Babe Ruth once said, “ There’s heroes and there’s legends. Heroes get remembered, but legends never die.” Coming from a long line of truckers, I’ve grown up around the trucking industry my whole life. I have had the pleasure of meeting some of the best truck drivers out there, and I’m lucky enough to have some of the greatest heroes to look up to in my immediate family. But a few years ago, in 2018, I was very fortunate to meet a legend, Mr. Clyde Green.
At the Southern Idaho Truck Show, everyone is busy, cleaning and polishing their rigs for the show. While on top of my mom’s truck with a polish rag in my hand, helping get the truck ready to go, my dad whispers to me, “Hey look, there’s the Mayor of I-80.” Once I turned and looked, I noticed everyone had stopped what they were doing to watch him pull in. I immediately had to go take a look at his set up. I made circles around it, looking at every detail, inside and out, and it was flawless. Back in 2018, I hadn’t bought my camera yet, so I pulled out my phone and got pictures of this beautiful truck.
Born in Torrington, Wyoming, Clyde Green grew up on his family’s farm in Lagrange, just 30 minutes from Torrington. As a kid, Clyde farmed and trucked with his dad and ranched with his uncle. At the age of 12, Clyde learned to drive a truck on the farm and fell in love with it. In 1976, at just 16 years old, he got his Class-A license. In 1978, he began driving a truck full time. July 5, 1978, Clyde was at a truck stop, and he sat down and started talking to his waitress about the fireworks from the night before. Sparks flew and they were married on August 6, 1983.
Taking after his father, Clyde’s dad was also in the industry, and he drove a 1967 Freightliner cabover and pulled a cattle pot. Clyde bought his first truck in 1997 – an A-model Kenworth that he ended up selling to Amoth Trucking in 2000. After he bought his A-model, Clyde pulled for Tri-State Commodities for about a year before he branched off and started his own deal, Equality State Transport, in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Currently, Clyde owns two of his own trucks at Equality State, but there are three more trucks leased onto the company. Of course, all of them are Kenworths, such as a 1997 W900 with an Aerocab, a 2003 W900L model, and a T660. Equality State Transport hauls just about anything including general freight, livestock, grain, dry bulk, paper products, and refrigerated foods. Though Clyde transported propane in a Peterbilt, he only drove that for 16 months, then he was back in a Kenworth.
In 2003, Clyde bought his classic 1982 Kenworth A-model we have all come to know and love. Mr. Green’s “summer truck” is a 1982 Kenworth W900A. Under the hood is a 3406 CAT motor with a 5+4 transmission. This A-model sits on Low Leaf air ride, has 3.55 rears, and the cab and sleeper sit on a custom subframe. The wheelbase is 272 inches, and the sleeper opening has been widened. With a custom Seattle VIT interior package, hardwood floors, wood grain dash panels, and custom designed cabinets, this all-custom truck was painted in 2013 by Eaton Paint and Body in Eaton, Colorado.
To keep his “summer truck” show worthy, Clyde bought a 2013 Kenworth W900L in December of 2015 and it gained the title of his “winter truck” since it is the one he drives during the winter while the A-model is parked in a shop. Like his A-model, the L-model has a 3406 CAT motor, but it is hooked to a 13-speed transmission. With a 272-inch wheelbase, the frame is equipped with an AG-100 8-bag air suspension with 3.55 rear gears. On top of the Studio sleeper is a custom flattop Aerocab roof cap. The rig, like his other Kenworth, features a Seattle VIT interior. All the custom work and paint was done by Jim Madsen at MHC Kenworth in Grand Junction, Colorado, back in 2020.
The L-model and the A-model have the same colors of paint, only the scheme is swapped, which was Melody’s idea. The A-model is a white truck with a red stripe, while the L-model is a red truck with a white stripe. Though Clyde and Melody never had kids, they have had dogs for 15 years, and Clyde has been a role model and had a huge impact on many in the trucking industry.
When I sat down and talked with Mr. Clyde, I asked him if he had one piece of advice for newcomers in the industry, what it would be? His answer really made me think. Clyde’s response was, “Just make it your passion, not just your job. Have pride in what you do and be proud of who you are. Find something you love to do, and you’ll never work a day in your life.”
From the greatness of Clyde’s heart, he’d like to give recognition to his parents for teaching him the values of hard work and taking pride in all his undertakings. Also, huge thanks to the rest of his family for their support, along with his extended family and friends in the trucking industry. A big shout-out also goes to Jack, Gregg, Grant, and Wendy Shupe of Tri-State Commodities for all their help over the years.
But, most importantly, Clyde wants to give all the credit of his company and where he’s at in life to his lovely wife Melody. Legends may never die, but Clyde Green, the man, is certainly one of my trucking heroes, and his legacy will survive long after he is gone.
