Mafia Secrets July 2020

You may ask – what the heck kind of headline for a magazine article is that? Well, this super cool and very unique KW was one of only two rigs that tied for the longest running title as Thursday Truck of the Week as voted on in our Facebook poll by the fans at 4 State Trucks. The rig was No. 1 for 16 weeks.

It comes as no surprise to those of us that know the boys at Equipment Express in Caldwell, Texas. Their mission statement, “service with style,” says it all. Each and every one of the many trucks and trailers in owner Truett Novosad’s fleet catch attention immediately because of the edgy modifications and paint designs, and the tasteful accessorizing touches. In nearly every instance, the trailers are as meticulously maintained as his “working” show trucks.

In the heart of the Texas oilfield industry, Equipment Express specializes in heavy hauling of construction, pipeline, drilling and oilfield equipment.

Over the years they have diversified greatly with the boom and the contraction of the oilfield highs and lows. Today they operate 13 units and even have a cattle trailer in the fleet. Truett covers 48 states but likes to focus on serving customers in the central and lower Midwest parts of the USA.

Like all of us, though, when the rate is right he is apt to load a truck for Florida, Wyoming, Virginia or any point in between.

The striking Kenworth W900L in this feature is a 2010 model sporting a whopping 311-inch wheelbase with a 72-inch sliding fifth wheel and a pusher axle to handle the super loads. All this is on top of a 20,000 pound steer axle, 52,000 pound drive axles, double frame rails, a 600 hp ISX Cummins engine with an 18-speed main transmission and four-speed auxiliary transmission. Wow, I’m out of breath just spitting all that out!

As you can tell, the truck was special ordered to be nearly bulletproof right from the factory. After rigging up a long line of Peterbilts, Truett and his crew were eager to get ahold of a KW.

Truett Novosad’s 2010 Kenworth W900L sports a whopping 311-inch wheelbase with a 72-inch sliding fifth wheel and a pusher axle to handle the super loads.

Several friends and associates helped pull the project together. Canadian Jim Higgins provided the incredibly appealing paint design. Truett’s longtime friend Jake Lindamood from Irving, Texas, jumped in with his shop team and applied the paint job and totally refinished it to factory frame paint.

The Luxo Blue primary color, along with the silver metallic stripes and frame color – all clear-coated, mind you – came out looking stellar. By enlisting Lindamood’s help to do the paint and much of the final assembly, it allowed Novosad to display the truck at SuperRigs 2010. No luck gaining a calendar spot in the 2011 calendar, so Truett spent the next three to four months finishing the truck exactly the way he always wanted.

Cool thing is, 150,000 miles later, when his longtime driver and friend Randy Supak entered the truck in the 2011 SuperRigs show on behalf of Equipment Express, the three-axle W900L was selected for the upcoming calendar in 2012.

Bam, success at last.

You can quickly see the long list of upgrades done to the truck. Just to name a few, 8-inch dummy stacks with a weed-burner exhaust setup, WTI rear fenders, tons of custom metal fabrication, the VIT interior package, painted tanks-visor-and cab/sleeper panels, a stainless steel louvered grille, Bullet cab lights and an American Eagle front bumper are just the start of the “laundry list” of custom upgrades. Truett equips his trucks to work. They are indeed show trucks and are a big part of the company’s image, but they work first and “show” when the work is done.

For words of advice to a start-up owner-operator, Novosad says, “Your word needs to be golden. Do what you say you’re going to do, and strive to provide the very best customer service of your abilities. These two things will carry you further in trucking than rates, scheduling or anything else.”

Truett is a longtime friend and customer here at our shop. We have had many laughs, as well as a few difficult conversations over the decades. One thing I am confident of is that with his genuineness, integrity, resolve, work ethic, and solid reputation, Equipment Express isn’t done growing yet. LL

Can’t get enough Mafia Secrets? Check out last edition’s column here.