Cody Graves

Being in the right place at the right time eventually led to the creation of this awesome-looking rig. After leaving the Army, Warren Simmons of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, started working on a local sugar cane farm with his family. When another employee didn’t show up, he took it upon himself to get things moving — and eventually found himself driving full time. Since then, Warren has owned four trucks, including this 1996 Peterbilt 379. Nicknamed the Rooster Cruiser, the truck has a CAT C15 engine with a Super 10 transmission and a 260-inch wheelbase. Warren said he loves the truck’s two-tone color and the lighting on the bumper, breather, the doors and the back of the sleeper. Inside, he purchased to burgundy Legacy leather seats for a comfortable ride. The seats match the door panels, walls and the dash. Warren said this is a dream truck, and he continues to add to its look. When he isn’t driving, Warren said he loves playing music and cooking and grilling outside. Do you use the CAT Scale app and have a rig you’d like us to feature as the CAT Scale Rig of the Week? Send photos to [email protected].

This week’s CAT Scale Rig of the Week is a classic cabover with sentimental value. Owner Barry LaFrance fell in love with the Freightliner FLB ever since his father brought one home in 1976. Fast forward 24 years and Barry finally got one in December of 2000. One of the biggest changes he made was the paint job. He used Barry’s body shop in Rosholt, Wisconsin to give it this unique silver paint with purple stripes. For the interior, he added Bostrom low-base seats, wooden floors and repainted the dash. To power the rig, it still has its original Cummins N14 engine and a 13-speed transmission. Barry’s been driving for about 36 years and mostly hauls flatbeds between the United States and Canada. He said he was inspired to become a trucker from going on trips with his father. In his spare time, Barry enjoys working on his truck with his kids, riding his motorcycle and going to truck shows. Do you use the CAT Scale app and have a rig you’d like us to feature as the CAT Scale Rig of the Week? Send photos to [email protected].

This vintage rig is truly something special. Built on Jan. 9, 1916, this truck is actually the first Mack AC ever made. Over the span of production, the size of the Mack AC increased, the original solid rubber tires were traded for pneumatic tires, and the wood-spoke wheels were swapped out for modern wheels — but the design remained the same. Mack made more than 40,000 AC Model trucks between 1916 and 1938. This truck was originally sold to the Boston Ice and Coal Co., which hauled either ice or coal, depending on the season. It was later traded back to the dealer, who used it for delivering parts, plowing snow and other work. From there, it went to the Zimmerman Auto Museum in Pennsylvania and then to Harrah’s Casino. The Iowa 80 Truck Museum purchased the Mack in 1981, and it was professionally restored in 2002. Do you use the CAT Scale app and have a rig you’d like us to feature as the CAT Scale Rig of the Week? Send photos to [email protected].

Fresh off the assembly line, this rig is fully customized all the way down to the soda-pop-inspired paint job. Owner Rob Hallahan of Hallahan Transport in Wisconsin purchased this 2022 Peterbilt 389 to turn it into a show truck. The standout feature is, of course, the color, but this isn’t just any old shade of green. This is the exact same color as Mountain Dew. Peterbilt of Sioux Falls painted the truck and even had to get special permission from mountain Dew to use the color. Omaha orange was used as an accent color throughout. Inside they painted the dash to match, put in aluminum flooring, and a stereo system. While this is a show truck, it’s powered by a Cummins X15 engine with an 18-speed transmission. The truck pulls a matching 2022 Great Dane van. Rob has been in the industry for more than 30 years. He got his start working at a Coca-Cola warehouse. When he turned 18, they asked if he wanted to drive and he’s been going ever since. He doesn’t drive anymore, but still enjoys customizing show trucks every few years. Do you use the CAT Scale app and have a rig you’d like us to feature as the CAT Scale Rig of the Week? Send photos to [email protected].

With a bright blue paint job and a huge living space, this rig is a home on wheels. Owners Anthony and Andrea Gratz, a husband-and-wife team, recently bought this 2016 Volvo VNL from a fellow trucker. The couple loves supporting the military, and this rig shows that off with a United States Air Force theme. The rig was customized for heavy-haul and has a matching trailer, which is used frequently to transport military couple. They also changed the original I-shift to buttons on the dash. Inside, this rig has all the amenities of home in its extended sleeper section. It has a full kitchen, a dinette, a Murphy bed and a bathroom with a shower. When they aren’t driving, the couple enjoys cooking, traveling, and entertaining at Chee-Ha State Park for the Talladega race every October with fellow drivers, family and friends. Do you use the CAT Scale app and have a rig you’d like us to feature as the CAT Scale Rig of the Week? Send photos to [email protected].

