“FOR TODAY’S TRUCKER” JULY 2025 ® Magazine SINCE 1993! BALLIN’ ON A BUDGET! RANEY’S SHOW IN FLORIDA MAKES WISHES COME TRUE BRAVING THE HEAT IN RED BLUFF FOR OUR FRIEND FRENCHY Double R Trucking...
2 10-4 Magazine / July 2025
6 10-4 Magazine / July 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 $ FOR SALE: 2011 KENWORTH W900L 550-hp 6NZ Caterpillar 3406, 18-speed manual, 3.38 ratio, new suspension, (10) brand new Michelin tires, approx. 771K miles, stored in the garage since November 2022, $150,000. Call (514) 821-1150 or Cloe at (450) 454-6289 Ext. 0 or email at admin@marcriendeau.com
20 46 10 ® 26 FUN: Truckertoon 25 • WordSearch 45 • Crossword 63 • Red’s Rides 67 • NumberSearch 69 • Words To Live By 76 JULY 2025 CONTENTS VOLUME 32 ISSUE 11 COVER FEATURE Double R Trucking Loves Ballin’ on a Budget ................. 10 PERFORMANCE ZONE Engine Rebuilds That Last and More .............................. 17 TRUCK SHOW REPORT Braving the Heat in Red Bluff, CA for Frenchy ................ 20 EDITOR’S CHOICE AJ Wendt and His Classic 1981 Kenworth W900A ......... 26 CLINT’S CREATIONS A Dream Come True for Eddie Homfeld .......................... 29 THE BOOKWORM SEZ... The Rising: Rebuilding the World Trade Center .............. 31 TRUCK SHOW REPORT The First “Road to Wishes” Event in Ocala, FL ............... 34 THE DIESEL ADDICT Silver Steer Trucking’s Beautiful 2024 Peterbilt 389 ........ 46 OUT OF THE ARCHIVES Another Old Gem from Bette Garber’s Collection .......... 51 THE VETERAN’S VIEW July is the Month to Show Your American Pride ............. 52 TROY’S TREASURES Alaskan Drivers are as Relentless as Their Roads .......... 58 WAYNE’S WORLD Ending the Plague of Bad Actors in Trucking ................. 61 A TRUCKING DOG’S BLOG Our Canine Friend Endures a Fuel Island Fiasco ........... 64 TRUCKER TALK Three Generations of Miles and Memories ..................... 70 POETRY IN MOTION Reaching Out to the Universe For Lost Friends .............. 73
8 10-4 Magazine / July 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 • Norman Chapman Mike Bradford • K.M. Stanfield • Miss Flatbed Red John Scarborough• Kasey Aslinger • Troy Miller Bryan Welsh • Terri “Bookworm” Schlichenmeyer WEBSITE: MEDIA: Magazine PHONE:
Cover Feature: By Daniel J. Linss company that offered him a job hauling cows and milk locally, but not in a big rig. However, it was a driving job, so he took it. Not long after that, he ended up at Brazil Trucking, a hay-hauling outfit out of Hanford, CA, and began driving a 2-axle Peterbilt 386, pulling doubles, and focused on learning the ropes as fast as possible. Hauling hay throughout the Central Valley in California, the company saw Rene’s extensive efforts to learn and take care of their equipment, so they moved him into a cool Peterbilt 379 with CAT power, along with a set of air-ride trailers, and he took care of that combo as if it were his own! Then covid hit, and everything slowed down. Always wanting to have his own truck and run his own business, Rene began scrimping and saving. Money was tight because there was not a lot of work, but equipment was also cheap, so he was looking to take advantage of that fact. By the end of 2020, he had saved enough money to buy a plain white 2015 Kenworth T680, but he had no idea what he was going to do with it or what he was going to haul. Renting a trailer from one of his uncles, Rene formed Double R Trucking and started finding his own loads and taking a few “extra” runs from his uncles. At first, Not everyone has stacks of cash laying around or money to spend on expensive truck builds, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have a cool ride. Young Rene Camacho (26) of Madera, CA proves that fact with his custom Freightliner Cascadia, built in a short amount of time with limited resources, that still caught our eye for a feature – and not just any old feature, a cover feature! Rene and his family, who he works closely with, have mastered the art of “Ballin’ on a Budget” with their trucks. And we couldn’t be more excited about him or his small fleet of daily workhorses that look great, too. Born in 1998 and raised in Firebaugh, a small community in California’s Central Valley, Rene did not grow up in a trucking family. He did, however, have a couple uncles who were truckers, with nice equipment, which was just enough to spark his interest later on when it came time to pick a career. Rene and one of his brothers loved to go over to their uncle’s house, who had a nice 2005 Peterbilt 379, and play around with the trucks. But let’s not jump ahead. After his parents went through a difficult divorce when Rene was not very old, he and his four siblings, along with their mother, struggled to survive. Rene is the second oldest of the five kids – four boys and one girl – but his older brother wasn’t handling things well, so Rene was forced to step up and grow up fast. His siblings include older brother Julio (29), younger brothers Alex (24) and Bernardo (20), and sister Kaitlyn (17). When not in school, Rene started working out in the fields at just 14 years old, and would give all his paychecks to his mother, to help pay the bills. That’s a pretty responsible and “grown up” thing for a 14-year-old teenager to do, which gives you a little insight as to the work ethic and morals of this fine young man. In high school, Rene got really involved with sports, especially football, and he was good (and whatever he lacked in talent he more than made up for with effort and dedication). He strived to be a leader, both on and off the field, and his efforts did not go un-noticed. After graduating from high school at just 17 years old, Rene got a football scholarship to play for a smaller college in Kansas and then moved there shortly after graduation. Times were good in Kansas – he ate well, lived in a nice place, played a lot of football, and did not have to deal with the daily stresses and struggles he was so used to back home. Majoring in Criminology, Rene thought he might want to one day become a police officer. Unfortunately, things were not going well for the rest of his family back home, and this began to eat away at Rene’s happiness – he began to feel guilty for not being there to help like he had been in the past, and for how easy he had it in Kansas. So, at 18 years old, he made another “responsible” but tough decision to leave school and go home after less than a year in Kansas. Coming from nothing, Rene was determined to build a better life for himself, his mother, and his siblings, so he scraped up enough money to attend truck driving school and got his CDL at 18 years old. But what he quickly realized was that getting his CDL was not the hard part – the hard part was getting that first job. After applying everywhere he could think of, he finally got a call back from a local cattle 10 10-4 Magazine / July 2025 BALLIN’ ON A BUDGET
