READERS AND THEIR RIGS - APRIL 2007

THE POWER OF PRAYER
Robert Huerta is Always Ready to Help

Never underestimate the power of prayer. This month’s “Readers & Their Rigs” came to us from Daniel Aguinaga of San Jose, CA. But Daniel did not contact us about himself or his own truck - he wanted to tell us about his cousin Robert Huerta. When we told him that we would do something as soon as possible but couldn’t make any promises, he replied, “I’ll be praying.” When space for the article became available the very next day, how could we deny the power of prayer!

Robert Huerta (50) of Madera, CA is an owner operator with Sprint Express out of Fresno, CA. Robert is well-loved and highly respected by his family and friends. Every person we spoke to about Robert had nothing but good things to say about him. It seems it is Robert’s mission to help those that need it and to inspire others to help themselves.

Robert started trucking in a bobtail truck, hauling around farm equipment for a rancher after he got out of high school. After working at the ranch for many years, he was given a chance to buy a truck - a 1958 narrow-nose Peterbilt - and become an owner operator. He began hauling sugar beets and then switched to aluminum bails. After a while, his son Jose followed in his tracks and became an owner operator as well. The two ran down the road together, as father and son, every day.

Robert’s cousin Daniel Aguinaga (the one who contacted us) always liked trucks, too, so Robert convinced him to come out and join them on the road. Daniel got a loan from his mother and bought a truck and the three went everywhere together, until eight years ago when Daniel cut his foot. Not wanting to go to the doctor, he let the cut get infected. The infection quickly spread through his entire body in his blood. It got so bad, he ended up in the hospital for three months. While there, the doctors found that he had an enlarged heart, along with a few other conditions, so he could no longer work. Daniel’s two trucks have been parked ever since. He hopes to one day get back in them, but for now, he’ll just have to wait and get better.

Later, when times got hard, Jose had to sell his truck. He got a job at Sprint Express in Fresno and then convinced his dad to sign on as a sub hauler for the company. At that time, Jose was driving the truck Robert drives today (the one pictured on this page). Back then, it was one of Sprint’s company trucks. Robert liked the truck and offered to buy it, so the owner got a newer truck (a 2003 Pete 379 with a stand-up sleeper, also painted white and purple) for Jose to drive and sold this one to Robert. Now, the father and son run down the road in matching Peterbilts.

Robert’s truck is a 2001 Peterbilt 379 with a flattop sleeper, a C-15 Cat and a 13-speed transmission. The truck is painted white with metallic purple fenders and roof, and has Double JJ blinkers and headlight brackets with single round headlights. This is Robert’s seventh truck. Pulling a clean 2004 Western walking floor trailer painted white, Robert hauls agricultural feed and other products throughout California, Nevada and Arizona, but lately, most of his work has been in the fertile central valley of California.

Robert has been married to his wife Maria Terresa for almost 33 years, and the couple has five kids and three grandchildren, with one more on the way. Their kids, Jose (30), Elizabeth (28), Joana (23), Rene (20) and Brenda (15), all love to help keep their dad’s truck looking good. Robert’s younger son Rene works at a chrome shop in Tulare (A & L Truck Supply), so you can bet that is where Robert gets all his accessories. In fact, Robert’s truck was featured in an ad they ran in this magazine last year, as well as on their current company t-shirts.

Robert has been picking up 10-4 for many years and couldn’t believe that we wanted to do a feature about him and his truck. He was very grateful to his cousin Daniel for making it happen - he wouldn’t do something like this on his own. For years, Robert Huerta has helped others in need and inspired people to do more than they think they can, so now it’s time for him to get some recognition and a pat on the back. Congratulations Robert! Not for getting in the magazine, but for having so many people in your life that love you and respect you. And when that many people are praying for you, nothing is impossible.