Showcasing some features not found on modern rigs, this classic truck offers a look back in time. This 1949 Kenworth CD-524 was originally used by General Petroleum to haul fuel for the Mobil Oil Co. The Iowa 80 Museum purchased this truck in 1994 from the Motor Transport Museum in Campo, California. When it first arrived, the truck had straight pipes, and with a mechanical supercharger, there was nothing in the exhaust to quiet it down. When the driver’s foot is on the pedal, the sound is almost like a machine gun because every cylinder can be heard firing. This Kenworth has a butterfly hood, but other than that, it doesn’t look much different than modern Kenworths. Buyers could still get a butterfly hood until 1979. Another interesting feature is that the truck doesn’t have any front brakes. That’s because, at the time, many drivers believed the front wheels could lock up in slick conditions. Do you use the CAT Scale app and have a rig you’d like us to feature as the CAT Scale Rig of the Week? Send photos to [email protected].

This week’s CAT Scale Rig of the Week delivers a message of love and understanding wherever it goes. Dubbed the “Rainbow Rider,” this Freightliner is driven by Shelle Lichti. She’s been trucking since the early 1990s and said that the freedom she found on the road has been her saving grace from a turbulent past and the stigma of hiding her own sexuality. She’s used her experience on the road to become a mentor for others by advocating for their rights through her nonprofit organization called LGBT Truckers. The group started in 2008 as a conference line that anyone could call and talk to someone. The positive response inspired Lichti to give the truck its Pride-themed wrap, which features a “Love Is Love” design. Currently, she travels with two cats and one Chihuahua, and she’s even started a Facebook group for truckers to share photos of their pets, called Trucking Furbabies. Do you use the CAT Scale app and have a rig you’d like us to feature as the CAT Scale Rig of the Week? Send photos to [email protected].

This week’s rig has all the comforts of home — and nearly as much space. Drivers Angie and Larry Baum operate this 2018 Volvo 860 VNL. The standout feature of this truck is the 180-inch ARI Legacy custom sleeper that’s basically a full-size RV. The main living area features a kitchen with a two-burner stove; a three-in-one microwave, grill and convection oven; and a sink. They also have a refrigerator, a pantry with pull-out drawers, and tons of storage. In addition to the living area and kitchen, the couple enjoys the convenience of a shower and restroom. Their favorite feature, however, is the queen-size bed, complete with a memory-foam mattress. The Baums call the truck “The Hulk” because of its green accents — and, of course, the size of the sleeper. The couple has been driving together for seven years, and pull dry vans, reefers, doubles and triples, and they will soon add flatbed trailers. Do you use the CAT Scale app and have a rig you’d like us to feature as the CAT Scale Rig of the Week? Send photos to [email protected].

Slow and steady might win the race, but “Low & Steady” is a truck that can’t be beat. Wes Hawkins of Shelbyville, Tennessee, picked up this 2020 Peterbilt 389 in February 2019. It was delivered to Rush Truck Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where the shop painted the fuel and DEF tanks, installed a 7-inch Dynaflex exhaust and added a painted visor and window chops. Once he got the truck home, added a new bumper, stainless-steel steps, a custom catwalk, half fenders and a rear light bar. He also had custom dash panels made for the inside, as well as an ivory steering wheel for an old-school look. Wes calls the truck “Low & Steady” for its flat top and because it sits almost on the ground when parked. Low & Steady has a Cummins engine with an 18-speed transmission. Wes has been driving for 23 years but got his start in the industry at the age of 2, riding along with his dad. He spent as much time as he could in the jump seat of his dad’s cabover Kenworth, learning the ropes. Today, he owns two trucks and five trailers and runs three owner-operators under his authority, Hawkins Transport Service. He said his wife of 22 years has been the secret to his success because she’s been there since nearly the beginning. Do you use the CAT Scale app and have a rig you’d like us to feature as the CAT Scale Rig of the Week? Send photos to [email protected].