he was barely making enough to pay for his fuel, but eventually he signed on with a broker and things started to get busy. Being young and ambitious, Rene would take any and all loads offered to him, and that work ethic served him well. After just a few months, he was able to buy his own trailer – a 2010 Utility with a Carrier unit. He remembers taking his first load to Reno and having to cross over Donner Pass, a notoriously treacherous route, especially in the winter. That day, it was snowing, and Rene had never driven a truck in those conditions. But he got through it. Later, they gave him a dedicated route, and he still does that route today. Basically, he starts in the Bay area, goes to Los Angeles, then to San Diego, then back to Los Angeles, and then to the Central Valley, hauling refrigerated and frozen products like cheese, produce and ice cream. Driving that T680 for several years, Rene was able to buy a small ranch in Madera, CA in August of 2023 that had two houses on the property – one for his mother, and one for him. The ranch also had enough room to build a shop, and he convinced his brother Alex to leave his job and start his own paint and customization shop called All-In Customs. Alex had dropped out of high school a few years prior, and went into the paint and body industry, looking to learn that business. Working at Big Rig Customs in Fresno, CA, Alex mastered his craft quickly. When his brother came to him and proposed that he start his own business, Alex was all-in, just like the name of his customization company! As Rene continued to grow his business, in April of 2024 he bought a second truck – a red 2019 high-rise Freightliner Cascadia – and put a driver in it, just to test the waters and see how things would go. So far, it has worked out very well. Later that year, in October, a customer came to All-In Customs wanting to get their truck painted, but instead of paying, he offered to give them a 2014 Freightliner Cascadia (the one seen on our cover and centerfold this month and on these pages) – but it did not look anything like the truck you see here today. Obviously, they took the deal, but, not surprisingly, it did not go that smoothly at first. 10-4 Magazine / July 2025 11
12 10-4 Magazine / July 2025 Hoping to put the bone-stock truck to work immediately, which was equipped with a 485-hp DD13 hooked to an automatic transmission, the Cascadia threw a code not 25 miles from the shop and then went into “shutdown” mode. The brothers were like, “Oh no, what have we gotten ourselves into?” Once the truck was back at the shop, they decided to completely tear it down and go through everything. About this time, our friends at Reyes Polishing & Detailing announced that they would be having a truck show in their hometown of Mendota on November 30, 2024, and Rene decided it was the perfect time to debut their newly redone Cascadia. Funny thing was, nothing had been done yet, and the show was just a few weeks away. Wanting to build a show-worthy truck but not being able to afford a Peterbilt or Kenworth, they decided to just work with what they had, saying, “Let’s start with this and see where it goes!” Selling the T680 to fund the project, they busted their butts for three or four weeks, and most of what you see today was done to the truck during that time – everything but some of the lights and the air-ride front end, which was eventually done by Noah at RNR Rigs in Dinuba, CA. The entire truck was completely repainted in a cream color, with a teal frame, and teal and orange accents. Alex painted the grill surround and mounted a black mesh grill, a painted deck plate was added, the headlights and fog lamps were replaced with LED versions, and stainless Hogebuilt quarter-fenders were installed. What really sets this rig apart from the rest is the interior, the lighting, and the pinstriping. Dan from Farmersville did an extensive amount of orange and teal pinstriping, and also painted the company logos on the doors, which were designed by Rene. All the watermelon lights on the truck are dual revolution with clear lenses, and Rene was able to find some unique colors I had never seen before – a different shade of orange and a cyan blue – which both match the truck perfectly. The visor was on the truck when they got it, and it already had “penny” lights on it, so they just decided to paint the visor and leave the lights that were there. Under the truck, the brothers added a curved tip to the weed-burner exhaust that was already down there. As mentioned before, the interior of this Freightliner has been completely re-done. Smoothing out all the dash and door panels and painting them cream or teal was a huge job, but it turned out nice. All the screws holding those panels were replaced with jewel-tipped fasteners, the heat and A/C controls and air vents were replaced with chrome versions, along with all the switches and gauges, a “trucker girl” steering wheel was painted to match and installed, and polished billet door handles took the place of the stock ones. All the gray interior pieces back in the sleeper were dyed cream, the headliner was done in suede, the passenger seat was removed, and there is carpet on the floor (for now). There are also plenty of dual revolution lights inside, along with a ton of pinstriping, too.
