Rihm Kenworth Opens New Full-Service Dealership in Mankato, MN

MANKATO, Minn., Dec. 17, 2019 – To meet the growing needs of local truck fleets, owner operators and those traveling through Minnesota, Rihm Kenworth has opened a new 28,000 square-foot full-service and leasing facility in Mankato.

The facility is located approximately 80 miles southwest of Minneapolis, at the intersection of two major trucking routes, U.S. Highway 14 and U.S. Highway 169.

Rihm Kenworth – Mankato features a 10,000 square-foot service department, 12 service bays, a wash bay, and a 6,800 square-foot parts department that includes a 2,300 square-foot visual display. There also is a 6,000 square-foot parts warehouse.

The dealership sits on a 3.5-acre site, allowing for plenty of room for drivers to maneuver and park their trucks. Parts, service, and sales are available from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The address is 2401 9th Avenue in Mankato. The phone number is 507-550-3800.

At Rihm Kenworth – Mankato, truck fleets and operators can purchase from Kenworth's comprehensive product lineup of on-highway, vocational and medium duty trucks. In addition to parts, service and truck sales, the dealership offers PACCAR Leasing (PacLease) services such as customized full-service leasing programs and truck rentals; and PACCAR Financial support through flexible retail loans and leases for the transportation industry.

Rihm Kenworth, a family owned and operated Kenworth dealer since 1932, operates seven full-service Kenworth dealerships in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Kenworth Sales Company – Rock Springs Relocates To New Facility

ROCK SPRINGS, Wyo., Dec. 16, 2019 – Committed to enhancing its facilities and customer experience for fleets and truck operators, Kenworth Sales Company – Rock Springs has relocated to a 15,000 square-foot facility that is double the size of its previous location.

The new location will help accommodate the growing demands of local truck fleets, owner-operators and those traveling through Wyoming. The facility features a 7,200 square-foot service department with nine service bays, 4,900 square-foot parts department and 650 square-foot visual parts display.

The new building is at 376 Blairtown Road in Rock Springs, adjacent from its previous location. Kenworth Sales Company – Rock Springs sits on 3 acres, which allows for easy maneuverability and plenty of room for trailer parking. The property is conveniently located near Highway 80, a major trucking route connecting Salt Lake City to the west and Lincoln, Nebraska to the east.

Parts and service are available from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The phone number is 307-362-6669.

Kenworth Sales Company, founded in 1945, operates a total of 22 locations in Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

TNT Parts in SC wins inaugural Apex Award from Minimizer

BLOOMING PRAIRIE, Minn. Dec 12, 2019 – Looking to recognize its distributor with the best and most creative point-of-purchase (POP) display, Minimizer has presented TNT Parts in Pelzer, South Carolina, with its inaugural Apex Award.

“I have a great relationship with TNT Parts, so we speak after hours quite often. When I called Terry (Hunsinger, branch manager), he was overly excited and told me he had a feeling they would win because their showroom looks fantastic,” Minimizer Southeast Territory Manager Michael Truitt said. “TNT Parts puts their best foot forward every day, and it was awesome to let them know they were number one.”

“I don’t know of another heavy duty supplier that offers more POP items than Minimizer, and the APEX award helps distributors improve the look of their showroom. Plus, in many cases, it creates a noticeable increase in sales revenue,” Minimizer Director of Marketing Steve Hansen said.

A panel of five Minimizer employees judged finalists from each of the company’s 12 territories.

“It’s not just about the best-looking showroom. Many distributors have really small showrooms, and they’re still potential winners because we have points allocated for best use of space and creativity,” Hansen said.

Minimizer plans on rerunning the promotion in 2020.

“Showrooms are often small and force distributors to be creative, so I hope that more people will see this and make more room for us in 2020,” Truitt said.

“Our Territory Managers are competitive by nature, and we’ve ramped up the bragging rights to win the Apex Award,” Hansen said.

Military Veteran Joseph H. Campbell Jr. Awarded Kenworth T680

WASHINGTON, D.C., Dec. 9, 2019 – A distinguished veteran with 24 years of combined service in the U.S. Marines and U.S. Army received the annual “Transition Trucking: Driving for Excellence” award during a special ceremony at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation in Washington, D.C.

Kenworth presented winning professional truck driver Joseph H. Campbell Jr. of Roehl Transport with The Driver’s Truck™ – a Kenworth T680 equipped with a comfortable 76-inch sleeper – as the recognition program’s award. Campbell’s special T680 features the complete PACCAR Powertrain with a PACCAR MX-13 engine, PACCAR 12-speed automated transmission, and PACCAR 40K tandem axles.

For the fifth consecutive year, Kenworth teamed with the FASTPORT Trucking Track Mentoring Program and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Hiring our Heroes Program to find America’s top rookie military veteran, who made the successful transition from active duty to driving for a commercial fleet.

