10-4 Magazine September 2023

Cover Feature: By Daniel J. Linss color with a maroon frame, fenders and roof, Reid used this truck to run locally for about one year. In October 2017 he bought his next truck, a baby blue 1999 Pete 379 with a 60” standup sleeper and a 300” wheelbase. About six months later, he began running OTR with it. Running that 1999 Peterbilt for about a year, he next purchased a bright yellow 1982 Kenwor th A-model with an extended hood, an Aero 1 sleeper, a 12.7-liter Detroit, and a 10+4 transmission setup. He ran this old A-model everywhere, from California to Nor th Carolina, and loved it. But keeping an old truck like that running was no easy task, so in October 2020 he When searching for a truck to feature on our special 30th anniversary issue, we went on the hunt for a 1993 truck that was still working. Obviously, it needed to be a cool ride, with an owner that had some personality, as well. With the help of some friends, we found Reid Gerhardt and his 1993 Kenwor th W900L. Reid is the real deal, and his truck just happens to be pretty cool, too. And during the photo shoot, we realized that Reid himself, like his truck, was born in 1993 and was 30 years old. What a fun bonus. So, not only is 10-4 Magazine “30 Years & Still Rollin” – but both Reid and his KW are, too! Born in Fairmont, MN in April of 1993, Reid Gerhardt (30) grew up in a farming family. Growing row crops like corn and beans, Reid’s family also had some livestock. Reid always just figured he’d grow up to be a farmer, but that’s not exactly how it went. He and his father didn’t always see eye-to-eye on things, and some other life situations forced him to look for a different career. After high school, Reid headed to South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD to study Ag Business. Although it took him a bit longer than it should have, he graduated in 2015. From there, he moved to Aberdeen, SD and began working with a friend who farmed and had trucks. Doing some dir t work and running local loads, Reid was there for about six months. Rewind to 2010, and his mother Diane was diagnosed with breast cancer when Reid was about 17 years old. She fought hard and beat it and was deemed “cancer free” for many years. However, in March of 2016, shor tly after Reid had graduated from college, she had a hear t attack and passed away. Reid believes the drugs she was taking to remain cancer free probably caused the hear t attack, since they had no history of hear t problems in their family. Her death had a profound effect on Reid – in his own words, he said that he did not handle it well. Leaving Aberdeen and heading back home, Reid spent the better par t of 2016 trying to deal with the sudden loss of his mother. Having worked side-by-side with his wife for many years as they built their business, Reid’s father Dick struggled with Diane’s passing, as well. In fact, he decided to retire altogether at that point. Later, Dick found a new “person” named Sarah, and Reid loves her. Always wanting to haul livestock, at 23 years old, Reid got his CDL and bought his first truck in September of 2106 – a 2003 Pete 379 with a 275” wheelbase and a 48” flattop sleeper. Painted a dark orange 18 10-4 Magazine / September 2023 30 YEARS & STILL ROLLIN