“FOR TODAY’S TRUCKER” SEPTEMBER 2025 ® Magazine SINCE 1993! NOSTALGIC RIGS ROLL INTO WISCONSIN AND PENNSYLVANIA FOR BIG ANTIQUE TRUCK EVENTS ANOTHER SPOTLIGHT IN OUR MADE IN AMERICA SERIES: A LOOK INTO LIFETIME NUT COVERS Mike Duffy’s Show Truck From 25 Years Ago Ends Up In Utah As... THE ULTIMATE BARN FIND
2 10-4 Magazine / September 2025
6 10-4 Magazine / September 2025 Bug Shields • Peep Windows Custom License Plates • Window Wings Quarter Fender Flaps • And More www.DANENELSONBUGSHIELDS.com 18651 Valley Blvd, Unit B, Bloomington, CA 92316 Grand General Bumpers, Lights, Grills, Fenders, Stacks & More We Install What We Sell...
20 58 10 ® 28 FUN: WordSearch 49 • Crossword 63 • Truckertoon 73 • Red’s Rides 75 • NumberSearch 79 • Words To Live By 84 SEPTEMBER 2025 CONTENTS VOLUME 33 ISSUE 1 COVER FEATURE The Ultimate Barn Find is Discovered in Utah ................ 10 PERFORMANCE ZONE Challenges Facing the American Dream in 2025 ............ 17 TRUCK SHOW REPORT Hundreds of Nostalgic Rigs Roll Into Madison, WI ......... 20 OUT OF THE ARCHIVES Another Old Gem from Bette Garber’s Collection .......... 25 MADE IN AMERICA The Products and Trucks of Lifetime Nut Covers ............ 28 TRUCKAPEDIA A Semi-Retirement Playtoy for Dennis Sikorski .............. 34 HEALTH & HAPPINESS Laughing Your Way to Better Health ............................... 39 THE VETERAN’S VIEW Learning to Fly Like an Eagle and Other Insights ........... 50 CLINT’S CREATIONS More Forward Thinking from the Hillius Brothers ........... 55 TRUCK SHOW REPORT It’s All About the Trucks in Macungie, PA ........................ 58 THE DIESEL ADDICT Trucking is Not Just a Job for Young Chad Dixon .......... 64 WAYNE’S WORLD Cutting the Red Tape for the Very Last Time ................... 69 THE BOOKWORM SEZ... A Real Emergency: The Memoir of a Paramedic ............ 71 TRUCKER TALK Looking Back at the History of Hunts Point .................... 76 POETRY IN MOTION A Poetic Spin on Core Values and Valuable Cores ......... 81
8 10-4 Magazine / September 2025 We at 10-4 Magazine® love to hear from our readers. If you have any comments, suggestions, gripes, questions, or just some information you would like to pass on to other readers (truckers just like you)... VISIT US ON OUR WEBSITE: www.tenfourmagazine.com FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA: Search for Ten Four Magazine SEND US AN E-MAIL: 10-4@tenfourmagazine.com WRITE US AT: 10-4 Magazine Post Office Box 639 Dunlap, CA 93621 CALL US ON THE PHONE: (559) 338-2703 10-4 MAGAZINE IS: Daniel J. Linss - OWNER/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/MARKETING Jean Osugi - OWNER/TRUCK SHOW SUPPORT/HR Tim Sieben - OWNER/TFK MANAGER/SHOW SUPPORT Shannon Linss - OFFICE MANAGER &DISTRIBUTION Eric Hill - PRINT SALES MANAGER/SHOW SUPPORT John Testa - SALES &DIGITAL CONTENT MANAGER Stephanie Haas - PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Parker Linss - PRODUCTION ASSISTANT/SHOW SUPPORT John Hambro -WEBSITE MANAGER Vic Vasselin - MONTHLY “TRUCKERTOON” ARTIST Mark McClain - CUSTOM CROSSWORD CREATOR Ron Kelsey - PRINT &DIGITAL SALES/AZDISTRIBUTION Jonathan Townsel - CENTRAL CALIFORNIA DISTRIBUTION Hugo Ruano - L.A. & L.B. HARBOR DISTRIBUTION Teresa Franco - LOS ANGELES COUNTY DISTRIBUTION Derek Bennett - HIGH DESERT DISTRIBUTION Julio “Junior” Tapia - INLAND EMPIRE DISTRIBUTION Terry Coombs - OR, WA & IDAHO DISTRIBUTION CONTRIBUTING WRITERS, EDITORS &PHOTOGRAPHERS: Wayne Schooling • Eric Hill • John & Kim Jaikes Bruce Mallinson• Stephanie Haas • Clint Moore Trevor Hardwick • Dennis Mitchell • Colin Kund Mark Harter • Duncan Putman • Norman Chapman Mike Bradford • K.M. Stanfield • Miss Flatbed Red John Scarborough• Norma Hannigan • Troy Miller Bryan Welsh • Terri “Bookworm” Schlichenmeyer WEBSITE: MEDIA: Magazine PHONE:
Cover Feature: By Daniel J. Linss The first truck Mike bought was the 1989 International Eagle seen on the cover and center this month, along with on these pages, but it looked nothing like it does today. Back then, it was faded white, bone stock, was fitted with a sleeper, had a rusty frame and about 600,000 miles on the odometer. Hiring a retired truck driver named Sherwood Parker to drive the truck, Mike put it to work hauling automotive parts from various points in the United States to a Chrysler assembly plant in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. Over the next few years, Mike’s company, Mike Duffy’s Trucking, grew to include five or six trucks, and he eventually got his CDL, mostly so he could be a backup driver. Hauling for U.S. This month’s cover should take a lot of people back over 25 years – back to the late 1990s and early 2000s – when Mike Duffy of Canada was winning many of the big shows with his head-turning 1989 International 9300 Eagle. Fast forward to now, and after a series of uncanny coincidences and several involved players, Mike’s old show truck appears on our cover in all its glory, almost identical to what it looked like when he was showing it, before he sold it off to a guy and said farewell, so many years ago. But after lots of digging and investigating over a period of three years, the puzzle was finally put together and Mike’s truck – which was the ultimate barn find for one gentleman – is now in the care and custody of a man in Salt Lake City that truly loves and respects this vehicle and it’s history. This story starts out with Mike Duffy (70), who was born in 1955 and raised in the Windsor, Ontario area of Canada, just across the river from Detroit, MI. Mike’s family was not involved in trucking, as his dad was a cop, and his mom was a secretary. Being a bit of a hustler and a gangster right from the start, Mike and his father did not get along, so Mike left home at just 15 years old and began an apprenticeship program at a local auto body shop, learning the art of paint and body. The guy who owned the shop actually came to Mike’s school to recruit him, and when he told the school officials about the apprenticeship program, they “released” him from school – he was only in the 10th grade! After several years in the industry and getting really good at paint and body work, Mike opened his own shop in 1980 called Duffy’s Collision in nearby LaSalle, Ontario, Canada. A few years later, Mike was offered a management job to run the paint and body shop at a local GMC dealership and took it. A few years after that, he got burnt out and quit, moving to Belle River, Ontario, Canada, just east of LaSalle, where he built a shop and started doing his own jobs again. In those days, he got together regularly with a group of friends for breakfast, and many of those friends were truckers. After sharing how much money they were making, Mike decided it might be a good idea to buy a truck and put a driver in it, which is exactly what he did. 10 10-4 Magazine / September 2025 THE ULTIMATE BARN FIND
