4 Magazine: By Stephanie Haas ALWAYS UP FOR A CHALLENGE
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Troy’s Treasures: By Troy Miller Since 1982, J&J Handy Trucking of Penrose, CO has been a perennial sight on the front range of Colorado transporting aggregate and bulk materials in their various dump trucks. Always kept clean, J&J Handy’s power units are a testament to the family-owned and operated company’s pride, both in their drivers and their customers. Eleven years ago, we first featured Shawn Carroll and his extremely clean 2006 Peterbilt 379. Just twenty-seven years old at the time, Shawn ran his 379 and East end dump daily, keeping up on company contracts and customer’s needs. Today, at thirty-eight years old, Shawn has taken over the bulk of the day-to-day operations management, with his Uncle John Handy largely acting as a silent partner in the company. Opening their doors in April of 1982 under Shawn’s late grandpa Jack Handy and John Handy (thus the “J&J Handy” name), Shawn became involved in the company at an early age. Like many who grew up in trucking families, as soon as Shawn was old enough to be riding in the truck with Uncle John or Grandpa Jack, he was! But those rides and that involvement in the company were predicated on Shawn keeping up his performance in school, as well. Earning his restricted CDL at 18, Shawn had been rebuilding a 1992 Peterbilt 379 through his high school years, which was his late Grandpa Jack’s last truck. Simultaneously putting in time with the Penrose Volunteer Fire Department, Shawn was very busy. Three years ago, Uncle John began handing the reigns over to Shawn on daily operations management. With the constant and consistent support of his family, employees and customers, Shawn has grown J&J Handy Trucking to ten power units and eighteen trailers, which brings us to the rig featured on these pages. With Uncle John preparing to retire and J&J Handy being in the market to add another truck to the fleet, Uncle John mentioned that he would like J&J Handy to have a brand-new truck built in memory of Grandpa Jack. Contacting John Kernen of MHC in Pueblo, CO, they had a new 2025 W900L in white and orange (Shawn’s favorite colors) sitting on the lot. The truck was nearly perfect, but the tanks were a bit small to run split tanks for hydraulics, it was equipped with the lower-output 565 Cummins, and there was no window in the sleeper. John Kernen had a slot open for Kenworth’s 30 10-4 Magazine / January 2026 COLORADO CRUISER
10-4 Magazine / January 2026 31 2026 build orders and, being in the midst of PACCAR’s announcement of the discontinuation of the W900, J&J Handy got their order in, and that order is the 2026 W900L seen on these pages. Painted Pearl White and Flame Orange, the flat-glass Kenworth, with a 42-inch flattop sleeper, has a decidedly retro vibe. Referencing many of the West Coast cool factors from the 70s, 80s and 90s, the truck features a color-matched Nelson bug shield, Hogebuilt stainless fenders on blind mount brackets from 4 State Trucks, T-Kane hub covers, and stainless cab and sleeper light panels featuring 2-inch round lights. With lots of custom lettering, pinstriping and art along the entire truck and trailer from Cassie Evancich of Cassie Custom Art, the combo has a distinctive retro touch. Upgraded to a Seattle package interior, the truck is kept clean and understated, with the bunk spec’d for Georgia and Cash, Shawn and Brittney’s two kids, for when they ride with dad. Behind the 2026 W900L Kenworth sits the matching 2012 Hanson 32-foot low-side end dump. Painted Pearl White to match the truck, Shawn remembers looking through copies of “My Little Salesman” as a kid and seeing these Hansons all over the California listings, hoping one day to have one for his ride. With extra lights along the front and rear, the trailer features pinstriping from Cassie Evancich to match the KW. Nothing is overstated or glaring about J&J Handy’s Kenworth. The truck captures well the essence of retro West Coast trucking, with a low key, cleaned up approach, with a high class and high quality presentation. That class and quality is carried forward in the entire J&J Handy fleet, as well. Shawn and the entire J&J Handy fleet strive to provide service above the rest. Working on the words and lessons of his Uncle John and Grandpa Jack, Shawn believes in always providing 110% for their customers, because as Grandpa Jack and Uncle John would advise, “You aren’t selling a product, you’re selling a service.” That attitude and commitment to excellence have earned J&J Handy stable contracts for decades, with dedicated customers Pete Lien & Sons and Schmidt Construction Company, providing work and stability for decades along the front range. Shawn would like to acknowledge those who have helped pave the way (sometimes literally) in his story. First, his wife Brittney (they were just dating at the time of our photo shoot in 2015) and their two children, Georgia Jean and Cash, for their love, encouragement, and support. Shawn would also like to acknowledge his late grandparents, Grandpa Jack and Grandma Marie, for their early support before they passed. Shawn also wants to thank his Uncle John for his confidence and belief in allowing Shawn to run J&J Handy Trucking, as well as his parents, Cheryl and Dale, for the immutable support. Knowing that a company is built both on its employees and customers, Shawn also wants to acknowledge all the drivers, mechanics, office personnel
32 10-4 Magazine / January 2026 (including Georgia and Cash) for their time and dedication to making J&J Handy Trucking the business it is today. Shawn also wants to thank Schmidt Construction Company and Pete Lien & Sons, Inc. for their decades of loyalty and business. Noel Franco and Justin Renholm also deserve thanks for their involvement in building this Kenworth and matching Hanson end dump, along with John, Ernie and Dillon and their crew at MHC in Pueblo for their support and service (not just for the truck here but for the entire fleet), and Dirks Truck & Equipment Repair for the steadfast service on mechanical breakdowns. I’d like to extend a thank you to Shawn for his time in getting the truck ready. Having watched J&J Handy grow under his tenure, I know it’s a full-time position that leaves little time for much else. 10-4 Magazine would like to thank you, Shawn, for your time in getting the truck ready to go, and we would also like to thank the Schmidt Construction Company for granting us access to their pit on a weekend for the photo shoot! Commitment to excellence. Before everything, succeeding in this industry, standing out, building your name, your company, and your reputation always requires that commitment to excellence. Eleven years ago, featuring his 2006 Peterbilt and East frameless end dump, Shawn demonstrated that excellence. And now, over a decade later, that commitment hasn’t faded – in fact, it has grown. There’s only one question left unanswered: did the ring cost as much as the chrome, Brittney? n
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