Sleek and stylish head turner
Joe Williams pilots this magnificent Kenworth T909.
Article first published October 2018
Main Line Distribution’s latest addition to its fleet is this outstanding Kenworth T909. The big sleeper equipped KW was built to make a statement, and make a statement it certainly does. Driver, Joe Williams, says that when they were building the truck, the goal was to achieve a clean, tough look. Well Joe, mission accomplished! Simon Vincent caught up with Joe loading the bold Kenworth out of Timaru recently.
The Chapman family has a reputation around the trucking scene for making their gear “look different but making it look cool at the same time”, says Kenworth T909 driver Joe Williams. This tradition has been passed down from father John, to his son Brenhan. Brenhan “BJ” and wife Susanna operate their business under the Main Line Distribution banner out of the family pack house near Matamata in the Waikato.
Loading out spuds for the next destination.
With over 20 years’ experience in agriculture, exporting, business management, and transportation industries in the United States and New Zealand the couple has all the necessary credentials to make a success of their fledgling trucking operation.
Main Line Distribution is a bespoke transport and logistics provider offering clients in the FMCG, produce, and complementary industries freight services both within and inter island.
A stunning Kenworth T909 kitted out with an integrated 36” Aerodyne sleeper box.
The growing fleet is 50MAX rated with high cubic capacity curtainsider bodies.
In fact, the company name Main Line Distribution, was inspired by the initials of Brenhan’s three sons Micah, Logan and Damon.
The flagship for the new operation, and BJ’s first brand new truck is a stunning Kenworth T909 kitted out with an integrated 36” Aerodyne sleeper box.
Arriving on these shores, factory fresh and nearly ready for work, the team at Main Line/Chapmans set about customising the big rig into a head turning, moving billboard for the company. As Joe pointed out, the whole reasoning behind the truck was to give it a look that was different from everyone else.
In house engineer, Richard Wastney set up the truck once it arrived.
In house engineer, Richard Wastney was given the responsibility of ensuring that the T909 was one of a kind. It is very much thanks to his metal working skills that the Kenworth is unrivalled on the road.
It is Richard’s hard work under direction from BJ and Joe which makes this Kenworth stand out from the crowd. Richard constructed new sleeper skirts, turned the fuel tanks around so that the integrated steps are unseen, removed the steps from the fuel tank straps and then filled the straps with stainless steel overlays to cover the holes. He also created the slick stainless steel fuel tank skirts which also cover the lower fuel tank brackets.
Because almost everyone has a stainless plate and mud flaps they wanted to do something different, so the one off under bumper skirt has been finished in black. Some of the classiest items are the one off fabricated and painted mudguard mounts and the fabricated rear bumper which has been constructed to match the rear bumpers on the Roadmaster B-Train.
The trailer air and electric lines are all run between the truck’s rear bumper and the bottom of the trailer gooseneck. The same has been done between the two trailers.
The sunvisor has been modified to give a much stancher look.
The sunvisor was removed, the brackets modified and remounted much closer to the windscreen which gives it “that tougher look” according to Joe.
More mundane tasks included removing the grab handles from the sleeper box (which were no longer needed with no steps to it), the addition of 7” straight pipes and polished Vortex air cleaners in place of the painted factory units.
The four step cab entry is a factory built option when fuel tanks haven’t been ordered in the front mounted position. This ladder arrangement is certainly very easy to negotiate with nice short comfortable gaps between the steps.
Nestled in the left hand main tool box is a Brolube central greasing system which has been tucked in behind the batteries.
No polishing Alcoa Dura-Bright alloy wheels finish off the package.
Polished alloy rims might set off the truck but check out the smooth engineering work.
The tool boxes under the doors are still awaiting Richard’s magic with plans afoot to modify and clean them up so that there are no exposed catches. Sliding drawers with oversized fronts are looking like the answer. The enlarged front is expected to further conceal the gap under the cab.
The truck’s LED headlights came ex-factory. It also has only the minimum of marker and additional lighting. Apart from the standard indicators, there is only the normal array of five roof mounted marker lights and no external air horns at all.
The only chromed up additions to the chassis are nut covers over the turntable bolts. The effect of this is subtle yet striking.
The big red Cummins ISX EGR offers up 615hp.
Sitting between the chassis rails at the front is a Cummins ISX EGR 615hp hooked up to an Eaton Roadranger RTLO-20918B 18 speed manual transmission. The rear axles are venerable Meritor RT-46-160 which are supported by PACCAR’s own Airglide 400 eight air bag suspension.
Brenhan praised the assistance and supported he had received from Southpac Trucks Salesman Adam Mcintosh. He says Adam was “very instrumental in this project”, as he oversaw everything from the chassis layout, steps, tanks and wheelbase to ensure the mechanical specification was perfect. He says it was a time-consuming process to get right, but the results now speak for themselves.
“To have a completely symmetrical chassis layout was important,” Brenhan said.