companies, Mike got paid in U.S. dollars, so after the exchange rate was factored in, he was making really good money. Doing “just in time” delivery to the assembly plant, Mike and his drivers could not be late. In fact, if the assembly line had to be stopped because Mike or one of his drivers was late, he was told he would be charged $5,000 for every minute the line was shut down! Needless to say, it almost happened once, but thankfully it never did. Powered by a Cummins 444 engine, which at the time was considered to be a powerhouse, the driver named the International Eagle “Big Bear” because it was powerful like a bear when climbing the hills. Later, on a local run in the International, one of his other drivers let the oil go dry and blew up that Cummins 444 engine, so Mike towed it back to the shop and stuck it in the corner, where it sat for a while. Enter Dennis Bradbury of Cincinnati, OH. Dennis was an owner operator that started parking in Mike’s yard when he was up there, and he had a black Peterbilt show truck called Star Cruiser. Dennis saw the International parked in the corner and told Mike he should fix it up and take it to some shows. Mike’s response was something like, “That 13-letter #@*! spreader? It ain’t worth 10 cents!!” But Dennis was able to talk him into it, so Mike started working on the truck, doing almost all the work himself. At first, he had a local mechanic named Jay Sterling rebuild the engine, then Mike painted the entire truck a dark purple color. Mike had another friend who worked at International and was able to get him all sorts of brand-new parts and accessories for the truck. Always pushing the envelope and very creative, Mike made plexiglass panels and then glued them to the frame to hide the rust. They made the frame look beautiful! Dennis told him how to clean the truck and get it ready to be judged, and Mike did so good, he surprisingly got a 3rd place trophy at his first show in 1999 – and that lit the wick. Over the next three years or so, Mike made many changes to the truck and won many awards, included being featured on a Shell SuperRigs calendar. Back in the day, that was the pinnacle of success for a truck on the show circuit. At some point, Mike removed the sleeper and plugged the hole, making it a daycab, completely re-did the interior in purple, and then added dark metallic red ghost flames to the sides of the hood. Meeting photojournalist Bette Garber at one of the shows, she apologized to Mike for not being able to get those ghost flames to show up in her pictures, to which Mike replied, “Don’t worry, you’ll see them next time!” At the next show, his hood was covered with bright metallic violet flames that could not be missed on top of those ghost flames, that were still peeking out from behind, as well. Most of what Mike did was a reaction to something that happened or something he saw at a truck show. Case in point – the engine. After losing that class to a fellow competitor named Neil Holsomback, Mike looked at Neil’s engine and thought, “I can do better than that!” Once he got the truck home, he pulled the engine, painted it purple, polished the turbo, and then covered the entire motor and engine compartment with chrome and polished pieces, pinstriping, and lights. He even lined the underside of the front fenders with plexiglass panels with flames and mounted eight purple watermelon lights, four on each side, under there, too. And guess what, he started winning trophies for his engine. Remember, Mike was doing all this in the late 90s and very early 2000s, and he was doing it to an International Eagle, which nobody made custom accessories for. At a time when wood floors were getting popular, Mike installed a 5/8” thick plexiglass floor with flames underneath, and then surrounded the edges with purple neon tubes, that shined through the thick plexiglass and lit it up. He also modified chrome KW bezels to fit around all the gauges on his dash, modified and replaced the stock switches with toggle switches out of a Peterbilt, and painted and pinstriped everything, including the ends of the doors (I don’t think I’ve ever seen that). Working closely with Bernie, the son of the man who started Dieter’s Accessories back in 1976 in Canada, Mike would design something for his truck and Bernie would make it. Bernie even offered him a job once or twice, but Mike never took him up on the offer. All the custom 10-4 Magazine / September 2025 11
12 10-4 Magazine / September 2025 stainless on the truck including the visor, deck plate (which swings up on a hinge), light panels and more were built by Dieter’s (this company, which also owns Panelite, is now owned by High Bar Brands out of Minnesota). For the shows, Dieter’s also made Mike a set of stainless and louvered mudflaps and a stainless fifth wheel cover with lights underneath! Almost everything under the truck, including the suspension and rear ends, were either painted and pinstriped, chromed or polished. To get the front lower, Mike removed a few leaf springs and then hammered the rest flatter. Mike also installed polished external breathers, with lights inside, which were not available on the Eagle in 1989. And speaking of lights, did we mention that this truck has a few of them? With 24 across the bottom of the frame on each side, 16 along the bottom of the back of the sleeper, 18 along the bottom of each fuel tank, 10 along the bottom of the cab on each side, another 5 on