You probably won’t see this truck trundling down the highway hauling a load — but you just might spot it at a truck show or a parade. Kate Whiting, driver and owner of KW Pony Express LLC, shows off this 1973 Kenworth W900A at events throughout the year. At shows, she blasts the band Warrant’s anthem “Cherry Pie.” The truck is named after the son, with its cherry-red paint job, and Kate always has a pie dish filled with red candies to hand out. Kate became a driver after attending her first truck show in 2014, where she was impressed by the relationships that formed between drivers and their trucks. She developed a fondness for the Kenworth A models. One day, when driving some back roads, she spotted one. She stopped to talk to the owner and spent the next year “bugging” him to sell it. In 2016 she got her wish, and she bought the truck that became Cherry Pie. Overall, Cherry Pie was in good mechanical shape, and after some scrubbing and brushing, they found the vibrant red and cream finish. Her son pointed out that it “looked just like cherry pie.” Do you use the CAT Scale app and have a rig you’d like us to feature as the CAT Scale Rig of the Week? Send photos to [email protected].

Take a trip back to the early days of trucking with this historic rig. Based in Chicago, the International Harvester Co. was a result of the merging of McCormick Harvesting Machine Co. and Deering Harvester Co. in 1902. Originally targeted at farmers, International Harvester started off solely making tractors. Then, in 1909, they decided to make trucks as well. International Harvester 101 models were made for only three years, from 1921-23. This truck, serial number 704-R, is believed to be the only one left in existence. It would have cost $4,500 brand new. It weighs 6,800 pounds, and its maximum payload is 10,000 pounds with a top speed of 14 mph. The previous owner was Curt Fisher of Mankato, Minnesota. He bought it at an estate sale in New Ross, Indiana. It had been restored 25 years prior, but he did some more restoration after he bought it. The Iowa 80 Trucking Museum purchased the truck in November of 2020. Do you use the CAT Scale app and have a rig you’d like us to feature as the CAT Scale Rig of the Week? Send photos to [email protected].

This week’s CAT Scale Rig of the Week shows how a little elbow grease can keep a hard-working truck looking great for decades. Owner Pam Swendrzynski bought this 1977 Kenworth W900A in 2018. The seller was upgrading their trucks, so Pam and her husband were there at just the right place and time. Pam said that it really only needed to be cleaned up a little bit, but they added lots of chrome accents and had the flatbed sandblasted and painted. Inside, she installed new seats from Seats Inc. in Reedsburg, Wisconsin. Pam used to pick up shipments there every day, so she was able to get them factory direct. Pam has had a long trucking career. She was an owner-operator in the late ‘70s and into the mid-‘80s, but took 30 years off to raise her family. After that, she drove a CFL straight truck for 13 years until she retired two years ago. She and her husband enjoy working on this truck as well as taking it to truck shows. Do you use the CAT Scale app and have a rig you’d like us to feature as the CAT Scale Rig of the Week? Send photos to [email protected].

A third-generation trucker is carrying on his family tradition in this eye-catching rig. Austin Gottman owns and operates this 2019 Peterbilt 389. It’s powered by a 3406 CAT engine with an 18-speed transmission. The engine produces about 700 horsepower, which is achieved with an aftermarket turbo. Austin picked out this color based off of an old Yamaha snowmobile he had when he was 12 years old. He now has four different trucks in this same color, including another Peterbilt. This truck is dedicated to Austin’s grandfather, who passed away when Austin was in third grade. He said he may have been young when his grandfather passed away, but he made a big impact on Austin’s life. He said he feels like he’s carrying on the family tradition since the company has had the same two accounts since his grandfather started the company in 1976. Other features include an air-ride suspension that can be raised and lowered and Bostrom air ride seats. When he isn’t on the road, Austin can be found boating in the summer and riding snowmobiles in the winter. Do you use the CAT Scale app and have a rig you’d like us to feature as the CAT Scale Rig of the Week? Send photos to [email protected].

This week’s CAT Scale Rig of the Week is a rolling tribute to rock ’n’ roll history. When Rodney Crouch completed the requirements for a sign-on bonus with US Xpress, he started looking for his own rig to strike out on his own. He wanted a truck with fewer than 250,000 miles, an APU unit and a refrigerator. Eventually he found this 2016 Western Star 5700. It had a few more miles than he wanted, but had everything else he needed. The previous owner was a Vietnam veteran and had personalized the truck with POW and MIA graphics. Rodney said he was often thanked for his service by mistake, so he decided to change the truck’s look. Rodney loves rock ’n’ roll and heavy metal, so he decided to decorate it with many of his favorite musicians. All over the truck are iconic rock stars like Stevie Ray Vaughn, Willie Nelson, Eddie Van Halen, Ozzy Osborne, The Beatles and many more. He said his favorite one is a picture of himself and members of the band Hellyeah, which included his favorite drummer, the late Vinnie Paul. Do you use the CAT Scale app and have a rig you’d like us to feature as the CAT Scale Rig of the Week? Send photos to [email protected].