Campbell comes from a family of military veterans. He achieved multiple accolades for successes while serving stateside and abroad in combat zones. Campbell drives for Roehl Transport’s Flatbed Division. He achieved an accident-free record in his first year of employment, and completed the initial year of a two-year apprenticeship program. He is in training to become a certified trainer, and is a member of the company’s Driver Advisory Group.

“It’s a great honor to receive this award. This Kenworth T680 will provide some exciting new opportunities for my future career in the trucking industry. Thanks to Roehl Transport, Hiring our Heroes, FASTPORT and Kenworth for supporting and encouraging veterans to make the transition into the trucking industry,” said Campbell.

Featured speakers at the special recognition event were Thomas J. Donahue, U.S. Chamber of Commerce chief executive officer; Joe Shamess, Flags of Valor co-founder, Eric Eversole, U.S. Chamber of Commerce vice president and Hiring Our Heroes president; and Brad Bentley, FASTPORT president. Lisa Berreth, Kenworth marketing director, presented the keys to Campbell.

“We appreciate Joseph Campbell’s service to this country and his dedication to achieve growth and success in his trucking industry career. The Kenworth T680 will serve him well,” said Berreth.

“Joseph Campbell is a very deserving, 24-year veteran and we commend Kenworth’s partnership and commitment by once again providing a Kenworth T680 to help service members make these transitions into industry,” said Eric Eversole of Hiring Our Heroes.

Christopher Bacon (U.S. Marines) of TMC Transportation, Wade Bumgarner (U.S. Navy) of Veriha Trucking and Steve Harris (U.S. Marines) of Stevens Transport were the runners-up in the awards. Harris received $10,000 as the first runner-up, while Bumgarner and Bacon each received $5,000.

According to Brad Bentley of FASTPORT, the four finalists were determined by tallying scores from a Selection Committee. The four advanced to an online vote on the Transition Trucking website, where people could view a video of each driver and vote their choice for the top military rookie driver. In the closest competition in the contest’s history, Campbell received the highest overall tally.

Drivers were nominated by trucking companies that made a hiring commitment and pledge to hire veterans on www.truckingtrack.org or, by members of the National Association of Publicly Funded Truck Driving Schools, or Commercial Vehicle Training Association-member school.

“Joseph Campbell separated himself by serving in two branches of the military, then translating those skills as an apprentice in Roehl’s Flatbed Division. He understands that his first responsibility is protecting the motoring public and then picking up and delivering cargo on-time and undamaged. Joseph demonstrated that by completing his first year of employment accident free,” said Bentley. “These military service members who transitioned into careers as professional drivers are hard-working, dependable, motivated, ethical and disciplined team players – an asset to the trucking industry and their companies.”

Other truck drivers who achieved Top 10 finalist status are:

• Thomas Blitch/U.S. Navy and Naval Reserves/Werner Enterprises
• Keso Going/U.S. Army/Epes Transport
• Kevin Lassing/ U.S. Army/U.S. Xpress
• Maliq Melton/U.S. Army, Melton Truck Lines
• Monte Morrone/U.S. Army and U.S. Marines/Prime Inc.
• Timothy Raub/ U.S. Navy/Averitt Express

Freightliner Configurator Helps Medium-Duty Customers

PORTLAND, Ore. – Dec. 9, 2019 – Daimler Trucks North America LLC has made spec’ing the Freightliner M2 106 medium-duty truck even easier with a new online configurator tool available at Freightliner.com.

“The M2 106 is an extremely versatile vehicle, offering numerous options to meet the unique needs of our vocational customers and their businesses, which is one of the reasons why it’s the class 6 market leader,” said Mike McHorse, director of channel marketing for Freightliner. “Our new configurator provides an in-depth digital experience that will help customers learn about all of our different options so they can consider which specs are best suited for their specific application.”

The configurator tool uses an intuitive, step-by-step program that includes an array of available choices for dump, box van, utility and tow applications, with more options to be added in the future. Users can explore the vehicle inside and out, and select everything from interior seating options and upholstery to grille style and mirror options.

The configurator enables users to review powertrain options such as the Detroit DD5 and DD8 engines, which boast industry-leading innovation and best-in-class maintenance intervals. Both engines also come standard with Detroit Connect Virtual Technician remote diagnostic service.

Customers can also use the configurator to review safety options, such as the WABCO OnGuardACTIVE collision mitigation system or Bendix AutoVue lane departure warning system.

The easy-to-upfit M2 106 supports a wide range of bodies and chassis-mounted equipment and is designed for maximum reliability and uptime. Customers can also use the configurator tool to spec the industry-leading Freightliner Cascadia.