the front and back of each air cleaner, 12 up on top of the cab, and even a string of 16 across the firewall, under the hood, to light up the engine, there are lights all over this thing – 478 of them in total! For me, the single coolest thing on this truck are the blinkers on the front fenders, mounted just above the dual square headlights. Mike took bullet-style cab lights with watermelon lenses, cut them in half, and then mounted them atop the fenders, replacing the ugly square ones that were there originally. Mike and his old Eagle were both way ahead of their time. A few years later (Mike could not remember all the exact dates, which is why I have been a little vague on the years in this story) Mike sold his company and moved to a new place that did not have a shop. The International was the only truck he kept, but it had to be outside, and after seeing it sit through a cold and harsh Canadian winter, Mike decided he had to let it go. Listing it on ebay, the truck quickly sold, and then the buyer came to Detroit to pick it up and drive it home. That was around 2003, and the last time Mike saw the truck. Mike does not remember the name of the person who bought it. Typically, the story would end there, but this one doesn’t. Enter the next player in this story. Craig Thornley (74) is the owner of National Equipment Services in Hyrum, UT, which specializes in the sales, service, transportation, and rental of construction and other heavy equipment. Back in the day, Craig did repossessions for some of the larger banks, and he got a call around 2009 to pick up an old International in Bountiful, UT. When he got there, the truck had no stacks, no front bumper, and what he described as “three inches of dust” on it. But it was dark inside that storage shed it was parked in, so he got out his flashlight, opened the driver’s door, and then immediately realized this truck was something special. Many of these repos he ended up buying, and this one was no different, so Craig became the International’s next owner. After replacing the bumper, adding some 6” stacks, and cleaning it all up, he started taking it to a few local car shows and parades. Along with a few other things, the batteries had to be replaced, and when Craig opened up the box, he was shocked to find that even the batteries were painted purple with flames! Every event Craig took the truck to he drove it there, and it always ran perfectly. That old Cummins 444 may have been rebuilt way back in 1999, but it probably has less than 10,000 miles on it to this day.
Craig had planned on keeping the old truck, but he got tired of polishing it and needed the space in the shop, so he decided to sell the Eagle. Enter the next player in this trilogy – Don Fisher. Don is the owner of Donald C. Fisher Construction, Inc. out of Hyde Park, UT. Don is a general contractor, and his company builds commercial and residential properties. Don, who has four work trucks of his own that he uses to haul his own equipment, thought about buying the truck from his friend Craig, but he really didn’t have the space for it. He did, however, know someone that would be the perfect person to take care of this special vehicle – our next player, Wes Johnson (62) of North Salt Lake City, UT. Don and Wes have been friends for over 30 years, and Wes is well-known for his amazing collection of cars, so Don put Craig and Wes together, and Wes became the next owner of the International in 2014. Wes started calling the truck “Purple Haze” even though it still says “Big Bear” on the exhaust heat shields. Not knowing how to drive a truck and not having a CDL, Craig gave Wes a quick lesson on how to drive the truck, equipped with a 10-4 Magazine / September 2025 13 10-speed, and then Wes drove it home. Snaking through a notorious stretch of highway known as Sardine Canyon, Wes said he grinded more gears that day on the short trip home than he has his entire life. And once he got back to his place, he parked it amongst the rest of his stellar collection of cars (and a few trucks), where it sat for almost ten years, hidden away, more or less, from the trucking public. A very interesting character in his own right, Wes Johnson has a good story, too. His parents, Carol and Bill, opened a Dodge dealership in Bountiful, UT in 1958, adding a Toyota franchise a few years later in 1965 (one of the first ones outside of the west coast), with help from Carol’s father, Roy Menlove. Together, along with Wes later on, they built a family business that became one of Utah’s most successful auto dealerships, Menlove Dodge Toyota, with the slogan, “The last of the little guys” – which is still used today in the current operation called Menlove FreshStart, which sells and finances quality used cars to people with no credit or bad credit (the Dodge franchise was sold in 2007 and then the Toyota franchise and facility was sold in 2011). Creating a character named Hank as a sales and marketing gimmick some 25 years ago, Wes puts on a “surfer dude” wig and “Billy Bob” teeth and goes into his Hank character. He started doing this at the Toyota dealership during sales meetings, and the joke just kind of stuck. Today, Hank’s Garage, as Wes calls it, has become a high-end, one-of-a-kind event venue in North Salt Lake that utilizes his extensive car collection as a backdrop. This 20,000-square-foot space blends vintage automotive charm with modern sophistication, making it the perfect setting for weddings, corporate events, private parties, and more. Surrounded by over 60 classic and muscle cars, Hank’s Garage offers a stunning location that creates an instant impression that elevates any event. Even if you’re not a car enthusiast, you’ll love this place (check it out at www.hanksgaragevenue.com). And this is where “Purple Haze” now calls home! The incredible collection of cars at Hank’s garage, which is located in a quiet industrial park unbeknown to most who drive by it, includes about 75 cars, with a focus on Plymouth, Dodge and Chrysler muscle cars from the 60s, 70s and beyond. But with Challengers, Chargers, Vipers, Cougars, Cudas, Coronets, Impalas, Camaros, Bel Airs, Corvettes, Mustangs, Road Runners and more, the diverse collection has something for everyone and includes custom and original muscle cars, classics, limited editions, restomods, and a few modern hot rods, as well. On the wall it says, “He who dies with the most toys friends wins!” Which brings us to one of our last players in this story: Wes’ friend Mike Burdick. Mike Burdick (57) of Draper, UT has been friends with Wes for decades – he even worked
