OCTOBER 2005 WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO...
El Monte’s Fleet of Hay Haulers
Story and Photo by Truck Historian/Author Stan Holtzman

(Click on image for larger photo)

Pictured here is a 1950s Kenworth cab-over that belonged to El Monte Hay Market. The El Monte Hay Market fleet was a common sight along the California highways in the 1950s and 1960s. The El Monte fleet consisted of Autocars, White-Freightliners and Kenworths, and their colors were grayish tan with red lettering on the doors. It was common to see El Monte’s rigs hauling hay and alfalfa in the Bakersfield and Lancaster areas of California and, in the spring, the trucks could be seen pulling loads near Yuma. Power was generally a 220 or 250 horsepower Cummins with a 5 & 3 for transmissions. The El Monte fleet picked up additional trucks from Weaver Hay, thus making El Monte Hay Market a sizeable fleet. I don’t know why or when this outfit bit the dust, but maybe an old-timer out there can shed some light on their demise. I can be reached through the magazine at 1-888-440-4104. Be sure to check out my website at www.linerigs.com today.