With a six axle Roadmaster B-Train behind, the whole unit looks stunning in the late afternoon sun.
The new T909 is hooked up to the very latest light weight 34 pallet six axle Roadmaster B-Train. Brenhan admits that John and Hayden Lilley were a huge help getting the trailers exactly the way he wanted them. The attention to detail and light tare weight has really impressed him.
These trailers are constructed of high tensile steel which reduces weight without sacrificing strength. This material has proved its mettle, having been used in tipping and logging operations for nearly 20 years.
The trailers are maximum height to deliver optimal cubic capacity. They finished to a high standard with very stylish light bars and concealed mudguard supports.
Inside they have been fitted with LED strip lighting up behind the roof pelmets which offer very good illumination for night loading. The light bars and rear wall have multi-colour LEDs fitted which turn from red to orange for turning and from red to white for reversing.
It was decided not to add mezzanine floors as Joe says they are not practical for their type of work and would only increase the unladen weight.
Impressively, the sleeper equipped Kenworth (driver and fuel included), is still delivering a healthy 30 tonne plus payload under the 50MAX regime.
Step aside, a Kenworth is coming through.
The stunning paint scheme makes the rig a real stand out machine. The Kenworth was delivered to Main Line with a red cab and a black chassis. The decision was taken early on that a red chassis might look better, especially when the bold striping was added. The truck was sent off to Fleet Image of Te Awamutu where the chassis was repainted. At the same time, Fleet Image painted on the complete stripe package which had been laid out and masked on the truck by Darryn Caulfield from Caulfield Signs in Rotorua. The next challenge was matching up the stripes on the truck to the curtains on the trailer which was done by Truck Signs.
Joe is certainly smitten with his new ride. “It’s a cool truck to drive, a bit of a head turner,” he says.
“It’s one of those ones you always wanted (to drive) as a kid, you never think you’re going to get something like that,” Joe says.
He also rates the truck’s ride, saying it’s beautiful, especially with the cab suspension mounted at the rear of the sleeper box. He also gets to ride in luxury with an ISRI Big Boy driver’s seat.
Joe says the integrated 36” sleeper increases leg room, something he appreciates having previously driven a T904 for a previous employer. Kenworth have “definitely come a long way from that”, he noted.
The inner sprung mattress is quite good too he reckons, delivering a “good night’s sleep” which is most appreciated as this is his home away from home.
The only addition to the interior is a very handy fridge. The rest is classic standard Kenworth fare finished in the popular “Ox Blood” deep buttoned vinyl interior, ergonomically designed wrap around dash and functional “Smart Wheel”.
Joe also rates the trailers, saying they’re “magic”.
For the past three years, Joe has enjoyed working for BJ. Before the new T909 arrived, he had been pedalling a bright red Kenworth K104 Aerodyne around.
Joe says he enjoys working in a small company where there is an “old school” feel and everyone just gets on with everyone else. Not being treated like a number is important. He also enjoys being surrounded by gifted people, singling out Richard Wastney as one of those talented and gifted individuals he works with.
With a Blood Red interior and ISRI “Big Boy” seats there are few nicer places to work.
Joe reckons “it’s a cool place to work”.
Joe and BJ weren’t strangers, they had known each other for years Joe says, his in-laws having leased a block to the Chapmans previously.
Joe came to Chapmans having spent time at J Swap Contractors and the Inghams.
He says that driver vetting is quite rigorous. The Chapmans want to know that the drivers they employ will look after and respect their gear.
Joe also admitted that working for Chapmans isn’t your standard driving job. Drivers are expected to undertake much of the routine servicing of the trucks, from dropping and changing oils to greasing the units. He says that for those who have never done this before plenty of assistance is available. “If you don’t know, you just have to ask.”
Fortunately, Joe has the benefit of having an automatic greasing system fitted. This means only greasing six grease nipples in three locations – the clutch linkage, steering knuckle and turntable on the B-Train.
The central greasing system has been cleverly tucked away inside the battery compartment.
By having the drivers learn all about their trucks, there is a better likelihood that the drivers will not only keep an eye on the truck but also pick up on potential issues before they arise. The added responsibility also enhances driver knowledge and esteem.
All that aside, keeping the big Kenworth in showroom condition is no small task. Joe says it took him 8.75 hours to wash the unit end to end recently. He is lucky that there aren’t nine axles of rims that need polishing which leaves only the stacks, air cleaners, fuel tanks and bumper needing a quick tickle up.
Main Line Distribution’s latest addition, the bold red Kenworth is likely to keep turning heads as it travels around the country making deliveries. Not only does it look good, the numbers behind it also stack up with ample payload capacity and volume to carry plenty of paying payload.
Looking around the T909 the attention to detail can be seen everywhere, the resulting finish is exquisite. It is a real credit to its owner and driver and looks set to be stealing the scene for many years to come.
Photos: Simon Vincent and Danny Bradley.