14 10-4 Magazine / September 2025 at the dealership with him at one point. For the past 30 years, he has had a commercial and residential window tinting and paint protection film business, and he was once tasked with the job of “exercising” the cars in Wes’ collection (meaning he got to drive all of them) – what a tough job! For years, Mike, who back in the day was a local truck driver, saw the International just sitting there, and for some reason, it called out to him in 2022 to get it outside for some love. Asking Wes if he could take it the Great Salt Lake Truck Show that year, Wes said, “Of course!” So, Mike took the truck to the show in August 2022, where our contributor, Stephanie Haas, got a picture of it. The truck got a lot of attention, but nobody dug any deeper after that. The following year, as I was preparing to attend the Salt Lake Truck Show personally, I began reviewing the photos from the year before, looking for something I might want to shoot while there for a feature or a cover. I came across the picture of the International and started to get intrigued. I am always looking for the odd ducks or unique trucks, and a custom International Eagle, which for some reason seemed familiar to me, really stood out. I called the show promoters to get a contact name and number, and ended up getting Mike’s number, who in turn gave me Wes’ number. After some calls, I planned to go check out the truck after the show and possibly do a future feature on it. Heading over to Hank’s Garage in 2023 to meet Wes, I was blown away at the truck, and at his car collection. Since Wes couldn’t legally drive the truck anywhere, we went ahead and did a quick photo shoot inside the garage, with the cars all around it. The shots turned out nice, but I wanted to find out more about this truck – and so did Wes! Doing some more digging, I found out that Bette Garber had put this truck in one of her books, and I just happened to have that book, so I found the pics and I read a bit about the guy who built it – Mike Duffy. Now, the story was getting really interesting. From there, I went into a full deep dive into the truck and Mike Duffy, but nobody had Mike’s number or knew how to get hold of him. This went on for months. Finally, sometime in 2024, Mike Duffy found out that his old truck had made an appearance at the truck show in Utah, and from that, he was able to get Mike Burdick’s phone number and call him. The two talked for well over an hour, and Mike (Duffy) got really emotional, reliving his glory days with the International. He could not believe that the truck still existed – and that it was nearly in the same shape as when he had sold it 20+ years prior. From this point on, we were all in contact, but we were still hitting snags. In June 2024, I had plans to go visit Wes again and re-shoot the truck properly for the cover, but our entire 10-day trip to that area to go to a couple truck shows, do some photo shoots, and visit our daughter in Montana, was all canceled at the last moment because a wildfire was bearing down on our house here in Central California, so we could not leave. We postponed the trip a year, and then did everything we were planning to do in 2024 in 2025 – we even got to celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary in Park City, UT! Meeting up with Wes and the truck at Mueller Park in Bountiful, UT (which just happens to be the city where it was originally found by Craig), a popular hiking and picnicking location in the foothills of the Wasatch Mountains just a few short miles from Hank’s Garage, Mike Burdick drove the truck there for Wes. While shooting the pictures, a few visitors showed up, including Craig Thornley, Don Fisher, and his wife Patience. The only person we were missing was Mike Duffy, who wanted to be there, but couldn’t. It was quite the reunion, and quite the photo shoot, and I could not have been any happier with how all the pictures turned out. So, after three years, we finally put all the pieces together, got the pictures, and talked to everybody involved, which was a lot of folks. The only thing we were never able to figure out was the name of the person who bought it on ebay from Mike. Otherwise, we got the entire life and pedigree of this 1989 International Eagle. And what you see here is the culmination of all that work. I want to thank everyone who played a part in getting this together, as I could not have done it without a lot of people (you know who you are). I especially want to thank Wes Johnson for his patience and hospitality through all this – you are an amazing guy, with an amazing collection of cool vehicles, and a nice human, as well. I know this story went longer than most, but there was a lot of story to tell. And, honestly, there was a lot more I kept out for the sake of space. Not every cover feature comes together quickly and easily – some take time to develop, and this was one of those, for sure. But I truly believe this ultimate barn find was worth all the work, because even after 25 years, Mike Duffy’s ideas and creations are still relevant and cool. And this old show truck is proof of that! n Hank Mike and His Family 2002 Mike and His Family now
