10-4 Magazine September 2024

34 10-4 Magazine / September 2024 I met Mike through Duane at L&S back in 2023. In 2023, Duane hired me to shoot the annual company image and project images. While on site shooting those photos, Duane mentioned this rig and asked if I would be interested in shooting it. There was no way I was going to pass up the opportunity! In mid-September of 2023, the truck was finished up and ready to roll out. We scheduled the shoot for the day the truck was completely finished, and I was able to get some behind the scenes images of the guys working on it. The first location we shot the truck was a bed and breakfast in beautiful Lancaster County (the truck just fit in so well with the house and landscaping). I can’t take credit for the location – Duane found it and got permission from the owner. The second shoot was a mix of backroads (the rollers were shot in the back of Duane’s pickup) and Weaver’s Toasted Grains. Weaver’s is a grain elevator, and the silver of the grain bins provided a nice contrast against the paint of the truck. Once the sunlight faded, we took to some other backroads to shoot just the tractor. It’s a very simple light package, but it looks so good. I’d like to thank Mike for allowing me to shoot the truck multiple times to get everything I needed. I’d also like to thank Duane and the guys at L&S for welcoming me in and for the photo business. These business relationships have turned into friendships, and that is always my goal. It may have taken 20 attempts to get that brown color right, but the final product is perfect! n folds down has never been used and the mattress is still in the original plastic wrap from Kenworth! One of the other cool things about the bunk is the AC and fridge conversion, which were also done by Charlie Klopp. Mike would like to thank his boss, Mike Hostetler, for letting him drive this truck and letting him customize it to his liking. Mike says he feels more like an owner operator than an employee! He would also like to thank DirtyDiesels, 717 Chrome Polishing (who maintain the shine on the truck), Horse & Buggy for the grill and other parts, 717 Fab Shop for all the custom stainless parts, Trans Equipment, Goods Services, and last but not least, Lynn Martin, Duane Hoover, and the rest of the crew at L&S Truck Painting.