Western Distributingrepresentatives visited the Kenworth Chillicothe plant in Ohio to take delivery of the very first production Kenworth W990 in February. “We run a fleet of 200 trucks, and all but 10 percent of those trucks are long-hoods,” says Marty Garcia, Western Distributing vice president. “Our drivers appreciate trucks with that traditional look. I believe that has played a major role in keeping our driver retention high.”

For Tom Bogle, who has driven for Western Distributing for nearly 24 years, the W990 sleeper unit provides plenty of room for his 6-foot-6 frame. “I couldn’t believe how much room there is in the W990’s cab and sleeper,” says Bogle. “You’d be surprised how much space there is in a 76-inch sleeper when it is designed right. I’m really happy with it.” The six Kenworth W990s – five equipped with 76-inch sleepers and one day cab – purchased by Western Distributing from MHC Kenworth – Denver, operate in the refrigerated division and are driven by the company’s longest tenured drivers. Western Distributing specified its W990s with the PACCAR MX-13 engine rated at 510 hp and 18-speed transmissions. According to Garcia, the reliability and power of the PACCAR MX-13 engine played a major role in the company’s decision to add the W990 to its fleet. “Our refrigerated division operates predominately in the Western states, so our drivers constantly travel over mountain passes and rugged terrain. We needed an engine known to be reliable, coupled with the power required to traverse steep grades. The PACCAR MX-13 meets those requirements,” says Garcia.