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10-4 Magazine / September 2025 17 The Performance Zone: By Bruce Mallinson If you’re an owner operator in the trucking world right now, you’re probably wondering when exactly this job became a high-stakes game of “how much can we squeeze out of one human being before they snap?” The past month has been a real treat: between political u-turns on emissions rules, engine delays, rising costs, and policy changes that seem written by people who think a Peterbilt is a kind of sandwich, it’s getting harder to tell if you’re running a small business or starring in a never-ending prank show. Let’s start with the latest twist on emissions regulations. Just last week, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and Indiana Governor Mike Braun announced plans to repeal the 2009 “endangerment finding” which, until now, has let the EPA regulate greenhouse gas emissions from diesel trucks and other sources. If this move succeeds, it could completely gut current and future emissions mandates. Some folks are cheering: fewer rules mean less pressure to upgrade expensive equipment or shell out six figures for a battery-powered unicorn that might not even make it to the next truck stop. But here’s the catch – this rollback doesn’t mean stability. It means limbo. With the rules up in the air, engine makers like Cummins are now delaying future tech, including their much-anticipated 2027 X15 diesel. That engine was supposed to help drivers stay ahead of tightening regulations while boosting fuel economy and reducing maintenance headaches. But with the feds yanking the rug out from under the industry, Cummins decided to sit tight until late 2026. So now, you’re stuck trying to plan your equipment future while lawmakers play tug-of-war with the Clean Air Act and engine builders stall out, waiting for a green light – or a red one. If your current insurance premiums and broker rates don’t make you question your life choices, let’s talk about repairs. Parts availability has become a whole separate nightmare – if you’re not already broke from the tow bill, you’ll be broke waiting on backordered components that no one seems to have in stock. Unless, of course, you’ve got a trusted shop that actually knows what they’re doing and can source the right parts the first time, like Pittsburgh Power or our aftermarket parts division PHD. Shops like us are worth their weight in gold these days. If you’re not lucky enough to have that kind of connection, good luck. You’ll be at the mercy of some dealership service writer who couldn’t spell “solenoid” if you spotted them the first six letters. And while you’re sweating the cost of a new DPF sensor (for a truck you’re no longer sure will even be legal next year), the government has decided now’s the perfect time to make it even harder for people to get or keep a CDL. A fresh federal rule says you better speak perfect English, or else. No translators, no apps, no second chances. That’s tough news for thousands of hard-working immigrant drivers trying to do things by the book. But hey, what better way to “solve” a driver shortage than by booting half the talent pool over a grammar test? Now, if you’re one of the folks still hanging on, congrats – but let’s be honest, it’s not exactly smooth sailing. Parking is still a mess. You finish your shift, your eyes are burning, your back’s killing you, CHALLENGES FACING THE AMERICAN DREAM 2025! and you just want to find a safe place to sleep that doesn’t double as a crime scene. But finding legal, safe parking is still a daily game of roulette. Too often you end up on a sketchy on-ramp or backed into the corner of a truck stop that’s already 30 rigs past capacity. And heaven help you if you shut down too close to a city. The cops don’t want you there, but neither does anyone else. No parking, no rest, no respect. Lather, rinse, repeat. While we are on the subject, let’s talk about rest, or the complete lack thereof. You’re expected to run like a machine but sleep like a monk. Everyone loves to remind you about HOS rules, but nobody wants to talk about how hard it is to sleep when your truck’s rocking from wind, road noise, or some guy idling next to you all night. Fatigue is baked into the job, and no amount of logbook compliance is going to fix the fact that your bed has wheels and your schedule is chaos. Meanwhile, your rig has gone full sci-fi. Everything is connected now – ELDs, GPS, engine diagnostics, tracking apps, telematics up the wazoo. On paper, it’s supposed to “increase efficiency” but in reality, it’s a constant reminder that someone, somewhere is watching everything you do… and charging you for the privilege. Plus, the more systems you rely on, the more stuff there is to break. And when it breaks, that’s on you. The fleet guys might have an IT department, but you have duct tape, hope, and if you’re proactive, an OTR Diagnostic tool. Good luck with that. So, here you are, trying to run a business from the cab of a truck, being told to electrify your rig, waiting for the EPA to decide if rules are real, planning your next truck around engine tech that might not launch, rewriting your paperwork in perfect English, trying to sleep in invisible parking lots, avoiding burning out, and, oh yeah – don’t crash, get hacked, or miss a load, or you’ll be penalized heavy. Is this what the American Dream has come to in 2025? I hope not! Still, you keep rolling. Because deep down, you still love the road, even if the industry seems to be doing everything in its power to make you hate it. Let’s just hope someone starts listening before the last of the independents are run off the road for good. n
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20 10-4 Magazine / September 2025 Nostalgia is considered a positive word in the English language. The full definition of nostalgia is a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period of time or place with happy personal associations. In my six years working with 10-4 Magazine, I’ve attended three of the ATHS national conventions in Virginia, Illinois, and Wisconsin. The most recent convention in Madison, WI, held the week of June 3-7, 2025, was the best one I’ve attended so far. But curiously, of the three I’ve attended, this one evoked the strongest feeling of nostalgia for me. With a total of 870 trucks at the event, it was also the biggest ATHS convention I’ve attended. This truck show is different from all other truck shows I go to. It has a laid-back feeling to it that is a combination truck show and cruise. There are no scheduled events on the field after 6:00 PM each day like a light show, parade, jake brake or stereo competitions, or