Not many custom parts and accessories are available for Cascadia trucks, so most of the stuff you see was modified or customized in-house by Rene’s brother Alex. They even installed the entire sound system themselves, which includes a Pioneer head unit, (2) 12” sub-woofers, and (8) 6” mids. Some future projects already in the works for “Cream Machine” include replacing the 10-4 Magazine / July 2025 13 automatic transmission with a 13-speed manual unit, stretching the frame, and adding a painted aluminum floor. Rene and Alex wanted to thank their friend Dominic Gonzalez from Antonio & Sons Trucking for helping them find and get parts fast, since time was of the essence. Although the truck was not completed, they had enough of it finished to take to that show in Mendota and ended up getting the People’s Choice award – they were shocked – and super excited! This excitement fueled their enthusiasm and energy to keep going on the truck and helped them make the decision to buy another one and build a sister truck to this one. And, seriously, this twin truck is just as cool as this one, if not cooler. It looks exactly the same,
14 10-4 Magazine / July 2025 except the teal and orange accents have been completely reversed, meaning the second truck is also cream but it has orange wherever there is teal on the first truck, and teal wherever there is orange on the other truck. They also built this one on a budget and in just a few weeks, too. We met the guys at our Truckin’ For Kids event back in early May 2025, and were really blown away by them and their truck. At that time, they had just purchased the sister truck, so it was just plain white, but it still looked good parked next to their “Cream Machine” rig. And now, having seen a video of what the second truck looks like, I am just amazed at how good it looks and how quickly they did it. These guys do not mess around! The driver who was in the high-rise Cascadia, Manuel Cardenas, will soon be moving into this new truck, and he can’t wait. Rene plans to sell that other Cascadia and replace it with their next project, but mums the word on that one, right now. The trailer hooked to “Cream Machine” in these pictures was just recently purchased from a guy in Texas, so it is still a work in progress. The 2001 Utility 48’ stainless spread-axle reefer trailer with a lift axle features a painted-to-match Thermo King SB-210 unit (which will soon be upgraded to be CARB-compliant), painted rails, lights down both sides, and low-pro rubber to match the tractor. Eventually, it will be fitted with additional lights, the chassis and landing gear will be painted teal, and it will get some polished stainless-steel quarter-fenders. For some – even me – the term “plastic truck” has always been considered to be derogatory and demeaning, but Rene and his brothers have embraced it. They knew they would get negative comments from some people because their truck is a Freightliner Cascadia, so they decided to create the “Plastic Truck Mafia” brand, in hopes of overcoming the stigma and encouraging others with “plastic trucks” to be proud of what they have. Not everyone wants or can afford a big fancy long hood Peterbilt or Kenworth and so many out there take great care of their “aero” trucks, so it only makes sense to support and inspire these people to be happy and satisfied with what they have and give them a sense of community with others who have these types of rigs, too. Breaking the cycle of struggle and negative stereotypes are some of Rene’s goals. To accomplish this, he hopes to have four or five trucks, each owned by one of his brothers, all working together. He wants to provide a better life for his future family (wife and kids) which does not exist yet, along with his siblings and mother. With Alex working in the shop, Rene is encouraging him to get his CDL soon, and their younger brother Bernardo just recently got his CDL, so Rene hopes to get him in the family business and behind the wheel of a truck soon. But Rene also wants to have balance, so he doesn’t want to grow too big – he wants to have a fulfilling life outside of trucking, too. When it came time to give thanks, Rene immediately wanted to acknowledge his entire family – he may have made sacrifices for them over the years, but they have also supported him. Thanks also to everyone who helped build this truck and helped them get to where they are today. He was also very thankful to us here at 10-4, saying, “Thank you for taking a chance on us and fulfilling our dreams of being in the magazine.” Alex wanted to thank Genaro Ruiz for being his right-hand-man at All-In Customs. Shooting the pictures on a hot Sunday morning in a dusty turnout near our house, we had a good time with Rene, Alex, Bernardo and Genaro. These guys were excited, and whenever I made them move the truck, even just a little bit, they were out there in the hot sun juicing all the tires again – even the treads – every time. It is so refreshing to meet hard working, polite and humble young people that give us hope for trucking’s future. They may not have a lot of money yet, but they are doing the best with what they have and absolutely killing it. “Ballin’ on a Budget” is more than just a catchy headline for Double R Trucking... it’s a way of life. n Bug Shields • Peep Windows Custom License Plates • Window Wings Quarter Fender Flaps • And More www.DANENELSONBUGSHIELDS.com
WESTOZ PHOENIX TruckPartsPhoenix.com Open Monday-Thursday 7:00-5:00 5240 S. 43rd Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85041 All Components Sold Exchange 2018 PETE 579: 455-hp, 10-spd, Air Trac, 3.70 ratio, full lockers, $27,500. Stk. #2115 2019 KW W900L: 565-hp X15, 18-spd, clean title, 288” WB, $39,900. Stk. #2112 We Also Buy Non-CA compliant Peterbilt and Kenworth trucks! 602-237-2000 2024 KW T680: 500-hp X15, 12-spd, 405K miles, 2.79, runs great, $32,500. Stk. #2131 1993 CAT 3406C: 425-hp, manual pump, runs great, #4CK12383, $8,000 Exch. Stk. #2126-1 2023 ENDURANT: 12-spd, #EEO-18F112C, recon, $8,500 Exch. Stk. #2125-2 (NAP) 2013 KW T660 EXT. DAY CAB: wired for Cum/auto, full interior, $5,500. Stk. #3999 2023 PACCAR MX-11: 430-hp, only 6K mi, #X032534, $15,500 Exch. Stk. #2113-1 2022 CUMMINS X15: 450-hp,191K miles, #80417860, $18,000 Exch. Stk. #2125-1 2019 CUMMINS X15: 500-hp, 206K miles, #80195702, $19,000 Exch. Stk. #2097-1 2016 ALLISON 4000HS: good inspected takeout, $3,000 Exch. Stk. #2105-3 (NAP) EATON FULLER RTLO-18913A TRANS: #S0881528, $3,500 Exch. Stk. #2121-2 (NAP) 2006 PETERBILT 379 SLEEPER: 48” car hauler flattop, $2,400. Stk. #4008 2016 PETE 579 FOR PARTS: 455-hp MX13, FAOF-16810C, Low Air Leaf. Stk. #2114 2012 PETE 386 FOR PARTS: 485-hp ISX, 13-spd, Low Air Leaf, runs/drives. Stk. #2121 2020 KW T680: 450-hp X15, 12-spd, 347K miles, ready to go, $56,950. Stk. #JM1384 2021 DETROIT DD15: 505-hp, 433K mi, #472912S0882133, $10K Exch. Stk. #2040-2 2017 KW T660 FOR PARTS: 500-hp ISX, 13-speed, KW style wheels. Stk. #2136 2023 PACCAR: PO-16F112C, #Z0363680, only 6K mi, $8,000 Exch. Stk. #2113-2 (NAP) 2012 PETE 389: 500-hp ISX15 (deleted), 3.36, 18-spd, runs great, easy fix, $36,500. Stk. #2127 CLEAN TITLE CLEAN TITLE 2015 PACCAR MX13: 455-hp, EPA 13, runs great, $8,000 Exch. Stk. #2114-1 CLEAN TITLE
