Mack Trucks Inc. reports it has a winner in the first-ever “Bulldog Idol” contest. Sporting a tool belt and outfitted in hard hat and “Built Like a Mack Truck” T-shirt, “Gordon” took home first prize in a competition at which eighteen other bulldogs sought barking rights. “It was a very tough competition,” says Mack spokesperson John Walsh, one of the contest judges. “A lot of the owners really did a great job with the costumes. But in the end, being Mack, we had to go with Gordon, who would look right at home in a one of our industry-leading construction trucks.” Gordon took home the grand prize - a large stuffed bulldog - but every contestant received an official Mack stainless steel dog dish.
The contest took place at an open house on Father's Day at the OEM's Macungie, PA, assembly plant, which is celebrating the 100th anniversary of Mack's presence in the Lehigh Valley region of eastern Pennsylvania.
An estimated 5,000 people attended the Open House, which also featured displays of both antique and current Mack models, and walking tours of the plant. “We did this to thank the local community for letting us make our home here for the past 100 years,” Walsh notes. “Mack blood runs very deep in this area - in some cases, we saw three generations of employees proudly making their way through the event.”
Super winnersTom and Kim Turner of Cynthiana, KY, captured “Best of Show” honors at the recent Shell Rotella Superrigs truck beauty contest held in central Florida. They posed by their winning entry: a 1995 Peterbilt 379 tractor coupled to a matching 2003 Transcroft step-deck trailer.
“With so many gorgeous trucks here, I never thought we would win,” said Kim Turner. “My knees are weak. Shell is awesome. Everyone wants to win Rotella Superrigs. For some people, it's the only contest they enter and the only contest they want to win.” This was the second Superrigs event for the Turners, who took home third place in the tractor-trailer category last year in competition at Grand Island, NE.
The 23rd annual competition took place at the 75 Chrome Shop in Wildwood, FL, and included more than 65 working vehicles from 24 states. Overall, 24 awards were presented to 19 vehicle owners.
Road foodAnyone who knows the road knows the good, the bad and the boring of road food. Recognizing that truckers not only want to eat well but have something different than a cheeseburger platter or a tossed salad now and then, TravelCenters of America (TA) has unveiled new regional menus for their sit-down restaurants. TA says it taste-tested the “delicious array of new items designed for professional drivers” now found on the menus for its Northeast, South, Midwest, Southwest and Northwest regional restaurants.
“We are seeing more and more interest from companies who realize that regional carriers with flexible work rules are better suited to today's on-demand supply chains. Shippers also realize that competition is good [as] consolidation ultimately means fewer choices and higher prices.”
— Richard Stolz, senior vp-sales & marketing, Central Freight Lines, Waco, TX
The associate director of the Tire Retread Information Bureau (TRIB), David Kolman, is a former owner-operator who's also toiled as a journalist covering trucking. Maybe that's why he gets the power of vehicle graphics. “We are lucky to have David on the TRIB management team,” reports TRIB managing director Harvey Brodsky. “This guy dreams about trucks. He is on the job for our members 24/7, and even has signs promoting retreading on his personal truck. Who could ask for more than that?” For more information on retreading or on Kolman or even his pickup, call TRIB toll-free at 888-473-8732 or go to www.retread.org.
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