Really Big Trucks: Peterbilt Vs. Kenworth

Having spent the last 30 years on the road, looking out above the rest of the traffic, I think I'm something of an expert on the subject of trucks. I've driven lots of them over the years.

Peterbilt is called the "Cadillac" of big rigs. Those I have driven fit the bill completely. Whether old or new, the Peterbilt is made for efficiency and comfort. The sleepers are generally larger than other makes and, depending on the model, the cab is usually wider. In the last Peterbilt I drove (for SMX), I had to go across the cab to reach the passenger side window to roll it down. It didn't work very well if I needed the window open while I was driving. It meant stopping and walking across the cab to reach it. On the other hand, the sleeper was as wide as the cab and very roomy. Engines and transmissions are pretty much the same, no matter what kind of truck you drive. My Peterbilt had a 13 speed that I really liked. I'm partial to the long nose, too. I'm pretty good at judging distance and have never hit anything. But the long nose can obstruct your view of the immediate area.

Kenworth is what I drive now. It's a couple of feet narrower than the Peterbilt, but I can roll down the passenger side window without leaving the drivers seat! There's a little less room in the cab and sleeper, but it isn't much of a problem since I drive alone. My boss buys a new fleet of Kenworths every two years and they're nice looking trucks, no question! However, when he buys a dozen new trucks, there always seem to be problems. The last batch of trucks before the new ones this year had oil pump trouble. Half the fleet had problems in the first six months. Once repaired, though, they ran great and never caused any more difficulties. The transmissions are very strong and pull the load anywhere I need to take it. My new Kenworth has a shorter version of the long nose, and I didn't have any problem getting used to it. My boss has just ordered new trailers, a few feet longer than the kind we used to run. But trailers are another story...

Many years ago I drove an International. It was old when I got it, and had a nasty habit of breaking down a little too often. It was a cab-over and I took the wife with me several times. She really hated the cab-over! We came down a mountain once and she swore she could count the bugs on the license plate of the truck ahead of us! That's both an advantage and a disadvantage. You can clearly see everything in front of you, up close and personal. No chance of miscalculating and bumping into whatever is ahead of you. On the other hand, the cab-overs offer no protection whatsoever if you do hit something. It winds up either in your face on underneath you.

No matter what kind of truck you drive, you can get little ovens to cook your food and little refrigerators to keep things cool. When you live in your truck, these can be very important! Truck driving isn't for everyone, no matter what make and model you get. The long, lonely hours can be really rough. It takes a special marriage to endure the separations. But the pay is good and the chance to travel can't be beat (unless you join the military, and I did that many years ago!)