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10-4 Magazine / July 2025 17 The Performance Zone: By Bruce Mallinson I’ve been writing for truck magazines since 1989, and over the years, we’ve produced many videos – all focused on Class 8 truck engines. For 47 years, we’ve been aligned with Cummins. Then, in 2000, the Pittsburgh Power Box led us into the world of Caterpillar engines. A few years later, truck racing brought us to the Series 60 Detroit in 2003. While these three engines differ in many ways, they also share key similarities – and one of them is liner protrusion. Liner protrusion is how far the edge of the cylinder liner sticks out above the engine block surface. The OEMs have a plus-or-minus specification for this measurement. However, if the liner is set at the low end of that spec, you can expect the head gasket to fail at around 200,000 to 250,000 miles. That’s because the minimum spec simply isn’t enough to hold a head gasket for the long haul – especially not the 800,000 to 1 million miles many expect. After years of building diesel engines, we’ve found what works best: setting liner protrusion at .001 inch over the OEM max specification. This approach has proven to give us the reliability we – and our customers – demand. To do this correctly, you’ll need an upper counterbore cutting tool, the proper micrometer, and most importantly a knowledgeable mechanic who knows how to use the equipment. As the truck owner or operator, it’s your responsibility to ask the shop performing your in-chassis or out-of-chassis rebuild if they have this tool and whether they know the correct spec to set your liners to. The upper counterbore cutting tool costs $7,245 – not including the various cutting disks required for different engines. So, don’t be surprised if your shop doesn’t have it. In fact, many will tell you, “We never have to cut the upper counterbores.” If that’s their answer, your next question should be, “Will you guarantee the head gasket won’t blow for at least 500,000 miles?” The Bible tells us to build our house on a solid foundation. The same principle applies to your truck’s diesel engine. And when it comes to engine longevity, the upper counterbores are a big part of that foundation. Moving on to another topic, let’s discuss some of the current modern diesel engine components and what drivers need to know. In today’s diesel engines, manufacturing methods have evolved, and many of those changes have been around for years. From camshafts ENGINE REBUILDS THAT WILL LAST AND MORE! to crankshafts, manufacturers like PACCAR and Detroit Diesel have adopted modern production techniques that offer efficiency and cost-effectiveness without sacrificing performance. But, as with any design evolution, there are trade-offs, and it’s important for operators and technicians to be aware of what can go wrong when things do. One mostly common shift in diesel engine design is the use of assembled camshafts and crankshafts. PACCAR and Detroit, for example, often utilize a method in which individual cam or fuel pump lobes are pressed onto a shaft. These changes were implemented many years ago, and are now considered a standard practice across much of the industry. They offer benefits such as faster manufacturing, reduced material usage, and lighter components. By contrast, Cummins typically uses forged crankshafts in their heavy-duty engines, not pressed crankshafts. Forging is a process where steel is heated and shaped under extreme pressure, resulting in a crankshaft that is significantly stronger and more durable than one that is pressed or cast. Forged components tend to offer better long-term reliability, especially in high-load or high-stress applications. However, the pressed-lobe method isn’t bad. These components are engineered to meet the expected lifespan and duty cycle of modern engines. But, as with any system, occasional issues can arise. We here at Pittsburgh Power recently encountered such a case when a PACCAR MX-13 came into our shop with low fuel pressure. Initially, we suspected the fuel pump lobes, which are integrated into the crankshaft. Upon disassembly, we discovered that one of the pressed-on lobes had shifted, disrupting the engine’s fueling system. Although it was a rare type of failure, it highlights the importance of really understanding how these components are built. Our goal isn’t to criticize technology, it’s to help customers stay informed. Knowing how your engine is assembled can help you catch problems early and make better choices when it comes to repairs or upgrades. These designs have been around for years, but knowing how they function (and fail) is key to keeping your engine on the road and running strong. If you have comments or questions or want to see all our available parts and services, stop by our shop in Saxonburg, PA, call (724) 360-4080, or visit www.pittsburghpower.com. n
18 10-4 Magazine / July 2025 IF YOU NEED HELP CALL 406-595-4978 We are Family Owned and Operated Sweet Rides Towing Recovery & Repair LLC Located off I-90 at Exit 16, Haugan, Montana We work on I-90 from Mile Marker 77 in Montana to Mile Marker 63 in Idaho We tow commerical and passenger vehicles, offer road service, lockout service, tires, load adjustments, and sell snow chains. We offer local and long distance towing and wreck clean up. We can deliver the wrecked semi and trailer to repair shops, and redeliver the load. We have everything from reefers to flatbeds to landolls! 18651 Valley Blvd, Unit B, Bloomington, CA 92316 Grand General Bumpers, Lights, Grills, Fenders, Stacks & More We Install What We Sell...
