READERS AND THIER RIGS - APRIL 2009
THE MOUSE-MAN COMETH
MICKEY SHAW AND HIS GROUND-POUNDIN’ PETE
This month’s “Readers & Their Rigs” comes to us from Portland, OR. Mickey Shaw (56), who is currently an owner operator, has had several driving jobs over his 34-year trucking career. Lately, he also likes to buy trucks and help his friends out by giving them jobs. After buying nice trucks for everyone else, he figured that it was time to go all out on one for himself.
Growing up in San Luis Obispo, CA, Mickey graduated from high school and then went to work. His first few jobs were of the “hard labor” type (digging ditches and such). Leaning on his shovel, he admired all the fancy trucks that drove by as he stood on the side of the road. At that point, Mickey decided to become a truck driver. Besides, it made sense - Mickey’s dad was a bus driver, so driving was already in his genes.
Mickey went to a truck driving school in Los Angeles and then started driving in 1975. After a few lousy driving jobs, his father helped him to get a job at Greyhound, where he worked, driving a bus. Mickey did a short run from San Jose to San Francisco, and occasionally got to take out special charters, but that job only lasted a year. Then he got his first “real” truck driving job.
Working with a man named Don Crownover, who owned three trucks at the time, Mickey was given the opportunity to get a truck and become an owner operator. Don gave Mickey a 1955 Kenworth 2-axle with a butterfly hood to drive, and when the payments were complete, he gave it to him. At the time, Mickey was pulling a set of bottom dumps for Bob Zidina in Irwindale, CA. After a few years, Mickey moved to Grants Pass, OR, and started hauling lumber on a flatbed for Pirate Express out of Glendale, OR.
In 1980, Mickey finally got his first brand new truck - a Kenworth conventional. Still pulling for Pirate Express, Mickey worked there for three more years until he wrecked that 1980 Kenworth. From there, he went back to being a company driver, running for several different companies, including Colbin Oil, where he stayed for eight years, hauling gasoline locally around Oregon. Then he moved on to Metro Freight in Sumner, WA. He drove for them for two years and then bought a new 2002 Peterbilt 379. Three years later, he signed on with Chemical Logistics of Dallas, TX, hauling specialized solvents and cleaners, and has been there ever since.
Two years ago, he bought this 2007 Legacy Class Peterbilt 379 (#531) off the lot at Dallas Peterbilt and then had their crew, along with the guys at 12 Ga. Customs, trick it out. The Slate Grey and Omaha Orange rig features WTI fenders, strapless air cleaners, polished stainless boxes, shaved and painted headlights, 8” pipes, 10” cab and sleeper extensions, a 20” bumper, a whale tail, a custom visor and painted mirror brackets. Powered by a 600 Cat hooked to an 18-speed transmission and 3.25 rears, the truck has a 280” wheelbase and a 70” high roof sleeper. This truck is a long way from that 1955 KW.
At one point, Mickey had nine trucks, but today he is down to just six. He wanted to thank all of his family, friends and business associates for all their help over the years. He also wanted to thank the guys at Dallas Peterbilt and 12 Ga. Customs for all of their help, saying, “You can’t do something like this alone.” He also wanted to thank Don Bray for making this article happen (he introduced us to Mickey and his rig). Mickey “The Mouse Man” Shaw not only cometh, but he has arrived - in style - and he is here to stay!