Get FinancingKenworth Delivers First W990 Trucks To Long-Time Customers
Kenworth recently revealed its new W990 long-hood truck at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway in late-September, and the company delivered the first handful of vehicles to eager customers at the same event. Each of the customers has deep ties with the Kenworth brand and are owners of W900 models as well.
Fleenor Bros.
Fleenor Bros., based in Jasper Country, Missouri, was one of the first customers to receive a Kenworth W990, along with Oculus Transport (based in Calgary, Alberta, Canada) and Taylor Transport (based in Bartow County, Georgia, outside of Atlanta). Kyle Cousins, vice president of operations for Fleenor Bros., says the company has used long-hood models in the past to attract new drivers to the company and points out that the first truck his father owned and operated when he founded the company in 1986 was a W9 model.
“Today, we run all Kenworths—50 tractors with about a third being aero models, and the rest W900Ls,” adds Cousins. “We have a 1990 Limited Edition James Bond 007 tractor, plus the first and last ICON 900s produced a few years back. The W990 we spec’d out will be a great addition to our fleet. It’s spec’d to the nines, including the limited edition interior package.”
Oculus Transport
Oculus has operated long-hood trucks since its founding in 2011. The company opted for a new Kenworth W990 with a 510-horsepower PACCAR MX-13 engine and an 18-speed Eaton UltraShift transmission. It joins the company’s fleet of 90 trucks.
“We stand out with our long hoods and bright orange paint scheme,” says Cory Heck, vice president of assets and equipment at Oculus. “We stick to our roots, and have pride in ownership. Image is so important to us and the Kenworth W900L, and now W990, support that image perfectly. I know that our equipment helps with driver retention, and we’ve seen our drivers turn up their nose at offers from other companies with lesser equipment. That really tells you something.”
Taylor Transport
Taylor Transport has a fleet of 230 trucks in a variety of configurations, including flatbeds, vans, and a dump truck. The company currently runs Kenworth T680 and T880 trucks and several W900S models, 16 of which are ICON models. Looks are important to Taylor, and it sometimes takes it vehicles to truck beauty shows, but the company took that further when it decided to buy a new W990 before even seeing it person.
“We’ve molded our company around our equipment and dedication to service. We don’t have a sales department—our sales come directly from our reputation, our drivers, and our equipment,” says Ricky Cole, owner of Taylor Transport. “We liked the styling and looks—it could be the truck of our future. You have to change with the times and the W990 gives us the look of the past, coupled with better aerodynamics and comfort thanks to the new cab and sleeper interior. We’re looking forward to putting the truck to work.”
Source: Kenworth
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