Western Star to celebrate 40th anniversary at GATS

The Western Star 40th anniversary logo.

The Trucker News Services

8/2/2007

REDFORD, Mich.  — Western Star Trucks is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2007 and will mark the occasion at the Great American Trucking Show (GATS) in Dallas August 23-25.

The Western Star booth (#18128) will be decked out with anniversary décor, and attendees will have the chance to enjoy giveaways, a unique sand sculpture of a Western Star truck, and more, the company said in a news release.

Tracing its roots back to 1967, Western Star Trucks has a rich history producing rugged logging and mining vehicles that work in tough environments around the world, according to Ann Demitruk, director of marketing for Western Star Trucks.

"For the last 40 years, Western Star has built trucks with a level of craftsmanship and customization that is unique in the industry," Demitruk said. "Our premium on-highway and vocational trucks are custom-built for discerning drivers."

Western Star began with engineering and operations located in Cleveland, Ohio, and production in Canada.

In the following years, the company was headquartered in Kelowna, British Columbia. After it was acquired by Freightliner LLC in 2001, the headquarters relocated first to Cleveland — its original point of origin — and later to Redford, Mich.

The brand's Portland, Ore., manufacturing plant is dedicated to continuing the brand's heritage of building premium, custom-built trucks, Demitruk said.

"We're looking forward to celebrating Western Star's history with the people at GATS," she said. "The brand has certainly come a long way since it's beginnings as White Western Star."

One of the centerpieces of the Western Star booth at GATS will be a large sand sculpture shaped like a Western Star truck that features Western Star's 40th Anniversary logo on the side.

While checking out the sand truck, visitors can also pick up a free limited edition 40th Anniversary Western Star hat (while supplies last) and enter a giveaway for the chance to win a Visa gift card.

As always, Western Star trucks will be on display, including the following:

• 4900 EX with 82-inch Ultra High Stratosphere® sleeper and Detroit Diesel Series 60 engine with custom True Fire airbrushing from Killer Paint

• 4900 SA oil field service bed truck with butterfly hood and Detroit Diesel Series 60 engine.