Volvo Group invests in Autotech Ventures

Volvo Group Venture Capital AB has invested in Autotech Ventures - a leading American venture capital fund focusing on start-ups in the ground transportation sector.

Autotech Ventures is a venture capital firm located in Silicon Valley managing over $200 million that focuses on the $3 trillion ground transportation sector.

Connected, autonomous, electrified vehicles and related mobility services have created shifts in the ground transportation industry. The Autotech Ventures team combine deep knowledge and insights from the ground transport sector with vast experience from venture capital investing.

“Through the co-operation with Autotech Ventures we look forward to interact with more world-class start-ups transforming our industry,” says Anna Westerberg acting CEO of Volvo Group Venture Capital and Senior Vice President, Volvo Group Connected Solutions.

”The investment provides Volvo Group Venture Capital with an enhanced deal flow but also access to deep industry knowledge and relevant networks,” says Dan Tram Investment Director, Volvo Group Venture Capital based in Silicon Valley.

The role of Volvo Group Venture Capital is to make investments in innovative companies at the forefront of service orientation as well as product differentiation and to support collaboration between startup companies and the Volvo Group.

Based on the trends shaping the future of transportation and Volvo Group strategic priorities Volvo Group Venture Capital focus investment areas are today Autonomous Solutions, Connected Services and Electromobility. The scope is global with a focus on Europe and North America.

The transaction has no significant impact on the Volvo Group’s earnings or financial position.

2019 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree Lit in Special Ceremony

WASHINGTON, D.C., Dec. 5, 2019 – After a journey of more than 2,000 miles from New Mexico, the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree was lit in a special ceremony Wednesday, Dec. 4, on the Capitol’s West Lawn.

The tree was harvested Nov. 6 in New Mexico’s Carson National Forest and transported to Washington, D.C., with a Kenworth W990 operated by Wilbanks Trucking Services in Artesia, New Mexico. The special 60-foot Blue Spruce is decorated with LED lights, along with ornaments made by schoolchildren in New Mexico.

The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree tour, which began Nov. 11 in Red River, New Mexico, and ended Nov. 24 at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, made 30 stops for community events while traveling across the nation. Thousands of people saw the tree and the Kenworth W990 during the stops and going down the highway.

“It was an honor for Kenworth to provide a truck to transport the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree for the sixth consecutive year. Thanks to Wilbanks Trucking Services and its drivers for delivering the Tree safely and on-time and playing an important role in this very special tradition and celebration that brings communities together,” said Laura Bloch, Kenworth assistant general manager for sales and marketing.

The Kenworth W990, which is equipped with a 76-inch mid-roof sleeper, also features the PACCAR Powertrain with the PACCAR MX-13 engine rated at 455-hp and 1,650 lb-ft of torque, PACCAR 12-speed automated transmission, and PACCAR 40K tandem rear axles. The truck is also specified with the W990 Limited Edition interior, premium Kenworth GT703 seats and audio system, Kenworth Nav+HD, predictive cruise control, 1800W inverter, 180-degree swivel passenger seat, and Kenworth TruckTech+® Remote Diagnostics.

This year’s theme was “Delivering Enchantment!” On the side of the Kenworth W990 hood, the graphics wrap showcased New Mexico’s state flag, along with Ship Rock, a 7,177 foot-high mountain rock that resembles a 19th century clipper ship. On the door and sleeper, the U.S. Capitol Building was shown with a Christmas tree, with the wording: “From the Land of Enchantment to Enchanting the Nation” written above the graphics.

The tradition of the U.S. Capitol Christmas tree started in 1964 by then-U.S. Speaker of the House John W. McCormack, who planted a live tree on the Capitol lawn. That tree lived three years before succumbing to wind and root damage. In 1970, the Capitol Architect asked the U.S. Forest Service to provide a Christmas tree. Since then, a different national forest has been chosen each year to provide "The People’s Tree."

Volvo Signs Academic Partner Agreement with Penn State University

Volvo Group North America renewed its Academic Preferred Partner (APP) agreement with The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) for another three-year term. The Volvo Group first named Penn State an Academic Preferred Partner in 2009, offering students co-op, internship and mentoring opportunities.

“We are pleased to once again partner with Penn State, which has been mutually beneficial for both the university and for Volvo,” said Hope Rush, Volvo Group North America director of talent strategy. “Through the Academic Preferred Partner program, Volvo offers Penn State students opportunities within our organization to give them real-world experiences while also enticing them to join Volvo Group as an employee once they graduate.”

The Volvo Group began its partnership with Penn State in 2009, when it focused on efficient energy solutions for sustainable transportation and automation for intelligent vehicles. The partnership now is expanded to include emerging technologies, such as connected vehicles and artificial intelligence.

