10-4 Magazine November 2023

10-4 Magazine / November 2023 35 to the company because the drivers are an important part of their team and their family. They do see more turnover with younger drivers, but the ones who don’t leave end up retiring from the company! Tramcor places great importance on commending their drivers for doing a good job, showing them appreciation, understanding them, and maintaining open communication with them. I originally saw truck #359 (the two-tone blue 389) and #321 (light blue 379 with stripes) at the 2022 Great Salt Lake Truck Show in Lehi, UT and had the chance to briefly talk with Derek at that time. He explained that the two-tone 389 was put together especially for one of their longtime drivers, Kody Braegger (his grandfather and Derek’s grandfather were second cousins). Kody has been with Tramcor since he started washing trucks around 14 or 15 years old. He picked out the colors of his truck and then the company added custom parts to it as a surprise to show their appreciation for the great driver he is. As Derek told me, Kody never calls with problems, he works hard, washes his truck at the end of every week, and takes a lot of pride in what he does. And the company isn’t just made up of a multi-generation of owners, but multi-generational drivers, as well. Kody’s father Kirk drove for Tramcor for 32 years, and today it isn’t just Kody, but his brother Kirby is a driver, as well. We spoke more after the show and managed to coordinate schedules for the trip out earlier this year. Big thanks go out to Derek for all the communication and making the photography a breeze with finding great locations, along with moving trucks around to all the locations with help from Al Bisel, Aaron Struble, Nate Gabler, Logan Braegger, and David Rodriguez. Definitely not forgotten, thanks to Duane and Luke for your time, as well as Kathleen for the conversation and dinner with Derek at my favorite type of restaurant – Mexican. I photographed a total of six trucks in five different locations, including downtown Brigham City. The trucks I photographed were truck numbers 359 (two-tone blue 2022 Peterbilt 389), 321 (a 2003 Pete 379 with light blue stripes), 400 (2022 Peterbilt 579 that is light blue with dark blue stripes hooked to a 2024 Trout River belt trailer), 362 (two-tone blue 2022 Peterbilt 567 daycab), 320 (blue 2021 Peterbilt 389 daycab), and 337 (light blue with dark stripe 2015 Peterbilt 389 flatbed straight truck). Truck #321 holds a special place in Luke’s heart. Jim “Buck” Stanger drove for Tramcor for many years but had gotten sick and had to leave trucking. He and Luke were very close, and Luke had the truck rebuilt, which is also the truck he drives when he does, and had “Truckin’ for Buck” put on the back of the sleeper as a tribute to Jim. The beauty of Utah never ceases to amaze me and every year I look forward to going out there. I saw more of Utah during that trip, including my favorite, the majestic mountain ranges. I couldn’t have asked for better backgrounds or weather for these trucks. With the trucks dialed in, I knew this article would show not just one but all of the six trucks I shot. As always, to all the drivers out there doing the deal, truck safe. n