concerts. Emphasis is on the support of the ATHS organization, fellowship with old friends, making new friends, and admiring all the beautiful antique and classic trucks. This year’s National Convention and Truck Show was a five-day affair at the Alliant Energy Center, which is a spacious facility with expansive grounds that can accommodate a large event like this one. Trucks were parked inside the Exhibitors Hall, the west parking lot, with overflow parking in the lot north of the Hall. The purpose of this yearly convention is to celebrate the legacy, diversity, and community that celebrates the world of antique and classic trucks. The show consisted of many planned events including a Kick-Off party, many informational and educational sessions, an Ice Cream Social, a Rivers & Rails Tour, Cheese and Vines Tours, ATHS Awards Dinner and Banquet, and an ATHS Member Luncheon. Truck Show Report: By Eric Hill Attending this event is a step back in time to my youth and my early involvement in the trucking industry during the 60s, 70s, and 80s – when trucks were uniquely designed and built to become the classics they are today. It was a time when driving a truck took natural ability, brute strength, and real determination, and every day brought a new challenge, without the creature comforts we expect and enjoy today. It was not only the trucks of that time, but the sights and sounds, as well. Traveling down two-lane roads to a distant destination, listening to classic rock or country music, talking with other NOSTALGIA IN MADISON
10-4 Magazine / September 2025 21 truckers on the CB to pass the time, and enjoying the comradery with other like-minded professional drivers. When I attend the ATHS shows, admiring the well-kept original and restored trucks reminds me of those past exciting and seemingly carefree, but also challenging, times. It makes me smile and brings a flood of memories to my mind. I spent Friday checking in at the event, securing my Media credentials, picking up a much-needed golf cart, touring the show field, checking out all the trucks, socializing with current friends, and meeting new acquaintances. The weather on Friday was perfect for a truck show with some sun, moderate temperatures, low humidity, and a nice summer breeze out of the west. I was able to spend time with several friends of 10-4 Magazine including Gaylon and Kaleb Hammett, Chad and Lisa Berry, Nick Kimbell, Wade Riffey, J.C. Alt, Austin Gottman, and Marina Spexarth from the ATHS organization. At the Friday night annual ATHS Awards Banquet, Golden Achievement Awards were presented to nine ATHS members with 50 or more years of service to the industry. The recipients were Louis Binder of Morris, IL; Robert Charney of Surprise, AZ; Bill Harris of Olathe, KS; Dave Everett of Columbus, NE; Dennis Chapman of Diamond Bar, CA; Steve Haberland of Cody, WY; Stroud Hollinshead of West Fargo, ND; Chris Schatz of Worland, WY; and Todd Spencer of Oak Grove, MO. Another important aspect of the convention is the scholarships awarded to qualified students from various ATHS families. The recipients of the George Schroyer Memorial Scholarship were Rabeka Liberto and Lucas Massel, the Cummins Scholarship went to Lily Stackpole, and the Lewis Clarke Semple Educational Fund Scholarship was awarded to Arantza Montserrat.
22 10-4 Magazine / September 2025 Saturday started out with a great breakfast with Gaylon Hammett at a local restaurant near the convention site. It was a special time of fellowship with a good friend from the great State of Texas. The weather began on a good note with plenty of sunshine and warm temperatures, however, as the day went on, the clouds started rolling in, which eventually led to forecast rain. I spent most of Saturday taking photos, gathering information for this report, and then saying my goodbyes. It would not be a show report without mentioning the restaurants I sampled while in Madison. On Friday evening, I had a great double cheeseburger and fries from Liberty Station, my previously mentioned Saturday morning breakfast was at Family Parkway, and Saturday evening I got a pepperoni pizza from Glass Knife Pizza Parlor that exceeded my expectations. It was a great reward to me for a productive weekend! There were many generous vendors and sponsors that contributed products, financial, and on-site support to make this another successful ATHS event. They were located inside the Exhibitors Hall and the west parking lot. Some of the major supporters of this event included Alliant Energy, Amcan Truck Parts, California Custom Products, Cat Scale, Cummins, Daimler Truck North America, Hagerty Insurance, Destination Madison, Iowa 80, JX Enterprises, Kwik Trip, Mecum Auction, Mack-Volvo Trucks, OOIDA, Reisertt’s Machine Works, the Sercombe family, Truckomat, and Wheels Now, Inc. Thanks to all the supporters. On Sunday I was awakened to the sound of thunderstorms and hard rain beating against my hotel room window. The heavy rain that had been forecast finally came. The time had arrived for me to pack, check out, and make the four-hour drive back to central Illinois. Before leaving Wisconsin, I made one final stop for fuel at a Kwik Trip and also picked up some Spotted Cow, a beer unique only to Wisconsin, for my son in North Carolina. It was a great weekend, where I had an enjoyable time visiting with current friends and meeting new ones, admiring incredible trucks, enjoying great food, and making new ATHS memories. One of my regrets attending this year’s ATHS Convention is that I only attended the event for two days. To fully appreciate the entirety of this event, one needs a minimum of four days to take it all in. The following quote from Peter Wild, the 2025 Convention Chair, summarizes this year’s National Convention and Truck Show. “The Madison show was everything ATHS stands for. With 870 beautifully preserved trucks, hands-on demonstrations and learning sessions, trucking history came alive. Best of all, we swapped stories with friends, old and new, from around the globe.” An announcement was made on Sunday that the 2026 Convention, which was scheduled for the IX Center in Cleveland, OH, would not be held there. The reason given was that the IX Center was sold to a new owner, thus canceling the event. According to Marina at ATHS, as of now, no replacement site has been selected, but she assured me that there will be a 2026 ATHS National Convention and Truck Show. Nostalgia can mean many things to many people and can be triggered by random thoughts, sights, and sounds. For me, on this weekend, my nostalgic trip down memory lane was triggered by everything I experienced at this great event in Madison, WI. n