This restored beauty dates back to the early days of World War II. The Freightliner brand started as an offshoot of the Consolidated Freightways Trucking Co. The company built its own trucks, and when other people wanted to buy them, they started selling. But, the government stepped in and said they couldn’t be in the trucking business while also selling rigs. So, they started Freightliner to keep selling trucks. This Freightliner is actually a rebuilt Fageol. You can even see the Fageol front fenders and their distinctive headlight mounts. The rear ends are Timken worm drive. This truck has a crane on the back that would have been used to load freight onto a flatbed trailer pulled behind it. When Bill Moon noticed this truck for sale by Jerry Noordman, he commented it was a rare truck, and someone should buy it. A few years later, it was listed for sale again and was purchased by the Iowa 80 Trucking Museum. On interesting detail of the truck is that the casting date on the block of the Cummins engine is Dec. 8, 1941 — the day after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. Do you use the CAT Scale app and have a rig you’d like us to feature as the CAT Scale Rig of the Week? Send photos to [email protected].

With old-school appeal, this customized rig is built to handle oversize freight while turning heads. Owner Dustin Stout of Pass Christian, Mississippi, is part of a family trucking tradition with his father and three uncles all being drivers. He hauls mainly oversized loads across the Southeast and has made it a hobby to bring old trucks back to life. Dustin purchased this 2003 Western Star 4900 Low-Max seven years ago. The model was initially built for the 2003 Mid-America Truck Show for the car-hauling industry. Since Dustin frequently pulls over-length steel on flatbeds, he stretched the frame five feet to accommodate the 70-foot material he hauls. He said he loves the look of trucks from the 1970s and 80s, so he has added plenty of retro details like the round headlights and ribbed quarter fenders. Other additions include the eight-inch Dynaflex exhaust, extra cab lights, shaved horns, a 20-inch bumper and rear glass for the sleeper. In his spare time, Dustin enjoys visiting the beach with his wife Lindsey and son Wyatt. Do you use the cat scale app and have a rig you’d like us to feature as the cat scale rig of the week? Send photos to [email protected].

There’s nothing funny about this week’s CAT Scale Rig of the Week despite its slightly silly name. Owners Blake and Barbie of Austin, Texas, bought this truck — dubbed Looney Tune after the Warner Bros cartoons — about four years ago. The pair had given up trucking about six months prior after being on the road for 10 years. The Looney Tune is a 2001 Peterbilt 379E and is pretty much stock, with a few exceptions like the dash and some upgraded lights. Blake said this rig used to be an everyday truck, but now it’s used sparingly. The couple’s two other bobtails are mainly used for their business. The truck has a white base with purple stripes and orange accents. Blake said the colors weren’t his favorite originally, but the colors grew on him eventually. As for the name, Blake said it comes from some local wildlife that frequently visits the truck. “There’s a roadrunner that comes up to [the truck] all the time and it stares at the bumper,” Blake said. “It kills lizards and brings them and it thinks that the reflection is its friend. My mom always called me road runner, too, but instead of naming the truck road runner, we decided the name it Looney Tune since the colors are sort of cartoon-like.” Looney Tune, Blake and Barbie can be found on Instagram as @thebigrigblake and @thebigrigbarbie. Do you use the cat scale app and have a rig you’d like us to feature as the CAT Scale Rig of the Week? Send photos to [email protected].

This week’s CAT Scale Rig of the Week was inspired by a win in the big game. Mary Peterson Norton began her driving career in 1977, shortly after graduating high school. Not long after, she met her late husband, Jack Norton, over the CB, and the couple drove as a team for 30 years. When they first started driving, their rig was red and pink because they liked to stand out from the crowd. However, in 1997, the Green Bay Packers won the Super Bowl, so the couple decided that their next truck and trailer would feature the team. The truck has green and gold accents inside and out, and she has a lot of Green Bay Packer items, including a Barbie doll and a signed football. This is their second Packers-themed rig, a 2014 Kenworth T660. It’s powered by a Cummins ISX 500 engine with a 13-speed Eaton transmission. The truck is paired with a customized reefer trailer that hauls poultry products from Wisconsin and Minnesota to Los Angeles. Mary said her favorite feature of the rig is the Sleep Number bed, which helps her get some rest on the road. Since her husband died in 2015, Mary drives solo, but she’s not alone — she’s joined by her dogs, Karhma and Casey. Do you use the CAT Scale app and have a rig you’d like us to feature as the CAT Scale Rig of the Week? Send photos to [email protected].