The university’s geographic location offers an ideal opportunity for the Volvo Group, due to its close proximity to three major Volvo Group manufacturing facilities – Mack Lehigh Valley Operations in Macungie, Pennsylvania, Volvo Construction Equipment in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania and Volvo Group Powertrain in Hagerstown, Maryland.

“The Volvo Group is one of the world’s iconic companies and one of Penn State’s most esteemed corporate partners,” said Penn State Associate Vice President of Research Jeff Fortin. “Our continued relationship will benefit the Volvo Group, the students and faculty at Penn State, the trucking and heavy equipment industries, and countless others in the years to come.”

During the past several years, the partnership has resulted in: new research teams and faculty fellowships; several patents from Penn State professors; the development of the Innovation Gateway, a novel web tool which connects Penn State researchers to the technical challenges and needs of industry; the hiring of approximately 100 Penn State students as full-time Volvo Group employees; and the hiring of an additional 150 students for co-op and internship positions.

An example of one noteworthy research project is related to battery use and aging. The project validated a low-order performance, thermal and aging model of parallel-connected battery packs and successfully developed three strategies to extend the life of battery packs.

“The Volvo Group’s partnership with Penn State has seen a decade of progress, and we each continue to see benefits, said Sam McLaughlin, Volvo Group external research manager. “Research opportunities abound in the areas of autonomous vehicle and battery technology areas. And, of course, we see many valued co-ops and new employees from Penn State who share the Volvo Group’s values and interest in the transportation field. We look forward to seeing what the next partnership innovations will bring.”

Academic standing, student diversity, international connections and the university’s research department are considerations Volvo takes into account when determining which university will be an Academic Preferred Partner.

The Volvo Group currently maintains Academic Preferred Partner agreements with nine universities around the globe: SWEDEN - Chalmers University of Technology, University of Skovde, School of Business, Gothenburg University, Malardalen University Gothenburg; FRANCE - EM Lyon and INSA Lyon; JAPAN - Sophia University; and U.S. – Penn State and North Carolina State University.

Kenworth Help Bosnian Brothers Achieve the American Dream

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Dec. 5, 2019 – Brothers Damir and Jasmin Vidinlic are living the American dream. As owners of Sweet Express LLC, a successful cargo and freight company headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, they have grown the company from one truck to more than 330 – with Kenworth T680s equipped with 76-inch sleepers making up the bulk of the fleet.

But this isn’t just any buy a truck and go to work story. In fact, it wasn’t long before starting the business that Damir, admittedly, didn’t know a truck from a trailer.

Damir and Jasmin emigrated with their parents from their home country, then called Yugoslavia, to escape the Bosnian War in 1996. The parents worked hard to put Damir through Grand Valley State University, where he earned a mechanical engineering degree. Jasmin found work as a truck driver and before long decided to go into business for himself — and brought his brother along for the ride.

“My brother is extremely street smart and I'm book smart – I always trust my brother’s instincts,” Damir said.

The brothers founded Sweet Express (named for the chocolate bar one of them was snacking on at the time) in 2003 with Jasmin driving a used truck and Damir working round the clock to learn everything he could about the trucking industry. With money tight, Sweet Express expanded their service by teaming with area owner-operators – many of whom were also transplants from Eastern Europe.

In 2009, this hard-running, scrappy group at Sweet Express made the bold move to acquire Michigan-based Omni Transport, which added company-trucks and a solid book of business. As Sweet Express picked up more and more customers, upgrading to new equipment became a necessity to ensure dependability and driver satisfaction.

The Sweet Express fleet now totals 334 Kenworths, including 264 T680 models, purchased through Michigan Kenworth – Grand Rapids. There was a bit more to picking that make and model than just throwing a dart at pictures of different trucks.

“When we surveyed our drivers and mechanics about their preference, the Kenworth T680 won by a huge margin,” Damir says.

“To be honest, the T680 is a good looking truck with great aerodynamics – it speaks for itself,” added Shop Manager Sanel Cinac.

“Our new T680s get better fuel mileage and driver satisfaction is way up there. There’s also the high level of customer support for which Kenworth is known,” Damir said. “It was the perfect decision to go with the T680 as our fleet truck.”

Sweet Express has made its name in general commodity service and expedited trucking. They serve a wide spectrum of industries including automotive, industrial and consumer goods, and also transport specialized payload, like industrial robots. The majority of their lanes are within Michigan, Pennsylvania and Texas, with terminals in Flint and Greenville, but they’ll travel wherever the job requires. "We tried to go to Hawaii. But they wouldn’t let us go," Damir said with a laugh.

Sweet Express specs its trucks for driver comfort. The fleet is split down the middle between manual and automated transmissions. The common denominator among the Kenworth T680 76-inch sleepers are the liftable lower bunk and stowable upper bunk. Damir points out that, even if drivers are going solo, the double bunk is indispensable as one level can be used for convenient storage. Higher end Kenworth GT702 highback driver and passenger seats with air-ride suspension, plus amenities like televisions and refrigerators, help maintain a comfortable environment for drivers.