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10-4 Magazine / September 2025 25 This month’s archive find is Justin Lang’s 1992 Kenworth W900L and matching spread-axle reefer trailer. Justin ordered this truck brand-new from Liberty Kenworth in Chester, PA. It had a 3406C Caterpillar with a 15-speed and 3.70 rears, riding on a 265” wheelbase, and featured a full Seattle Package interior done in crimson with black buttons. It was the first new truck Justin ever bought! These photos were taken in 1993 at Bush’s Chrome Shop truck show in Carlisle, PA, where Bette did a full photo shoot of the cool combination, and then later included some of the pics in a calendar and also in one of her books. OUT OF THE ARCHIVES Bette Garber
26 10-4 Magazine / September 2025 I-5 Exit 263, Next to Pilot Truck Stop • 8983 Truckman Way, Salem, OR 97303 Open Monday-Friday 8:00-5:00 • We Ship UPS • Visa/MC/Amex/Discover CHROME, STAINLESS, BUMPERS, FENDERS, LIGHTS, STACKS, TRIM, INTERIOR ACCESSORIES AND MORE! www.TRUCKCHROME.com STILL YOUR HOME FOR CHROME - AND MORE! ...AND STILL NO SALES TAX! 503-463-0500 OVER 150 BUMPERS IN STOCK - EVERY DAY! VISIT OUR LARGE CHROME SHOWROOM TODAY... EASY IN, EASY OUT! Stacks, Elbows, Guards, Mufflers and Clamps. A COMPLETE LINE OF DYNAFLEX PRODUCTS OVER 75 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE! Slover Cherry Citrus 10 15 14770 SLOVER AVENUE • FONTANA, CA 92335 909-357-9227 • WWW.EIGHTPOINTTRAILER.COM 75 GREAT DANE PARTS & SERVICE NOW AVAILABLE UNDER ONE ROOF - OURS! GIVE US A CALL! EXPERT TRAILER REPAIR • FABRICATION • FULL PARTS DEPARTMENT HUGE SELECTION OF BRAKE, AIR, AND ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS STAINLESS, BUMPERS, FENDERS, READY FOR FALL? SUPER BRIGHT LED REPLACEMENT BULBS $125 PAIR
28 10-4 Magazine / September 2025 In an industry where custom parts and accessory choices are plentiful, few are available that started out as a need, flourishing over time as a sought-after truck accessory, because of their sheer simplicity and ingenuity. This is the story of Lifetime Nut Covers out of Britt, IA, where a father’s idea took hold and is continuing at the hands of his son, with employees that are like family, to bring American made products to a market that literally started a parts revolution. This company started after founder Dan Schleuger got a flat tire 35 years ago and had to torch off every nut cover that was rusted on. He had an idea for making a plastic nut cover and brought this idea to a friend who had a plastic injection molding machine. Producing one cover at a time out of colored plastic, this idea started taking shape in the form of a business. Dan’s partnership ended when he bought his friend out and moved the operation to the farm where he lived (where operations are located today) into a 20x20 area. Around 1990, Dan started going to the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, KY. Each year, he would fill his pockets with nut covers and then go around talking about them to people and handing them out as samples, which definitely sparked people’s interest. Dan’s girlfriend Julie came aboard with the company around 1993 to help and, as time went on, Dan’s son JR (Dan, Jr.) and his daughter Danielle also began working in the shop when time allowed. This was and is truly a legit family operation. In the beginning, they were just making colored plastic lug nut covers, as they didn’t know how to make chrome plated ones, but they eventually figured that out. The chrome plating actually Made in America: By Stephanie Haas started in their oven in the house. They would heat the plastic on baking sheets to get the mixture correct. After high school, JR went to school to become a CNC machinist while Danielle went to school for graphic design. During school, they could still be found working with Dan and Julie, taking shifts running the machines. The chrome plating at home eventually shifted to hauling the products to Phillips Plating Corporation in Phillips, WI in large batches. Around 2007, JR and his sister Danielle had started preparations for AMERICAN INGENUIT Y
buying out their father to take ownership of the company, but Danielle decided to take a different path, so the process was restarted, with just JR buying out his father. After a 15-year buyout plan, JR became the official owner of Lifetime Nut Covers in 2023. I asked JR about patents, and he explained that they don’t have any. Their lawyers said it wasn’t worth it and that it would just be a waste of money trying to protect their product. JR plainly stated, “Anyone can copy our products, but no one can compete.” Lifetime Nut Covers has become a common name at charity truck shows as the team is more than happy to donate for a cause. The company creates plenty of one-off custom pieces, including truck show trophies, but their main products, that include their nut covers, hub and axle covers, light bezels, billet oil cap covers, gauge covers, billet step plates, window trim, various interior accessories, billet foot pedals and so much more, can be found at chrome shops across the country, and in other countries, as well. Today, JR (who was also our our November 2010 cover trucker), his wife Chelcee (married since June 2014), and their daughters, Gracee (9), Caliee (7) and Mayzee (4), live at the farm where the Lifetime Nut Covers operation is located. JR and his family used to live on the original family farm and Dan and Julie lived where Lifetime is located, but it made sense for both families to swap places about nine years ago. The facility currently operates in seven buildings. Future plans for Lifetime Nut Covers include staying with the times, everyday changes, entertaining new ideas, and adding new machines. The new machines and ideas will open up new doors and the capability of not only doing more, but offering more, as well. JR’s sister Danielle has since returned to working at the company, utilizing her experience in graphic design. As most know, JR and Dan are known for putting together some pretty amazing Kenworth trucks that have been showcased at the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS) in their booth, and at other shows, throughout the year, when they have a new build. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to photograph many of them, whether it was at a show, for a calendar, or just because. The white 1980 W900A has been around plenty and is definitely a cool 10-4 Magazine / September 2025 29
