Hey, good lookin'

It's the opening of the truck show season and what a grand opening it was. More than 80 trucks in competition, and a few more on display.  The Paul K Young Memorial Truck Championship was a jam-packed wow from the anticipation to the finish. 

Always at the top of his game, Todd Roccapriore and his remake of Disorderly Conduct, a 1999 blue and black Peterbilt 379, was not just the king of the hill. He owned it with six trophies including People's Choice, Best of Show Limited Mileage Bobtail, Best Lights, Best Paint, Best Engine and Best Interior Limited Mileage Bobtail.  Roccapriore, who has more than 6,000 hours invested in this truck, explained how he consistently comes out on top.  "I put my heart into it. And when I'm done, even though there may be things that I'd do different if I had it to do over, I know I've given it everything I've got. People may be able to put more money into it. I don't think it's all about the money. I know it's all about the heart."

Best of Show Limited Mileage Combo was awarded to Josh Reed/Lanita Specialized of Pioneer, Ohio,. He made a sizzling standout with his black and burgundy 2015 Kenworth W900L and 2015 Mac curtainside flatbed trailer.  No detail left to chance, this truck lit up the parking lot and the eyes of every truck enthusiast.

A new category this year, Limited Mileage Dump Combo brought a few hot hoppers and haulers to the fore. Best of Show was awarded to Brian Davis/Davis Bros., Owensville, Ind., and the knockout Superfreak black and blue 2005 Peterbilt 379 pulling a 2012 Wilson DHW501.  Speakers and sound round out the details as the deckplate rises and the party begins.

Mike Horst of Bethel, Pa., leaped onto center stage with his slick and shiny white and red 2006 Peterbilt 379, earning Best of Show Working Bobtail, the Jake Eilen Pride in Your Ride Award, and three other awards. His white with red accented theme carried from front to back, inside and out with a diamond tufted interior that absolutely stopped traffic.


Best of Show Working Combo and an armload of trophies went to Brad Caton/Eilen & Sons Trucking, Hampton, Minn., with their latest entry, a white black and blue 2014 Peterbilt 389 pulling a 2013 Mac tri-axle dump trailer painted to match.

While these trucks were the Best Of Show winners, every participant offered something special and every truck was someone's favorite.

Hot off the grille

The folks at Daimler always have plenty to talk about. They're No. 1 in market share in Class 8 trucks with almost 40 percent of the market. They've earned that spot by consistently meeting or exceeding their goals to improve the customer experience.

They've also spent $80 million over a 5-year period to design a Super Truck: $40 million from the Department of Energy and $40 million out of their own coffers to design a truck that is the most freight-efficient truck ever.

According to Diane Hames, General Manager Marketing & Strategy, it has been a long-term project based on innovation through global collaboration.  With an integrated Detroit powertrain and some incredible aerodynamics, including an articulating grille to manage the need for under the hood heating and cooling, this truck achieved 115 percent freight-efficiency improvement.

So what is freight efficiency?  It is a combination of fuel economy (they achieved 12.2 mpg) and reduced weight of the truck and trailer, allowing for a greater payload in the box.

Many of the features are already making their way onto trucks currently in production. The Freightliner Cascadia Evolution is their current standout, with consistently improving performance numbers – gaining another 5 percent fuel economy improvement.

Epiq styling

“The Model 579 EPIQ is revolutionizing the industry with its aerodynamic efficiency, optimized powertrain, and innovative fuel-saving technologies,” said Darrin Siver, Peterbilt General Manager and Paccar vice president.

With up to 14 percent improved fuel economy over its predecessor and a host of features that were originally developed for the Super Truck project, this truck demonstrates that Peterbilt is offering more than just good looks.

With operating features like Predictive Cruise Control (anticipates terrain), Smart Nav (infotainment system) and Smart Linq (remote diagnostics), your truck is getting smarter by the minute. So you can work smarter; not just harder.

More than 50 years of big hood lookin' good

My eyes lit up, and my heart beat a little faster. There's a new Limited Edition Kenworth going into production; it's called the Icon 900. And, yes, it is a special edition of the traditional big hood W900L. 

It will be individually numbered and badged, and have all the features you've come to love, along with a few special something extras. 

A stainless and chrome package with all the "bugs" (Kenworth emblems) in shiny silver, with LED lighting almost everywhere except the headlights. 

It has great-looking down-lighting, an 86-inch studio sleeper, and some special enhancements to the VIT diamond tuck interior.

The styling harks back to the early 1960s. But the look is all today -- big, bold, and ready to get down the road in style.