Resale value was another important factor in choosing Kenworth. When it comes time to rotate trucks out of the lineup, Sweet Express offers them first to their own drivers. “If they become an owner-operator, we want to make sure they have the best chance to be successful. We've done that 35-40 times, and the drivers are happy and still driving those trucks,” Damir said.

According to Damir, having an all-Kenworth fleet is also a valuable sales tool for the company.

“Especially in Western Michigan, when somebody sees a white Kenworth, they automatically know it's Sweet Express. When I meet with new customers, many times they will ask me why we went with Kenworth. I tell them, ‘because we want to have the most dependable equipment,’ ” Damir said. “The key to keeping customers happy is decreasing downtime. We have a 95 percent on time record, and we can provide that because of owning and operating Kenworth trucks.” Trucks that in Damir’s opinion are, “One hundred percent American.”

Adding the stars and stripes to the Sweet Express logo was a show of respect and pride for the country Damir and Jasmin now call home. "This country has given us so much and we do everything we can to give back," Damir said.

“Our goal from the beginning was to combine two different cultures — Americana and Bosnian, so that we can benefit from the best attributes of those peoples,” Damir added. “Everybody anywhere wants to come to the U.S. because it’s the only country you can go to where if you work hard and give everything you have, you can be successful.

"It's been a very challenging journey and we can never forget that Kenworth has helped us to be where we are today,” he concluded.

Kenworth Expands Branded Merchandise Collection for 2020

KIRKLAND, Wash., Dec. 4, 2019 – The 2020 Kenworth Merchandise Collection at www.ShopKenworth.com has added more than 65 new officially-licensed merchandise items for fleets, truck operators and drivers interested in purchasing products that represent Kenworth, The World’s Best®.

The new Kenworth items now available include:

• Digi-Camo Flag Mesh Hat with Removable Flag Velcro Patch
• 18 oz. Blue Barrel Tumbler
• 20 oz. Iridescent Vacuum-Sealed Tumbler
• Richardson Classic Red/White Trucker Hat
• Carhartt® Thermal-Lined Duck Active Jacket
• Carhartt® Odessa Hat
• Safety Yellow Fleece Hoodie
• W990 Playing Cards
• The World’s Best Baby Infant Bodysuit
• Ladies’ Lovely Lavender Hat

The comprehensive line-up consists of more than 300 items, including caps, men and women’s apparel, kids’ items, drinkware, golf accessories, and the Kenworth 2020 appointment and wall calendars.

To order, visit www.ShopKenworth.com, or call 877-705-3314 toll free from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. (PDT). Those ordering from Canada may call 855-537-5332 during the same time period. Kenworth dealerships in the United States and Canada also offer officially-licensed Kenworth merchandise for sale.

AmeriGas Propane: Fueling America Since 1959

KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa., Dec. 4, 2019 – As the largest propane supplier in the United States, AmeriGas Propane has a big job to do. It provides propane to run furnaces and cooktops throughout rural America; provides propane for industry, especially forklifts operating in warehouses; and they keep homeowners supplied with propane bottles for BBQ season.

“We have two distinct seasons in our core propane business – the heating season, and the grilling season,” said Jay Massey, AmeriGas corporate fleet vehicle manager. “Both are busy, but the grilling season continues to expand and grow.”

There are different vehicles involved for each season. Massey has no easy job. He’s responsible for nearly 9,000 vehicles (of which more than half are medium and heavy duty power units), and more than 1,500 bulk and flatbed/box/curtain trailers. They’ll amass more than 126 million miles in 2019, and the vehicles are used in all 50 states and domiciled at more than 1,900 locations.

The largest transportation segment is the bobtail fleet, which does home delivery throughout areas that don’t have access to natural gas. “Propane is the rural fuel and we go were gas lines can’t,” said Massey. “Our No. 1 priority is reliability, followed closely by productivity. If a truck breaks down, we can’t go and get a rental. We invest in the trucks, spec them to last, and expect them to be in service for us at least 10 years before we sell them. And we need a dealer network that will be with us at every turn, and have plenty of parts available.”

A good portion of the home-delivery fleet features Kenworth T370 medium-duty conventionals, equipped with the PACCAR PX-9 engine rated at 350 hp and Allison RDS automatic transmissions. The T370s are used to deliver 57-pound fuel cylinders to power forklifts, and 35-gallon propane cylinders for home barbecues. The fleet also has T370s equipped with 26-foot long bodies with knuckle booms. Kenworth T680 tractors often haul propane vessels capable of carrying 10,800 gallons of propane.

