DRIVER'S REWARD
THE LATEST PROJECT FROM CLINT MOORE
This month’s “creation” was built for David Baudino and Robert Mellen of C & R Transfer in Mazon, Illinois. But the truck was not built for them - it was custom ordered and built for their driver Brandon “Brando” Stych. Brandon has known these guys for a long time, and worked at other companies that they are affiliated with, so it was no surprise to David and Robert that Brandon was willing (and able) to work. When they hired him one year ago, they said, “If you hustle and do a good job, we will buy you a new truck next year.” And that is what they did!
David and Robert, who are brother-in-laws, have been in business together for 25 years. They currently own two Peterbilts and one KW. One of the Peterbilts is the new one pictured here, and the other is Robert’s personal truck, which is a cool 379 with a 48-inch sleeper. Their third truck, a Kenworth T-800, is driven by one of their other drivers. C & R Transfer hauls various aggregates in end dumps and boxes.
David Baudino also owns and operates trucks through Baudino Farms, a company he owns along with his brother and their two boys. David bought a cool 2002 Peterbilt 379 with a flattop sleeper from Clint back in 2003, and his son Eric just ordered a new Peterbilt 389 as well, but that is a story for another day.
Brandon “Brando” Stych (31) grew up on a farm. Both his father and brother are truckers, so it is no surprise that Brandon is crazy about trucks, too. He eats, sleeps, drinks and breathes trucks - really! Brando started driving after school when he was only 15 years old. At 18, he started working in his father’s shop and doing some driving when needed. When he was 22, he went to work for Kerry Trucking (which is where he met Robert Mellen). Brando worked for Kerry for seven years. After that, he decided to take a break from the road and took a job working in the shop at Dibble Trucking.
One year ago, Brando was hanging out with his old buddies at a truck show and he hit them up for another job. They hired him right back, and then promised him that if he did a good job, they would buy him a brand new truck in a year. And almost one year to the day, he found himself at Kansas City Peterbilt picking up his new rig.
The truck is a 2010 Peterbilt 389 Extended Hood with a 48-inch flattop sleeper, and although it looks pretty stock, quite a bit was done to it. Powered by a Cummins ISX hooked to a 13-speed transmission, the Autumnwood Metallic truck has a 265-inch wheelbase, Low Air-Leaf suspension and a Platinum Tan interior. Once it arrived at the shop, Clint and his crew added WTI fenders, a stainless drop visor, cab and sleeper extensions, and two extra cab lights. The guys also chopped the air cleaner lids and painted the door handle inserts to match the truck.
Brando absolutely loves this truck, and he was beyond excited when he picked it up. Brando and his wife Bridget have a 2-year-old son named Tanner who, can you believe, is already crazy about trucks, too. I guess this story proves that hard work and perseverance can pay off. We’ve heard of driver rewards programs before, but this one takes the cake. Way to go Brando!
~ If you would like Clint Moore to order and/or build you a new custom truck, contact him at Kansas City Peterbilt via e-mail at clintmoore@kcpete.com or call him at (913) 441-2888. You can also visit his website at www.custombuiltfor.com and check out pictures of other custom trucks he has built.