Gracing the pages of this article is a unique and not often seen truck in service these days – a 1971 Brockway 361. The truck, belonging to Charlie Bollinger (20) of Plumstead, PA is a culmination of the love of old trucks and wanting to keep them alive. Charlie’s love of trucks began at a young age but really got going in 2019. “In 2019, my father, Craig, and I were looking for a trailer to haul our restored farm tractors around and my dad happened upon a 1962 Brockway 147 rollback,” said Charlie. His father had explained that Brockway’s were the trash trucks in his neighborhood growing up, but this old truck, with their help, found some new tricks. A few weeks after finding the truck, that Brockway 147 made its way to their home! As Charlie put it, this really kick-started his love (or addiction) for Brockway trucks. While Craig was not a trucker, he worked for NFI as the Senior VP of Risk Management (NFI is a large trucking and logistics company in New Jersey). Charlie would tag along with Craig to work once in a while and remembers the Driver Rodeos. These events, which showcased the best skills in driving, allowed Charlie to talk with drivers and sit in the trucks. Appreciating older trucks since he was a child and always dreaming of having his name on the door of one when he got older, Charlie’s passion for both restoring and keeping old trucks running came from he and his father restoring old farm tractors, as previously mentioned. They live by the moniker, “If it ain’t red, it belongs in the shed,” when it comes totheirtractors. Oneofthefirstthey restored together was a 1959 Farmall 460, which sat across from Charlie’s elementary school. Charlie was able to purchase it and load it up after several hours of yanking it out of its resting spot. The tractor ended up winning Best of Show at Middletown Grange Fair, a local fair in Bucks County, PA. The 361 pictured here was not as it is now. The truck was purchased in Connecticut and then hauled back home to Pennsylvania. The previous owner bought the truck in 1973 and ran it until the mid-2000s when it was parked. The original specifications of the truck were a 250 Cummins and a 12-speed Road Ranger transmission, but at some point, the motor was swapped out for a 290 Cummins by the previous owner. The 290 was tired and underpowered for Charlie’s needs so a Big Cam III 400 Cummins was installed under the hood. The 12-speed Road Ranger was also swapped out for a 13-speed Eaton. When they first got the Brockway, the frame rails were completed rotted through and even the cab had some rot. The cab rot was easily fixed, but the frame rails had to be replaced. A Peterbilt Air Trac rear suspension was installed, along with 3.90 rears, and a 20,000-lb. Peterbilt front axle. All the frame and chassis work was done by Garey’s Truck Frame & Repair located just up the road from Charlie in Kintnersville, PA. The aluminum body, which was beyond repair, was swapped out in favor of a new steel dump body. The body, a Beau Roc, was built and installed by Triad Truck Equipment in Pottstown, PA. All the paint work was done by Torodyne Rebuilders, located in Furlong, PA. The lettering was all hand done by Scottie Kania who is well-known in the area. The main goal Charlie wanted to achieve was to keep the old truck alive while modernizing it, so it had more power, a better ride and ease of finding parts if needed. Charlie’s inspiration 10-4 Magazine / May 2025 33
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