According to Massey, when AmeriGas locations need trucks, the company does a “heat map” to see what truck dealers are nearby for sales and service. He then talks with the location to see if they have a preference in the truck make for that particular area. “It’s important to us that the local operation – which can run anywhere from 3 to 60 trucks – has a voice in what they get,” said Massey. “The terrain and climate, plus the application help dictate what we buy, as does dealer support.

“For colder climates, we really like the fact that the PACCAR equipment we purchase holds up extremely well against corrosion, caused by salt and de-icers, plus the trucks come equipped with the Arctic Fox package, which helps in extreme weather. Up north, we can see temperatures drop to minus 40 degrees with wind chill. That makes it challenging for not only the drivers, but for the equipment. The Arctic Fox package provides fuel and fluid heaters which prevents freeze ups.”

Even more extreme are deliveries in Alaska. AmeriGas recently ordered a Kenworth W990 to haul propane to remote locations, using ice roads. “If you’ve watched the Ice Road Truckers show, you’ll see the predominance of Kenworth W900s running those roads,” said Massey. “Those seem to be the truck of choice in the far north, so our W990 will fit right in.”

According to Massey, AmeriGas has a unique group of drivers. “Home heating is seasonal, so most of our drivers are farmers, who are very familiar with operating equipment and trucks. Since they have downtime at their farms in the winter, we offer them a great opportunity to do local propane deliveries. It’s a win-win. For other type of deliveries, we have a steady group of drivers.”

Massey said spec’ing for driver comfort is something always top of mind. “Our drivers have a tough job and are out in the elements, so when they’re in the cab we want them to be comfortable. We don’t skimp on the specs. For our long-haul trucks, we buy top-of-the-line packages, and include inverters, refrigerators, and the top mattresses that are available.”

When it comes to powertrain specs, Massey said more power is better. “We run our trucks for a long time and have heavy loads, plus we do a lot of mountain driving, so we go with 525 hp engines and 18-speed transmission for our long-haul trucks. We’re also are now spec’ing disc brakes and the Bendix® Wingman® collision mitigation system.”

Since upfitting the trucks with bodies costs as much, if not more than the chassis, Massey said it’s important to have constant communication and teamwork between the truck OEMs he works with and the body suppliers. “It’s a tight-knit group,” he said. “Kenworth engineers talk with our body builders as much I do. We couldn’t be as efficient as we are without that cooperation and common goal to strive to build the best propane truck possible.”

2020 Kenworth Trucks Calendar Now Available

KIRKLAND, Wash., Dec. 3, 2019 – The 2020 Kenworth Calendar features beautiful images of The World's Best® on-highway, vocational, traditional and medium duty trucks in both scenic and work settings. The new calendar is now available for purchase at www.ShopKenworth.com.

The 6-page, 2020 Kenworth Wall Calendar features the on-highway flagship Kenworth T680 Advantage 76-inch sleeper equipped with the PACCAR Powertrain, and a Kenworth T680 day cab with an electric powertrain. The T880 vocational leader is shown as a mixer, and as a T880S dump truck with set-forward front axle. Also included are the W990 76-inch mid-roof sleeper, and a K370 cabover in a mixer configuration.

The large, poster-size wall calendar is 26-1/4 inches tall by 28 inches wide.

The 2020 Kenworth Appointment Calendar highlights a Kenworth Truck of the Month. These trucks include all six wall calendar images. Also featured are the Kenworth T680 52-inch mid-roof sleeper, T880 day cab, W990 wrecker with 40-inch sleeper, legacy W900L Studio Sleeper, T370 6x6, and K270 cabover and T370 conventional duo with van bodies.

The appointment calendar is 9-3/4 inches tall by 13 inches wide.

“Kenworth’s excellent lineup of high-quality heavy and medium duty trucks offer exceptional driver comfort, low operating cost and outstanding performance in a wide range of customer applications,” said Laura Bloch, Kenworth assistant general manager for sales and marketing. “Drivers, customers, and truck enthusiasts will be proud to display the 2020 Kenworth Calendar featuring The World's Best trucks.”

To order, visit your local Kenworth dealer or go to www.ShopKenworth.com, your source for officially licensed Kenworth merchandise. Cost is $16.95 (US$) for the 2020 Kenworth Wall Calendar and $11.95 (US$) for the 2020 Kenworth Appointment Calendar. Prices do not include shipping and handling. The calendar also may be ordered by calling 1-877-705-3314 (U.S.) and 1-425-806-2306 (International).

Calex ISCS Finds Kenworth T680 Reliability Key To Success

PITTSTON, Pa., Nov. 26, 2019 – When it comes to the delivery of goods with short shelf life, there is no room for mechanical hiccups. When a customer orders items such as produce, the expectation is for consistent on-time deliveries, otherwise they may lose out on the amount of time they have to sell their products.

