This exceptional classic was purchased by McKinney, Virginia-based Artie Daniel just several years ago from its original owner, who kept it for decades as his personal truck while running a small fleet. When Overdrive caught up with Artie Daniel at That’s a Big 10-4 on D.C. in October this year, the truck had but 600,000 miles give or take on the Cat-powered 1982 Kenworth W9’s odometer.
In the video at the top of this post, catch plenty views all around the gold-flecked, jet-black rig, well-preserved for its many years. Longtime independent Daniel — this is the fourth Kenworth he’s owned in his long career, spanning back to the late 1970s — also offers perspective on a quality he says is key his success: a basic but undeniable passion for the work of trucking. “I love to see other people have the passion that I’ve got,” he said, telling the story of one such operator whose wife passed. The owner-op was considering selling his truck as he’d be coming off the road for quite a time to be home for their young daughter until she came of age.
Daniel counseled the owner to sell his trailer, but keep that truck. If he did sell, “You’ll kick yourself” later on, Daniel said, because “it’s something you love. … I’ve seen so many [owners say] ‘Oh, I’m getting out,’ and they sell their truck and they regret it after that. They had a good set-up, and they let it go.”
Hear an extended portion of the Overdrive interview with Daniel touching on other aspects of his two-truck, five trailer, one-man business via this Overdrive Radio podcast edition:
