Get FinancingCarli Trucking Of Puyallup, Washington, Adds 3 New Kenworth T880S Dump Trucks To Its Growing Fleet
By sticking with the Kenworth brand, Chelsy Looker has returned to her roots. The owner of Carli Trucking of Puyallup, Washington, worked as a flagger for her father’s business, Asphalt Patch Systems, when she was younger and was around Kenworth vocational trucks owned by her father and uncle (owner of Looker Asphalt) during that time. After a successful stint running a yoga and fitness studio, Chelsy returned to Asphalt Patch Systems as a driver before starting her own business in 2018.
“When I felt that I was ready to go off on my own, my dad set me up with Rick Barry, who is the new truck salesman for Papé Kenworth Northwest in Lakewood (Washington). My dad and uncle have worked with Rick since the ‘90s, so they knew he’d help me out,” says Looker. “I knew I wanted a Kenworth T880 equipped with an OSW Super Dump body. That was never in question – it’s the most productive dump truck out there and what many asphalt contractors are looking to hire. I wanted to start my company off on the right foot with the best equipment.”
Growing Business
Looker’s fledgling asphalt-hauling operation originally started with her solely working with her uncle’s company, but she soon found more clients and began hauling other aggregates as well, including rock, dirt, and other materials. Looker says the Kenworth T880 handles these loads well because they are compliant with bridge laws, allowing operators with super dump bodies to haul a maximum payload of around 25 tons (22.7 metric tons).
That’s why when Looker began expanding her business, she added three new Kenworth T880S outfitted with OSW Super Dump bodies to her fleet. Each of the trucks features a set-forward front axle, 510-horsepower (380-kilowatt) PACCAR MX-13 engine, and automatic Allison transmission. She estimates the trucks will cover roughly 45,000 miles (72,420 kilometers) each year.
Women In Trucking
Because there are so few women operating vocational vehicles, and especially dump trucks, Looker also feels pressure to prove herself. “The reality is, there aren’t many of us, but I’d like to see that change and I think that it eventually will. Because there are few women driving vocational trucks, let alone owning their own trucking business, I feel an added weight on my shoulders,” says Looker. “I think with the number of trucks we have now, we’re just getting started. A fleet of 10-15 total trucks is my goal and they will all be Kenworth T880S OSW dump trucks. That’s the winning combination for us, and it will continue to be.”
Source: Kenworth