For Calex ISCS, a transportation company that specializes in transporting temperature-controlled goods and produce to and from the West Coast, as well as other time-sensitive goods, operating reliable equipment is a high priority. In an effort to increase the uptime of its company-owned trucks, Calex ISCS began adding Kenworth T680s five years ago.

“Reliability is our No. 1 priority when it comes to the trucks in our fleet,” said Tommy Grimes, Calex ISCS chief operating officer. “We had experienced a lot of issues with the previous trucks in our fleet, and grew tired of the downtime. When trucks are sidelined due to mechanical issues, our drivers miss out on paid drive time, and we can’t deliver the service our customers expect. It was time to make a change.”

When Calex ISCS made the decision to transition to a new truck make, the company spent a lot of time researching, evaluating customer feedback, and visiting with dealers so that they would feel confident in the trucks they purchased. The company also tested three truck makes to see which truck came out on top.

“We were very thorough when deciding which truck to build our fleet around,” said Grimes. “We wanted to add a truck that would prove to be reliable, increase our fuel economy, and be widely accepted by our drivers. The Kenworth T680 came out on top.”

Since 2014, Calex ISCS has added 133 Kenworth T680s to its fleet. By the end of 2019, with the addition of three Kenworth T680s that are currently on order, the company’s fleet will consist of all Kenworth T680s. Calex ISCS purchases all of its Kenworth T680s from Kenworth of Pennsylvania – Dunmore.

The Calex ISCS Kenworth T680s – primarily with 76-inch sleepers, along with a few day cabs – feature the PACCAR MX-13 engine rated at 450 hp. In 2019, the company began spec’ing its Kenworth T680s with the complete PACCAR Powertrain by adding the PACCAR 12-speed automated transmission to join the PACCAR MX-13 and PACCAR 40K tandem rear axles in its specifications.

According to Doug Barbacci, Calex ISCS principal, the Kenworth T680s equipped with PACCAR transmissions are a noticeable upgrade from the other transmissions in the fleet.

“The PACCAR transmission stands above the rest, and seems to have an easier time climbing mountain ranges. Our drivers enjoy how smoothly it shifts gears,” said Barbacci. “We’ve been very pleased with its performance and we plan to continue to spec our future Kenworth T680s with that transmission.” Calex ISCS currently operates 33 T680s with the PACCAR Powertrain.

The Kenworth T680s assigned to the company’s reefer division rack up the most miles. With team drivers reaching approximately 230,000 miles a year and single drivers eclipsing 130,000 miles, their trucks are constantly making runs coast-to-coast. Since making its first purchase of Kenworth T680s, the performance has held true to the company’s expectations.

“The Kenworth T680 has proved to be such a reliable truck for us,” said Grimes. “We boast a 99 percent on time delivery record and I can attribute much of that success to the reliability of our trucks. If we are unable to make consistent on-time deliveries, our customers will find someone else who will. We take pride in our service, which is why we operate high quality equipment we can depend on.”

While reliability will always be the No. 1 deciding factor in the trucks Calex ISCS operates, the company felt it was important to provide its drivers with trucks that they would be comfortable in and enjoy driving.

“We absolutely turned to our drivers for feedback when we ultimately decided to go with the T680,” said Barbacci. “The T680’s cab layout is very roomy and driver friendly. Our drivers take pride in the equipment they operate. In the T680, we know we have a truck that will perform well, coupled with the comfort and driving experience that our drivers look for.”

Calex ISCS plans to trade in its Kenworth T680s every five years to keep equipment new, which Barbacci expects will help keep maintenance costs low and assist with driver retention.

“Our trucks accumulate a lot of miles, and we want to be sure we’re always running the best conditioned equipment. This trade-in cycle will help us achieve that objective,” said Barbacci. “And, I think our drivers will appreciate it, too. The Kenworth T680 helps us achieve our company goals, and the support we receive from our Kenworth of Pennsylvania – Dunmore has been terrific. They understand our needs and have added to the Kenworth experience we were hoping to receive when we made the commitment to become a Kenworth fleet.”

Kenworth Ontario – Peterborough Relocates To New Facility

PETERBOROUGH, Ontario, Nov. 25, 2019 – Kenworth Ontario – Peterborough has relocated its full service dealership to a newly constructed facility to enhance customer support.

The 22,000 square-foot facility features 10 service bays, indoor truck showroom, and a 2,000 square-foot parts department supported by a fully stocked 5,100 square-foot parts warehouse. A comfortable driver’s lounge is also available.

The new dealership is located at 1874 Technology Drive in Peterborough, adjacent to its previous location. The new facility sits on 10 acres, providing truck operators with plenty of parking.