20 10-4 Magazine / July 2025 The 2nd annual Nor-Cal Spring Fling in Red Bluff, CA was one really hot affair – and I mean hot! Sure, the trucks, vendors, auction items and food were hot, but Mother Nature trumped ‘em all with unseasonable temperatures in the mid-100s for most of the weekend. But hey, a little heat never stopped us, or a bunch of other people, from raising some much needed funds for our friend Rene “Frenchy” LaChance. Held once again at Tehama County Fairgrounds on May 30 through June 1, 2025, this was the second “Spring Fling” but technically the fourth show put on to help Rene, who was a popular trucker in the area back in the day before being injured in an accident that left him paralyzed (mostly) from the neck down. This event is held to raise money for his ongoing medical expenses. The first two shows were put on by another fellow who is no longer affiliated with Rene or the show. Stuart Loewen of Nor-Cal Customs took the helm last year, and this year he got a bunch of help from Phil and Faren Miller, along with a bunch of hard-working volunteers. Driving up the day before to beat the heat, we stayed at the Rolling Hills Casino in Corning on Thursday night, then rolled into Red Bluff fresh and ready to get to it late Friday morning. Bringing out our entire show setup including our TFK semi-trailer, pulled by Maggini’s “Godfather” 1962 Peterbilt (driven by our friends Roger and Annette Ghidelli) and our golf cart, we set up the 10-4 Magazine booth on one side and the “10-4 Lounge” on the other – a shady place with chairs and tables for people to relax and hang out. We also set up the bar in the trailer, along with snacks of all kinds, and played some good tunes. Friday was a pretty quiet day, with the temp peaking at about 104 degrees, as trucks slowly rolled in and got parked and a few vendors set up their displays. Sadly, we are sure that the blazing heat kept a lot of people from coming out, but we refused to let it get us down and instead embraced the weather. Truck Show Report: By Daniel J. Linss On Saturday morning, we stopped at the nearby Dollar General on the way to the show and bought a little plastic kiddie pool, along with several big bags of ice, and then filled the pool with that ice once at the show. It didn’t take long for that ice to melt, but boy did that cold water feel good on our bare feet. Most of the day, we sat with a big group of friends, at the back of our trailer, and enjoyed some cold beverages with our feet in the water. It was quite the fun gathering spot. The temps on Saturday peaked at about 106 degrees! A few days prior to the show, on May 26, was my wife’s birthday (Miss Shannon), and Faren and Annette were BRAVING THE HEAT
10-4 Magazine / July 2025 21 nice enough to decorate the inside of the trailer and then surprise her with a fancy custom cake on Saturday night. Passing around glasses of champagne and sharing the cake with whoever happened to be there (or was just walking by), it was a lot of fun. Big thanks go out to Faren and Annette for making all that happen, and for making Shannon feel like the queen, she is. After the light show on Saturday night, we finally headed back to our room. We were exhausted after a long day, and that heat really took its toll on our energy levels. With approximately 100 trucks and about 10 motorcycles, pickups and hot rods, the turnout was not huge, but as mentioned before, we are sure the heat played a big role in that. Some trucks rolled in on Friday and then back out on Saturday, some rolled in on Saturday morning and then left on Saturday night, and others left before the awards were handed out on Sunday morning. That kind of sucked, but what can you do. One of the trucks that rolled in on Saturday morning and then out later that afternoon was a new cream and orange 2-axle Peterbilt owned by Bobby Vaz. The guys who built it brought it out and it ended up winning quite a few awards. As DJ Ray spun some great music atop Phil Miller’s flatbed, I spent a good part of Saturday taking pictures of the trucks and other vehicles, and honestly, it was more about quality than quantity. Some of the notable trucks that were turning heads included Rene’s red 359 Peterbilt and cool 1946 KW wrecker (one of my favorites at the show), Mike Mileham’s cream and orange Peterbilt 389 and flatbed, Miro “Junior” Dragich and his 2014 cream Peterbilt 389 with brown and blue stripes and an end dump, and Stan Silva’s stellar teal-colored 2024 Peterbilt 389X and matching heavy-haul trailer, with his custom teal Jeep loaded on the deck. Others included our May 2025 cover Ethan Rico and a couple of his trucks, Harold Silva and his blue cabover and conventional Peterbilts, along with their blue 1934 Ford Coupe, and Ryan Graham’s green and black 2022 Peterbilt 389 log truck, loaded with a nice stack of tall timber. However, the rig getting the most attention was a brown and yellow 1973 Peterbilt 362 cabover that Gus Hulstein had just purchased from Kevin Young in Texas. Gus had his dad go get the truck, and then on the way home, he stopped in California to pick up the Utility reefer trailer that this truck once pulled for a company called Vanier in its glory days. It was pretty cool, for sure, to see the two mated together again, but Gus has a ton of cool stuff, so it was not that surprising.
