This month’s creation was built for Joe Inigarida (39) of Lake Elsinore, California. Joe doesn’t need much – just “the essentials” – like a truck that turns heads without breaking the bank or one that is too “cool” to actually get any work done. Some people want to do everything, but like Clint always says, “Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.” But, if anyone knows how to build a simple yet awesome rig, it is Clint Moore. And Joe’s new ride is a great example.
Joe’s grandpa came to the United States from Sicily in 1913. While at Ellis Island, his last name was misspelled from Ingardia to Inigarida, which happened a lot back then, but he just kept it that way. Joe’s grandpa owned an Italian restaurant in Chicago during the 1920’s. While on a trip to San Diego, California, he met the love of his life, Virginia. The two got married in 1935 and then moved to Los Angeles, where they opened a wholesale produce company which had trucks. In 1944 Joe’s grandparents bought an 80-acre farm near Escondido, California, and began raising cattle, while still operating the produce business. His grandparents had five kids – the second to the youngest is Joe’s dad, Jack.
Jack enjoyed operating farm equipment at an early age. By the time he was 15, his dad had him driving trucks while accompanying him on trips. It was then that he developed a passion for driving. Jack began trucking in 1970, and 46 years later, he’s still doing it. Jack married his high school sweetheart, Cathy, in 1972. After raising a family, she worked as a school secretary for 30 years and just recently retired. They have four children, but Joe is the only one that caught the trucking bug. His parents didn’t want him to truck, so, in an effort to discourage him, they always made him grease and wash the truck, which, obviously, did not work. “I kind of learned the trucking business from the bottom up,” said Joe.
Graduating in 1995, Joe got a job at the local Home Depot and worked there for four years. He met his wife Tanya while out one night with some friends. Joe eventually lost his job at Home Depot because he was talking on the phone to Tanya too much! He then got a job with the Corona-Norco Unified School District, servicing air conditioners, and stayed there for a few years. Joe got his CDL in July of 2004. Once his parents finally gave in and accepted the fact that their son was going to be a trucker, his dad sold him his numbered 1987 Peterbilt 359 Classic (#216 of 359). His dad had it for over ten years and put more than two million miles on that rare rig.
After getting his own authority, Joe started hauling produce in 2005 – he ran that “359 Classic” for a couple more years. Then, due to the looming emission laws, Joe decided to sell the ‘87 and took a driving job at Betts Express for about a year. In 2009 he met Robert Slaymaker, who was getting ready to trade in his 2006 Peterbilt and have Clint order him a new one (Clint featured Robert’s new ride in his March 2009 article). Joe bought Robert’s used 2006 Peterbilt and spent two weeks at the dealership with Clint and became part of the family. Joe ran that truck until he ordered this new one, to be compliant with the current emission laws in California.
This new truck is a 2016 Peterbilt 389 with a 63-inch flattop, an ISX Cummins 550, an 18-speed, 3:36 rears, a 292-inch wheelbase, a dropped air-ride front axle, and all of the good stuff. Inside, he ordered it with a wood-grain dash, chrome gauges and leather seats.
Once the truck arrived at the dealership, not wanting to do too much, Joe just opted for “the essentials” – the night shift guys added straight pipes and hid the urea tank. Then, the boys in the body shop installed a drop visor and Hogebuilt half-fenders on Clint’s hidden brackets. Clint’s dad, knowing Joe, was happy to cut his air cleaner screens. They also added a Jim Crain light bar and six load lights on the back of the sleeper.
Needing something cool but funny to put on the name plate on the truck’s dash, Joe asked his 5-year-old son Jake, “What do you think this truck is for?” To which he replied, “Daddy, it’s for pulling your trailer.” So, the dash plaque reads: Custom Built for Pulling My Trailer.
Married to his wife Tanya, who is a 2nd grade school teacher, for 12 years, the couple were married seven years before they had their son Jake (5), and then about two years later they welcomed their beautiful daughter, Taylor (3). They feel so lucky to have both kids. In Joe’s off time, he enjoys taking his family camping and fishing, and getting together for family BBQ’s. Joe is a pretty simple guy, but he still needs the essentials to get through the day. And, in his case, “the essentials” are a slick Peterbilt with just the right amount of cool.