30 10-4 Magazine / September 2025 truck to see. Painted in Mercedes white with IROC Camaro blue and Gunmetal grey stripes, this bad boy also has a KTA600 under the hood. The build was completed in 2016, and it made its first appearance that year in Louisville. The yellow and brown 1960 CJ923 narrow nose is powered by a Big Cam IV and was completed in 2018. It appeared for the first time in March at MATS and then came out again the following month at the 75 Chrome Shop truck show in Florida, where Chris Fiffie from Big Rig Videos and I had the opportunity to photograph it for the chrome shop’s calendar. Not to discredit the others, but in 2024, they brought out a showstopper that I heard so many people talking about and posting pictures of – a 1984 Kenworth W900B with a cool old school paint scheme in white with orange, grey and gold stripes. 2025 on the other hand brought something just as cool but even more unique. With how different this truck was, JR said he was unsure how it would be received. The white truck with dark red stripes is a 1958 Kenworth CJ923 they had lost interest in that was parked in the back of their shop. What you saw in their booth at MATS (2025) was this truck, fitted with a big block Chevy 632, stuffed under the butterfly hood. This cool swap came to be because JR and Dan are big into drag racing and thought it would be cool to build a race car hauler truck. What started out as a joke has turned into an annual gathering called the No Coast Large Cars Truck Show. The talk was always that cool trucks only came from the east coast and west coast, and even Facebook pages were started, so their idea (or joke) was to bring notice to the cool trucks that called the Midwest home. This began as the No Coast Large Cars “club” that increased in popularity.
10-4 Magazine / September 2025 31 Initially, the “show” was three trucks parked on a Sunday during an annual car show that happened during the yearly town celebration in Britt. This show kept growing every year until they took over the car show with 60 trucks! The show was originally held on the second weekend of August, but with its continued growth, and then an invite to join forces with the Draft Horse Show on Labor Day Weekend, the show moved to the Hancock County Fairgrounds. Over the next five years, it moved around to different sections of the grounds, and then in 2023 the show relocated to Heritage Park in nearby Forest City, IA, where it is now held every year on Labor Day weekend. Each year, this show presents cool trophies created by the team at Lifetime Nut Covers, who also host and produce the show. Lifetime Nut Covers has been a regular advertiser in 10-4 Magazine for around fifteen years after meeting the magnificent duo of Erik Sieben and Daniel Linss at the Guilty by Association Truck Show in Joplin, MO. Speaking with JR regarding advertising with 10-4 Magazine all these years, he stated, “We don’t have sales reps because sales have been made by word of mouth. We joined forces with 10-4 Magazine because they are an appropriate and reputable company that has been able to help promote that word of mouth.” I was able to visit the Lifetime Nut Covers location during operating hours for a tour of their facility and got to see machines cutting parts and the engraving machine working on some cool custom pieces. This was a great opportunity to learn more about the company, get an understanding of how the parts are made, and even see what their warehouse looks like. Their facility is clean and set up in a comfortable atmosphere. Not every company can say their products are truly “Made in America” but Lifetime Nut Covers can, on every level – from the parts they make to the apparel they sell. Their CNC and plastic molding injection machines are made in Indiana. They maintain all the machines they’ve had since the beginning and continue to advance by adding machines that will not only enhance productivity but bring new ideas to life. And with hundreds of available acres surrounding the facility, the business has the ability to expand, inside and out, as much as needed. Special thanks from JR to his wife Chelcee, first and foremost, for dealing with his crazy schedule, crazier hours, and providing amazing love and support, to his daughters for making him a dad and keeping him grounded, and to his father Dan and Julie, for instilling a solid work ethic, going along with some crazy build ideas, and all the support along the way. Last, but not least, to the amazing employees who show up no matter what, pick up the slack when there is truck show prep happening, and for working together as a team no matter what. JR and Chelcee have been longtime friends who I unfortunately only get to see at shows or in a chance passing. Thank you for the time in showing me around the operation, a solid explanation about how things work, pulling out a couple of the trucks to photograph and, of course, the laughter, hugs and conversation. We live in a great nation, and nowhere else will you find this level of pride and ingenuity in the products manufactured here and branded with that ever important distinction – Made in America! To see all their great products, visit www.lifetimenutcovers.com today. As always, to all the drivers out there doing the deal, truck safe. n
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