22 10-4 Magazine / July 2025 Two other neat old trucks that caught my eye were a blue and white narrow-nose 2-axle Peterbilt with “Muse Trucking” on its doors, and a really neat (and old) 1936 Chevrolet log truck. To help beat the heat, Faren had a double-decker bounce house with a waterslide, a splash pad, and squirt guns for the young ones in attendance (and the adults who are young at heart). The temps thankfully dropped 10 degrees on Sunday, so it turned out to be not so hot (I mean, it was still about 95 degrees, but hey that was better than the day before). Closing the silent auction at about 10:30 on Sunday morning and then announcing all the winners, the awards were set to start at 11:00. Wanting “Frenchy” to be present at the awards, he was running behind, so they had to wait a bit for him. Awards were finally handed out starting at 11:30, and then the show basically came to an end at noon on Sunday. It took us a few extra hours to clean up, organize our trailer, and load the golf cart and Roger and Annette’s Jeep, so we didn’t hit the road until about 2:30 PM. But we weren’t in any hurry. After a five-hour drive home, it was time to relax in the A/C and settle back into our regular jobs – managing and producing 10-4 Magazine. Although they were not completely done figuring everything out, Faren estimates that about $20,000 was raised for Rene and his ongoing medical costs. That is awesome! We are proud we could brave the heat and help in a small way. Dates for next year have not been set yet, so stay tuned to 10-4 for updates as they become available. n PEOPLE’S CHOICE BOBTAIL: Carlton Hill (1948 Peterbilt) PEOPLE’S CHOICE COMBO: Ryan Graham (2022 Peterbilt 389) PEOPLE’S CHOICE LIGHTS: Flint McVey (2017 Peterbilt 389) PEOPLE’S CHOICE CAR: Harold Silva (1934 Ford Coupe) PEOPLE’S CHOICE PICKUP: Dylan Johnson (2018 Dodge Ram) PEOPLE’S CHOICE BIKE: Mikey Pihaylic (Orange Motorcycle) BEST ENGINE (JUDGED): Stan Silva (2024 Peterbilt 389X) BEST PAINT (JUDGED): Kyle Schutte (2021 Peterbilt 389) BEST INTERIOR (JUDGED): Kyle Schutte (2021 Peterbilt 389) BEST FLEET (JUDGED): Transportation Services RICO MEMORIAL AWARD: Transportation Services JIM BOTELHO MEM. AWARD: Harold Silva (1999 Peterbilt 362)
10-4 Magazine / July 2025 23
10-4 Magazine / July 2025 25 WE ARE IN BRIGHAM CITY, UT OFF I-15 AT EXIT 365 435-744-5501 WE AT TRUCK WASH, CHROME SHOP, TRUCK & TRAILER REPAIR! T R U C K E R T O O N By Vic Vasselin You said I was gonna love this place... you said we could get fuel, food, and a shower! Now we are stuck out here in the middle of NOWHERE!! I guess it's been a few years since I've been here.
Editor’s Choice: By Daniel J. Linss Back in the day when many trucks had names, most of those names were references to the driver or owner, but Art “AJ” Wendt of Francesville, IN had a different system – his names were based on the truck itself. And his amazing 1981 Kenworth W900A seen here, known as “The Gambler” since AJ purchased it as a brand-new glider kit, got its name not because AJ likes to gamble, but because he was taking a gamble when he bought the KW. And yes, you read that right, he bought it brand-new in 1981 and still not only has it, but uses it, too! Born in 1943 and trucking since he was about 17 years old, AJ is now 82-years young, still works every day, and is sharp as a tack. His company, AJ Wendt & Son, was formed almost 60 years ago in 1966 and then incorporated in 1973. Over the years, he has had a lot of trucks and hauled a lot of different things, but this A-model Kenworth has been with him for almost 45 years – and most of it is still original, as it has never been wrecked. When he first started trucking, AJ hauled a lot of grain to Chicago in either flat floor grain trailers or on flatbeds with wood sides, since hopper trailers didn’t exist yet. Although his company name includes his son, he never joined the family business (he is a pilot). In addition to grain, AJ has also hauled a lot of raw and processed steel and steel products, various fertilizers and ag commodities, refrigerated foods, some general freight, and heavy equipment. When this truck was new, it was given to a couple to run, pulling a reefer, hauling meat to Denver, CO. After that, AJ has been its primary driver ever since, logging over 3 million miles on the classic truck. Ordered as a glider kit because AJ did not like the suspension options Kenworth was offering at the time, the first thing he did was install a Peterbilt air-ride suspension under it. Over the years it has had three different engines under the hood – a Cummins and two Caterpillars – with its current one being a 650-hp 3408 V-8 CAT. Hooked to an 18-speed and 3.70 rears, the truck has a 265” wheelbase, and AJ used it a lot when he was doing heavy haul. Right from the start, this truck was named “The Gambler” because, at the time, deregulation was happening, and trucking got unpredictable as this change was occurring. Nobody knew where it was going, but AJ took a chance and “gambled” that it would all work out – and it eventually did. And the name stuck! Although it was recently painted, that name and graphic has been on the side of the hood since the beginning, and it has always been the same Pewter silver color with black and red accents, as well. It is really cool how well this truck has been taken care of and kept original. As mentioned before, the truck was repainted once, but it was done in the exact same colors and scheme it came with from the factory. The blue interior is all original, and the truck also has 6” stacks, a 16” bumper, small polished cab and sleeper drop panels with “old school” lights down each side, stainless half-fenders, electric wipers, and a swan on top of the grill, which leads the way (all of AJ’s trucks have a swan). AJ does all the mechanical work on his trucks, paints (but not this one), and even wired the W900A himself, putting all the lights on separate switches. AJ said the bumper and stacks have been on the truck for over 15 years, and both still look new. AJ’s company peaked in the early 1990s with 16 trucks, 16 flatbeds, 12 dump trailers, several liquid fertilizer tankers, and 10 leased trucks. Today, AJ has ten trucks, and hauls fertilizers, plastic tubing, some grain, and anything else he can find (he has been hauling for a company called Fratco Inc. for 59 26 10-4 Magazine / July 2025 THE GAMBLER
