Overdrive

42 | Overdrive | February 2018 CUSTOM RIGS B randon Avant spent a lot of time with this 2010 Peterbilt 389 during the two years it took to turn the rig into a championship-contending show truck. That's why his wife, Melissa, gave the truck its nick- name: "The Mistress." The rig was on display at Taking a dazzling 'Mistress' to the ball The truck features an Acert Cat with a PDI single turbo that's painted red and black to match the rest of the rig. Brandon Avant's 2010 Peterbilt 389 doesn't work full-time, but when it is on the road, it pulls an end dump or a flatbed. the Great American Trucking Show Pride & Polish last August in Dallas, where it earned Best of Show runner-up honors in the Limited Mileage Bobtail category. Everything on the truck from front to back and top to bottom has been taken off , changed and customized in one way or an- other. The truck's color, "Coke Red," is original, but Thunder Grafi x in Joplin, Missouri, took care of the striping work. Avant is the owner of 80-truck fl eet Blann Tractor of Hampton, Arkansas, where he's also a driver. BY MATT COLE At youtube.com/OverdriveMag, visit the Custom Rigs playlist to see more on Avant's truck. The truck's interior was done by 4 State Trucks of Joplin, Missouri. It features custom "Coke Red" dash panels, a red shifter knob, a black and red steering wheel and seats and more.

• Cover
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• Pulse: Tax reform yields owner-operator tax cut.
• Wendy Parker wants some things to go away in 2018.
• TRUCKING LEADER’S LEGACY | Readers pay tribute to Jim Johnston, left, OOIDA’s president, CEO and founding member, who died last month at 78.
• “Wes Memphis” gets past paper logs’ phantom limb.
• Two drivers persist in PSP report challenge.
• Swift IT worker pleads guilty to theft.
• “Highway Justice” pair tackles human trafficking.
• Fleet to pay driver $54,000 to settle lawsuit.
• Business: Expanded bonus depreciation Under the tax overhaul enacted in late December, owner-operators will be able to claim bonus depreciation on purchases of used trucks and trailers. Prior tax law allowed bonus depreciation only for new equipment purc
• ELD mandate meets reality Questions swirl as e-logging magnifies problems with strict hours enforcement. Uniform answers are harder to come by.
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• $25,000 awaits top owner-operator Philip Keith, Kevin Kocmich and Bryan Smith are finalists for the 2017 Owner-Operator of the Year award, produced by the Truckload Carriers Association and Overdrive.
• Equipment Spotlight: Coolants Learn about formulations and specifications for a wide variety of cooling system products from 13 manufacturers.
• Cabover still a work in progress.
• Trucker’s antique W9 restoration project.
• “Mistress” demands owner’s downtime.
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