When the Kenworth W990 was unveiled in Las Vegas last fall, it didn’t take long for Larry Martin to jump at the chance of owning Kenworth’s new long hood with its traditional design. His reasoning behind purchasing a W990 went far beyond the appearance of the truck. As an owner-operator, Martin says he needed a high-performing and reliable truck to keep maintenance costs low and minimize downtime. Many of the deliveries Martin completes are time-sensitive, so it’s crucial for him to operate dependable equipment.
“This was the truck I had been waiting for,” says Martin. “Before I purchased my first Kenworth, I spent a lot of time researching engines, which led me to the PACCAR MX-13. That was time well spent. I’ve been so impressed with its reliability and performance. For my next truck, I knew I wanted a new, modern long hood that featured the PACCAR MX-13 engine. When the W990 was released last year, I knew that was the truck for me.”
Martin’s new W990 with 76-inch sleeper features the PACCAR MX-13 engine rated at 455 hp and the PACCAR 12-speed automated transmission. Since taking delivery of the truck in May, Martin personalized his W990 by adding panel lights under the cab and sleeper, and stripes to the fuel tanks. He expects he will put on 130,000 miles in his first year of operating his new truck. On average, Martin will spend three weeks at a time on the road, before returning home to Montrose, Colorado for a break.
OTR performance and comfort
With more than 2.5 million miles logged over the course of his career, Martin delivers machinery, robotics, glass and other industrial equipment to all 48 continental states. He is on contract with Long Haul Trucking, based out of Albertville, Minnesota.
“The W990 has exceeded my expectations. This is easily the best truck I’ve ever driven. The PACCAR MX-13 engine is performing flawlessly,” says Martin. “The W990’s ride is incredibly smooth. I frequently travel through a section of highway in Pennsylvania that is probably the roughest stretch of road I’ve driven. It’s typically uncomfortable, but the W990 passes through with ease. I’ve never been more comfortable in a truck.”
Over the course of his career, Martin has driven a lot of trucks. “I’ve never been tied to one make, but that all changed with my first Kenworth truck purchase,” he says. “It was a combination of a quality truck backed by great service. MHC Kenworth – Grand Junction has been my go-to dealer for five years now, and they provide me with top-of-the-line service. I’m just a single truck operator, but it seems like they go out of their way to get me back on the road with minimal downtime. MHC hands down consistently gives me the best service I’ve received in my career. If there is an update, or fix that needs to be made, MHC will take care of it when it’s most convenient for my schedule, and well before a potential problem occurs. In this industry, minimizing downtime is essential, and MHC Kenworth without a doubt helps keep my Kenworth on the road, and out of the shop.”
Life on the road has never been better, Martin says, and he has no plans of calling it a career anytime soon. “I don’t view truck driving as just a career, it’s my hobby. I’ve been driving for a long time — 29 years — and I will continue to keep putting on miles. Who knows when my time is up on the road, but one thing is for certain, as long as I’m on the road, I’ll be driving a Kenworth.”