years)! Running sort of local (or maybe it would be considered regionally) these days, most of the trucks now stay in the upper Midwest states including Indiana, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. AJ is in charge of dispatching the trucks, but he gets out and drives, too, and his wife Rita works in the office and does all the billing and computer work. Trucking for more than six decades, you can imagine some of the cool trucks AJ has owned over the years. One of his first trucks was a 1958 Diamond T, and then he went on to own three Diamond REO trucks (a 1967, 1969, and 1975), he bought a brand-new narrow-nose Peterbilt in 1971, another new Peterbilt in 1972 (which he restored and still owned up until two years ago when he sold it to his son-in-law), and three more Peterbilts in 1974. He also bought one of the first White Freightliner WFC 120 conventionals in 1975. Most of the trucks he has purchased over the years were used, but he has bought some brand-new ones as mentioned, too. The 1972 Peterbilt was also featured in one of the earlier episodes of the “Trick My Truck” television show on CMT. With longevity in his genes, AJ isn’t planning to stop working anytime soon. Coming from a family with five boys and one girl, his oldest sister just passed away a few months ago at 99 years old. He also has brothers that are 98 and 91 years old, along with two brothers who have passed away – one at 94 and another that died from cancer in his early 60s. AJ is the “baby” of the bunch at just 82 years old, and he has four grown children – one boy and three girls – along with many grandkids, too. Finding this truck by accident after attending a funeral for a trucking friend in Lafayette, IN last year, me and my Sales Manager, contributor, and friend Eric Hill dropped in at Jason “JC” Alt’s house for a visit and dinner, and AJ’s 10-4 Magazine / July 2025 27 truck was parked in JC’s shop. The pinstriper had just been there to repaint all the pinstriping and graphics, and the truck looked great! JC told us a bit about AJ and the truck, and encouraged us to consider featuring it in the magazine. After thinking about it for just a few seconds, we said, “We are here, let’s do it!” So, JC pulled it out on the grass and parked it next to his pond with a fountain and we did an impromptu photo shoot. Working in the trucking industry his entire life, AJ has seen and done a lot. His fleet today is all Peterbilt and Kenworth trucks, and he is known for keeping them all extremely clean. AJ plans to keep trucking until someone tells him he can’t anymore – and then he still might do it a little while longer after that! Working hard is just in his DNA. I am not a gambling man, but if push came to shove, I think Art “AJ” Wendt and his mostly original 1981 Kenworth W900A would both be safe bets!! n
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Clint’s Creations: By Clint Moore letters of his kid’s first names (Lane and Cole) and then added an “H” on the end for Homfeld! He purchased used trucks from National Lease of KC and, his first three years, ran intermodal. Then, he swapped to reefers and a few end dump trailers, and never looked back. Growing to roughly 10 trucks over the years, Eddie has had help from some great drivers, along with steady and consistent work. Currently, Eddie has a few extra trucks that he would like to move if anyone is interested, including (2) loaded 389 Peterbilt glider kits, (2) T680 Kenworths, a 579 Peterbilt standup, a 567 Peterbilt with a small flattop and a wet kit, and a sweet 389 long hood day cab. He wouldn’t be opposed to selling the one pictured here, as well, if someone really wanted it, but he’s not actively trying to sell it. When it came time to order this one, Eddie knew what he wanted – bright white with a red frame. When Eddie wanted to go over all the add-ons and goodies, he and Cody from our shop went to lunch and Eddie wrote out a list and discussed his dream pictured here. Those two hit it off so well I wasn’t sure what the finished product was going to look like. I stepped back and let them bond, and bond they did. They even decided to take it to the Louisville truck show. The truck turned out sweet and represented This month’s “dream” truck was built for one of our local customers, Eddie Homfeld (53) of LACOH Transport in Buckner, MO. He secured one of the last 389 build slots I had available. And because he had other trucks running, he was patient, and wasn’t in a hurry to get the truck. Married to his “ride or die” Tisha for 10 years, they both have children from previous relationships, and now two grandchildren, as well. This truck is a true testimony to the fact that dreams do come true. Coming from a large family that are mostly in trucking, starting with Eddie’s grandparents Louis and Dora Homfeld of Higginsville MO, Eddie’s dad Walter, who was one of four kids, also followed in the family footsteps and owned a trucking company. Eddie said there were a lot of “Homfeld” trucking companies when his dad started, so he picked Walter Transport as a name, instead. Walter Transport grew to 40 trucks at one point before closing their doors. Doing a paper route and working in fast food, Eddie always had the trucking bug. At age 15, on one of his many trips with his dad, he drove the truck home from Oklahoma, because his dad was too tired to make it. After getting his GED so he could leave high school early, Eddie went straight to work. At 18, he got his CDL and then began driving a water truck and cattle truck. When he turned 21, his dad threw him the keys to a truck and said, “Head to Arkansas with that load of apples!” He drove and worked with his dad for the next 14 years. Sadly, his dad, who was also his best friend, passed away in June of 2019. At age 35, Eddie decided to start his own company, and for his name, he got a little creative with LACOH Transport – he used the first two 10-4 Magazine / July 2025 29 LACOH and the Geis Dealer Group well – and it even picked up some cool hardware. The truck is a 2024 Peterbilt 389 with a 78” High Roof sleeper, a 295” wheelbase, a 565-hp Cummins X15 with 2050 torque, an 18-speed, and loaded with all the goodies. Not wanting to hide the DEF, we ordered it to have an APU up front so everything would match. There are so many extras it’s hard to name them all – there are parts from 12 Ga. Customs, 4 State Trucks, Spare Time Fab, RoadWorks, Shift Products, The Weld Shop and many others. The paint job was one of Pat the Painter’s last stripe jobs here before he left to start a new venture, and it was inspired by the stripes on Vinnie Diorio’s black truck (Eddie just loves that truck). I thought the truck turned out nice, and I didn’t have to stress over it, which was a nice change. Special thanks to Cody, Mike, Buddy and the whole Geis Dealer Group crew for helping make Eddie’s dream truck come true. n A DREAM COME TRUE
