10-4 Magazine May 2023

24 10-4 Magazine / May 2023 Aftermarket Sleeper, Mark Aragon out of Colorado brought in an eye-catching antifreeze green 2003 Peterbilt 379, and Earl Chapman of Texas brought in one fine 359 painted up silver with a dark red frame. I think it is cool to see the different and unique ideas people come up with at this show! The custom interiors this year were definitely impressive. If you didn’t head inside, then you missed JR Schleuger’s “Bad Little B” Kenworth W900B (sitting tall in the Lifetime Nut Covers booth), because the outside looks awesome, but the interior is amazing! RoadWorks showcased their new 389 “Against The Wind” combo and the Reinsfelder booth displayed a bunch of cool rides. Many trucks took advantage of parking inside, in vendor booths, so there were plenty of trucks to see inside as well as outside. 10-4 Magazine’s John Testa made the rounds interviewing and gathering video content each day during the event, with assistance from Frank Strohmyer and Paul Kittle. Thank you from all of us at Team 10-4 to everyone that stopped by our booth and our media partners for sponsoring this year’s video coverage, including 4 State Trucks, NAST, Evan’s Detailing and Polishing, Lifetime Nut Covers, Dickerson CustomTrucks, Berry Trucking, Minimizer, Pittsburgh Power, Carpenter Custom Truck & Trailer, Hood Skinz, and Renegade Products. If you have not watched the videos streams yet, look up our Facebook page or YouTube channel and check them out. Also, thank you to everyone that helped us in one way or another at the show including past cover truckers Ron Beer (March 2022) and Tony Huttenstine (October 2019) for transporting pallets to and from the show from California. WORKING BOBTAIL: 1st JT Picha (2022 Kenworth W900); 2nd Zach Curry (2016 Peterbilt 389); 3rd Brian Pete (2019 Peterbilt 389). WORKING COMBO: 1st Matt Kelley (2017 Peterbilt 389 & 2023 Stargate); 2nd Andrew Reed (2007 Peterbilt 379 & 2012 MAC covered wagon); 3rd Jacob Price (2022 Peterbilt 389 & MAC flatbed). NEW TRUCK BOBTAIL: 1st Brian Pete (2023 Peterbilt 389); 2nd Dakota Punches (2023 Peterbilt 389); 3rd Austin Duffield (2023 Peterbilt 389). NEW TRUCK COMBO: 1st Keith Lance (2023 Peterbilt 389 & 2022 Great Dane van). FIRST SHOW BOBTAIL: 1st Willie Flores Jr. (1995 Peterbilt 379); 2nd Lee Norman (2023 Peterbilt 389). FIRST SHOW COMBO: 1st Tracey Rieks (2017 Kenworth W900L & 2021 Great Dane); 2nd Eddie Telles (2015 Peterbilt 389 & 2023 Great Dane); 3rd Brian Cobb (2019 Peterbilt 389 & 2021 Wilson Pacesetter). ANTIQUE ORIGINAL BOBTAIL: 1st Brian Stevens (1991 Peterbilt 379); 2nd Kevin Miller (1985 Mack Superliner). ANTIQUE CUSTOM BOBTAIL: 1st Andy Goettsch (1979 International 4070B); 2nd Kate Whiting (1973 Kenworth W900A); 3rd Ed Harwell (1988 Freightliner FLT086). ANTIQUE ORIGINAL COMBO: 1st Greg VanderWal (1994 Kenworth W900L & 2023 Walker tanker). ANTIQUE CUSTOM COMBO: 1st Jason Sanders (1994 Kenworth W900 & 2014 Great Dane). COMPANY OWNED BOBTAIL OR COMBO: 1st Michael Maddox (2023 Peterbilt 389); 2nd Brian Harney (2022 Peterbilt 389 rotator); 3rd William Harris (2021 Peterbilt 567 & 2021 Walker tanker). WORKING ENGINE: 1st Brian Pete (2019 Peterbilt 389); 2nd Jonathan Dyck (1979 Peterbilt 352); 3rd Dakota Punches (2023 Peterbilt 389). WORKING BOBTAIL PAINT & GRAPHICS: 1st Dakota Punches (2023 Peterbilt 389); 2nd Kate Whiting (1973 Kenworth W900A); 3rd Brian Pete (2019 Pete 389). It always amazes me how much prep work goes on prior to attending MATS, along with what goes on during the show, but in the blink of an eye, it is Sunday, and everyone is making their way home or out with a load. All said and done, 850 vendors occupied approximately 1,000,000 square feet, there were 58,000 attendees, and over 120 trucks were registered and parked in the PKY lot. I’d say it was a pretty successful show that provided access to all things trucking. Next year’s MATS is scheduled for March 21-23, 2024. As always, to all the drivers out there doing the deal, truck safe.