Overdrive

42 | Overdrive | March 2017 Custom Rigs Zephyr Ad-2017.indd 1 2/7/17 9:12 PM Untitled-28 1 2/8/17 4:06 PM bought it in 1962 and kept it in Yucaipa. To Burg's knowledge, it remained mainly garage-kept. Once Burg drained and replaced the fuel and added new spark plugs, he "turned the crank on the front of the truck, and it started right up." The truck still has its original engine and driveline, wood floor, firewall and bed. It also still has its original oil gauge – a piece of glass on the dash that shows the fluid level – stock signal arm and mechanical brakes. When Burg ran the truck's num- ber in White's registry, he discovered most of the 1921 California-bound Whites ended up in the San Fran- cisco area to either help build city bridges or be used by bakeries as de- livery trucks. White Motor Co. was in business from 1900 until 1980, when it closed its doors. Burg, owner of Bald Eagle Mov- ers in Fallbrook, Calif., plans to use the truck in his business for smaller moves around town. "I want to get it out there and let people see it," he says. He also plans to take the truck to some shows, including the Ameri- can Truck Historical Society's May 4-7 event in Perris, Calif. Unfortunately, Burg doesn't know how many miles the truck has on it because the cable linking the speed- ometer to the front wheel was broken when he bought it. "They designed their trucks to last a long time and to be cheap to oper- ate," he says. "I can already tell this one is that way. It's a simple truck." White trucks in the 1920s were made with leather fan belts, which now are extremely rare, Burg says. When he bought the truck, the belt had deteriorated after sitting for seven years, and he ordered a new leather one from Germany. The wooden steering wheel, wood flooring and firewall are original.

• Cover
• Readers: Behind-the-wheel training minimum critical.
• Pulse: FMCSA backpedals on safety proposal.
• The ELD mandate and the “House Freedom Caucus.”
• Dry bulk for the long haul.
• “Build the wall”: Majority favors Trump plan.
• Lawsuit opposes Trump order to reduce regs.
• Industry united against safety rating change.
• Court to review border policy.
• C.R. England plans to appeal fraud ruling.
• Lag growing between CDL training, skills test.
• Big-rig race series returns in new format.
• Rare 96-year-old White 5-ton finds new home.
• Reader Rigs: ’07 W900L an ice cream truck; ’14 389 a “Green Monster”; ’09 W900L a million-miler.
• BUSINESS: Make the most of your tax deductions.
• Gear Guide: Trailer brake drum, wheels, clutches, more.
• FLEET NEWS: Averitt expands in Northeast, hiring drivers.
• 5 APPS FOR THAT: Matching book lovers with recordings.
• RESPECT THE DINOSAURS: Diverse drivers united for a common goal is what it’s all about, Wendy Parker writes. Page 8.
• COVER STORY: Sleight of truck | Imagine arriving at a gate and presenting papers to pick up a load. The man in the guard shack looks confused and says you’ve already been there and that the load is gone. Heists involving false identity and other fraud ar
• Dodging the middleman: While no one service will be “Uber for all” in the fragmented brokerage market, on-demand load-matching services are seeing some success at circumventing traditional brokers and promising gains for owner-operators in rates, freight
• $25,000 awaits top owner-operator: Three owner-operators – Gary Buchs, Philip Keith and Kevin Kocmich – are finalists for the 2016 Owner-Operator of the Year award, produced by the Truckload Carriers Association and Overdrive.
• Maintaining your wheels: A pre-trip inspection for cracks and rust is usually sufficient for maintenance of aluminum and steel wheels. A few other best practices, though, can almost ensure that wheels last as long as your truck.