10-4 Magazine / July 2025 31 If it was easy, everybody would be doing it. But it’s not, so you’re on your own. Think of it as a challenge. Seriously, you’ve never known a roadblock you couldn’t go around, and it’s true that nothing is ever as easy as it could be, but as in the new book “The Rising” by Larry Silverstein, when did that ever stop you? If it weren’t for his wife’s insistence, Larry Silverstein would be dead. On the morning of September 11, 2001, he had a dermatologist’s appointment that he’d wanted to cancel but his wife urged him to go. So, he did, and instead of being at his desk in the North Tower of the World Trade Center that morning, he watched those towers fall from his Manhattan home. His ties to the World Trade Center began in the late 1970s. Silverstein was a broker for office leases and a “rather small” property developer when he landed a construction contract for the last piece of land in the World Trade Center Complex. He was excited, but it would mean years of wrangling through several political administrations, fundraising efforts, and quite a bit of risk on Silverstein’s part to finish the project. By 1986, Seven World Trade Center was finished, but Silverstein was not. On July 24, 2001, he stood for a photograph in front of the complex with a large symbolic set of keys in his hand to celebrate his new ownership of the leasehold on the World Trade Center. Weeks later, the towers were attacked by terrorists and, like most Americans, the Silversteins watched the Twin Towers collapse. The next morning, he vowed to rebuild. But that, too, proved to be easier said than done. There were insurance issues to deal with, fundraising, contracting, developing, and more politics. There was definitely a need for what Silverstein envisioned. People seemed excited. He just had to build it. If you’re of a certain age, you remember where you were when the Twin Towers fell. In “The Rising” he writes about that day and about what happened in constructing the buildings themselves, before and after. Covering more than fifty years of legalities, politics, business, and finances, this book is rich with detail that goes beyond the doggedness of constructing buildings. On the other hand, this book is overloaded with detail that goes beyond the doggedness of constructing buildings. If you’re the right business-minded reader, this book can be entertaining, but if you are not, it could be unbelievably dull, especially if you want the tower’s story without the nitty-gritty of legalities, politics, business or finance. If that’s the case, go into this book with a willingness to skip some pages here and there. Yes, “The Rising” can be thrilling and almost fun to read, but it can also be a not-so-easy book to stick with. n The Bookworm Sez: By Terri Schlichenmeyer REBUILDING THE WORLD TRADE CENTER AARON DISPATCH, INC. ...Stay Loaded At All Times Running California / Arizona / Nevada / Utah For More Information, Please Contact Sina at 760-456-7227 FLATBED WORK AVAILABLE Quick Pay Availabe ***FLATBED TRAILERS AVAILABLE FOR LEASE***
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34 10-4 Magazine / July 2025 The “road to wishes” really began back in 1957 when George Raney got out of the Navy and came home to Ocala, Florida. Opening a truck stop on old 301 with a restaurant, fuel islands, and an icehouse that blew ice on top of produce loads that required it, he got right down to business. In the late 1960s through the 1970s he owned and operated a wrecker service, as well. I’m sure he never would have imagined that his family would still be serving the trucking industry in Ocala almost 70 years later! With a small fleet of wreckers, George would sometimes have to go on calls himself. It was those times that Mark (his son) and his siblings might pile in the wrecker and go along. One of the most memorable calls was when there was a truck submerged in water and George had to dive in to hook the chain around the front axle. George didn’t really have any truck specific experience prior to starting the truck stop and wrecker businesses, but he was mechanically inclined and had experience working in aeronautics. I think dispatchers sometimes confuse the two – a truck and a plane – and the time they expect us to get freight delivered. I always used to say, “It says Kenworth on the side of my hood, not Leer!” In 1986 the truck stop was sold to Baxley Oil Company and then George purchased a Mack Truck franchise. They would order new trucks and have them delivered to Rogers Body in Nashville, TN to have new dump bodies mounted on them. Mark and his coworkers would take small S-10 Chevy trucks to pick up the finished units, load them in the dump bodies, and then bring them home. When the franchise was sold the family exited this part of the business. It was also in 1986 when Mark Raney opened Raney’s Truck Center, which grew into a large truck and parts service center, also located in Ocala, FL. It was here that Joel (his son) got to be around trucks, helping at his dad’s shop. In 2023 Mark sold the truck center. He is technically retired now, but he still talks business with his son Joel and is a wealth of information for him. Truck Show Report: By John & Kim Jaikes The Raney’s business that we know today – Raney’s Truck Parts – was born in 2010 when it was Joel’s turn to start a business that would continue to provide quality service for truckers. He started out in a little yellow house in Ocala. Chatting with Richard Stocknahm, he can remember doing business with Joel when he was located in that little house. Joel has taken the business from these humble beginnings to an international level, focusing on having a large global footprint through their website and a large distribution center. But Raney’s is much more than a chrome accessories dealer, as their inventory also includes collision parts, hoods, shocks, brake components, headlights and other parts for all makes and models. THE ROAD TO WISHES
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