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
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