Running Local and Loving It
This month’s Readers And Their Rigs comes to us from Ken Sparks of Henderson, Nevada. Ken (47), who has been a driver for most of his life, got his start by driving with his dad, who was an owner operator. Driving an old Kenworth cabover for a grocery store in West Virginia, Ken and his dad would find their own loads going to California and then bring produce back to the grocery store. In the early 1980s, Ken rode the “technology wave” and became a computer technician. After ten years of backstabbing and politics, Ken decided to get back into trucking because, “the people are nicer.” He ran coast-to-coast for ten years until he decided to get off the long haul and find a local driving job. Having a wife and two children, Ken wanted to be home more. For the last year or so, Ken has been driving a super clean 1999 International 8100 for the National Wood Products warehouse in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ken delivers hardwood lumber and sheet goods within a 250 mile radius and is home almost every night - and he likes it that way. The metallic blue tractor, which has a 390 HP International engine and a 10-speed transmission, usually pulls a short 24’ trailer which was rescued from a salvage yard, but it is also setup to pull a 45’ Utility Tauntliner. The short trailer is great for getting into tight places. Based out of Salt Lake City, Utah, National Wood Products also has warehouses in Nebraska, California and Colorado. The photo was taken by Ken at the Little Creek Texaco located between Hurricane and Hildale in scenic Southern Utah. Ken picks up his free copy of 10-4 every month at Hallmark Truck Stop in Las Vegas. |
