10-4 Magazine / September 2025 37 with, “That month ended up being the worst and best month of my life.” But after Dennis got his truck back, he was still broke. “If it wasn’t for my kind mother-in-law, who helped us by loaning me $10,000 so my wife and I could start our own trucking company, I honestly don’t know what I would have done,” said Dennis with gratitude. Then, one day, while Dennis was delivering out to the San Francisco Bay area, he was parked under the Bay Bridge and made the decision to buy another truck and begin expanding his company. “My family is everything to me, and I wanted to be home more, so I made the decision to become a small trucking company and have drivers working for me,” said Dennis. With an established customer base, Dennis’ small fleet grew, typically operating no more than ten tractor-trailers in service at a time, while keeping new equipment in his fleet by trading in his trucks every three years. “I’m proud to say over the last 40 years, I’ve owned over 61 brand-new trucks that include Peterbilt 379s and 377s, along with many different Kenworth models, as well,” said Dennis. Married to his wife Pat since 1982, they have two kids and three grandkids, which include their daughter Sheena and grandson Ayden (6), son Shane and his wife Shannon, and their granddaughters Aubrie (11) and Audrinna (14). “My grandchildren really enjoy riding in the Peterbilt with me and going to truck shows,” said Dennis, continuing with, “My son Shane is one of the owners of I-39 Truck Repair here in Bancroft, and we’re really close. Restoring this old Peterbilt with Shane has been a dream come true. I always wanted to build a show truck, and it was a dream of mine to someday get in 10-4 Magazine, and now that’s happened, too!” Being able to help make someone’s dreams come true is a satisfying perk to this job! While not running over-the-road anymore, Dennis enjoys staying local, using his classic 362 (or one of his other trucks), keeping busy hauling cheese for one of his customers and potatoes out of the fields in the fall. But, if you talk to Dennis, his family is everything to him, and his retirement playtoy has allowed him to combine his love of trucks and family. One day, when Dennis passes this Peterbilt to his son Shane, this cool retirement playtoy will keep on truckin’ for years to come! n EDITOR’S NOTE: Special thanks to Stephanie Haas for taking the time to travel to Bancroft, WI to photograph Dennis’ Peterbilt for this feature – as you can see, she did an amazing job!
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