10-4 Magazine - For Today's Trucker

KID'S PAGE - APRIL 2005

This Kid is Crazy
About Trucks!

Dear 10-4 Magazine,

My name is Benjamin DeSilva of Calimesa, California. I’m 11 years old and in 5th Grade at Calimesa Elementary. My hobbies are shooting my guns, going flying with my dad and his friends, and my best is trucking with my dad (Bill DeSilva). My dad owns his own truck and company. We go all around So. California hauling modular buildings for schools and government agencies. These loads are 12’ to 24’ wide and from 14’ to 20’ high. I have been going with my dad to work since I was about 2 years old and I have driven the truck at the yard before. The only problem I had was that I had tore my ligament in my foot about a month before I drove the truck so my foot was a little weak. When I let off the clutch, it gave some jerks, but then it was okay. I am a Peterbilt fan I know a lot about them. My dad’s first truck was a 1979 B cab International, his second truck was a 1981 Peterbilt 362, and his third was a 1986 Pete 362. His third truck was used in the mobile home chase scene in the 1998 movie “Lethal Weapon 4” which was filmed on a closed-down freeway in Las Vegas. I got to watch them film some of movie. It took them three weeks to shoot a six-minute scene! That truck burned to the ground shortly after the movie was made so my dad bought a Freightliner. After that, he bought the 1991 Pete 362 we have now. It is a very short truck so we can make tight corners. I drive the truck in the yard with my dad there, and I do all the tie-downs and oversize load signs for him. I love the Pete so much - I can’t wait to drive it when I get older.

Sincerely, Ben DeSilva
Calimesa, California

~ Thanks to Ben for the great letter and pictures. We especially liked the one from a few years ago with Ben behind the wheel. Also shown here are more recent photos of Ben and his dad’s 362 Pete. Ben’s favorite edition of 10-4 Magazine was the one that featured the “Duel” truck (May 2004). His dad says he watches that movie ALL of the time!