Hours of operation are 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 6:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, and 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. The phone number is 705-742-4747.

Kenworth Ontario – Peterborough is part of the Kenworth dealer network of 415 locations in the United States and Canada.

Kenworth Ontario provides sales, parts and service support for all classes of Kenworth trucks. Kenworth Ontario operates four dealerships in Ontario, including Ottawa, Kingston, Thunder Bay, and Peterborough.

PGH Excavating Depends on Kenworth Vocational Trucks

ENUMCLAW, Wash., Nov. 25, 2019 – For Chris and Nick Thornhill, owners of PGH Excavating, moving dirt runs deep in their DNA. By watching their father own and operate a successful hauling business that served excavating companies, the two brothers learned how the industry worked at an early age.

“When my brother Nick and I each turned 18, we went to work for our dad,” said Chris Thornhill. “I drove a Kenworth dump truck and delivered material to backfill jobsites. My brother helped contractors grade jobsites to create level surfaces. We learned so much through the years, we decided to start our own company.”

In 2007, Chris and Nick founded PGH Excavating. Before the Enumclaw-based company could haul its first load of dirt, it needed to acquire heavy equipment, as well as a few trucks and trailers. Chris and Nick’s first purchase was a Kenworth long-hood from their father.

“From the days of operating a Kenworth truck myself, I knew first-hand that a Kenworth would run for years,” said Thornhill. “My dad was a Kenworth customer for more than 40 years and he was keen on running equipment that would be reliable, while at the same time, offer drivers trucks they would be proud to drive.”

Since that first purchase, the company has steadily grown its fleet to include 15 heavy-duty trucks, primarily a mix of Kenworth long hoods and vocational models. The company operates two Kenworth T880s and two T880S models equipped with PACCAR MX-13 engines rated at 510 hp. The company also has a W990, Kenworth’s new long-hood model.

“Kenworths have always been reliable. The performance we’re getting from our T880s is especially high,” said Thornhill. “In the past four years, our T880s have only missed two days of work. That speaks volumes to the quality of the PACCAR MX-13 engine. We’re a dependable company; minimal downtime keeps our drivers on the road, delivering for our customers and making money. It’s a win for us across the board, so we plan on adding more Kenworth T880S models with MX-13 engines.”

PGH Excavating fitted one T880 and one T880S with super solo dump bodies, capable of hauling 25 tons. The other T880 and T880S are equipped with Sturdy-Weld dump bodies that can haul up to 17 tons.

The company’s T880s and T880S trucks deliver material to jobsites that require extra material for grading, or they can take excess straight to the dump site. PGH Excavating offers grading services at the locations where it removes material and can also deliver grading product fresh from one site to another.

“We’ll often drive up to 90 miles through the congested city streets in and around Seattle, so it’s important to us to maximize each payload,” said Thornhill. “Some jobsites will take a week or less to clear and grade. Others, like massive neighborhood developments, can take more than a decade. We’ll typically send our super solo trucks to areas with heavy traffic, so we don’t have to make as many runs to that area. The PACCAR MX-13 engine gives our trucks plenty of power even with the added weight.”

To transport the company’s excavating equipment to and from jobsites, PGH Excavating relies on their new W990 purchased through Papé Kenworth Northwest – SeaTac. So far, the truck has surpassed all expectations.

“When the W990 first became available, we wanted to be one of the first companies to own one,” said Thornhill. “We did our research and placed an order with Ray Lute, salesman at Papé Kenworth Northwest, who worked with our dad for a number of years. Since we began operating the W990 earlier this year, it’s been performing flawlessly.”

The Kenworth W990 is equipped with a 605 hp engine and an 18-speed Eaton Fuller manual transmission. The W990 pulls a 5-axle lowboy trailer; the company expects it will put on 60,000 miles in its first full year of operation.

“We get plenty of comments on how clean and beautiful our trucks look, but the W990 in particular, has received a lot of attention,” said Thornhill. “I’ve always been a fan of the traditional long-hood. As we phase out some of our older rigs, the W990 will replace them.”

High driver turnover can sometimes be an issue for fleets in the trucking industry. For PGH Excavating, driver retention has never been an issue.

“Many of our drivers have been with us from the very beginning,” said Thornhill. “Our driver retention is well above the industry average, thanks in large part, to the equipment we own. Our drivers really enjoy the enhanced comfort provided by the wide Kenworth cabs, as well as the enhanced visibility.”

Thornhill will be the first to admit that PGH Excavating doesn’t drum up new business from the looks of its excavation equipment. Its Kenworth trucks, however, are a different matter.

“People recognize us for the Kenworth trucks we have on the road,” said Thornhill. “They are a great marketing tool for us, and help us establish the image we want to portray to potential customers. We strive to put the best trucks on the road, and Kenworth continues to be that truck.”