Driver Lifestyles
Two New Expediter Rides
By Jeff Jensen, Editor
Jan 19, 2004, 17:17

Carroll and Dora Bean - FedEx Custom Critical White Glove Division

The Beans are celebrating ten years in the expediting business and they recently treated themselves to a new ride.

Carroll says, "We put over 600,000 miles each on our last two expediting trucks (FL70's) and I wanted to go to a Class 8 platform with this one.  I opted to go with the classic truck look on this one with the twin chrome stacks, twin outside stainless steel breathers and the flat Texas bumper. The truck isn't as aerodynamic as some, but that's the look I like."

"If you can't walk away from the truck, turn around and like what you see, you're not going to be happy with it."
    
The Truck

• 2003 Western Star
• CAT C-12, 430HP - Over 8 MPG
• Eaton Fuller 13-speed
• Morgan 22 foot cargo box
• 74 clearance/marker LED's
• Older style Grover air horns
• Waltco 4000 lb. lift gate with the largest deck platform available
• Tandem Rear Axles - The truck is registered at 47,000 lbs. GVW
• Twin 95 Gallon Fuel Tanks
• Six Pro-Tech side boxes of various sizes
• Dealer - Buckeye Western Star

"I've always liked Western Stars, but I felt the cabs were too narrow, like the Pete's and the Kenworth's.  Now, they've widened the cab and there's a lot more room."

"I set this truck up as a tractor - it's got everything but the fifth wheel."  I chose the twin screw setup for this truck not only for its functionality, but because it will also enhance it's resale value."

The truck features a 72" Western Star integral sleeper with single bunk.
It includes the "Constellation" package with cupboards and closets that provide a great deal of storage space, says Carroll.

"This truck also has the Arctic package with double insulation," Carroll tells us. "It really keeps the heat in - Dora and I have been comfortable in thirty-something degree temperatures without idling.  The insulation really quiets the truck as well."

Even though this is an integral sleeper, it can be removed to make a day cab out of the truck, and it can be used as a vocational truck.  That helps expand the resale ability of the truck.

Carroll says that Dora is sold on this new truck:  "When we first picked up the truck, we headed back home with the Western Star and our Freightliner that we drove to the dealer.  When we got to our first fuel stop, Dora said she wanted to try the new truck."

"Well, despite the fact that she had never driven a 13-speed, she wound up driving that truck all the way back home to Vermont.  We were on a secondary road in New York when she keyed up the CB and told me, "I can't find one thing that I dislike about this truck."

"That's one of the best things I've ever heard."

Jim and Beth Mitchell of Haverhill, OH are leased with FedEx Custom Critical.  They're starting off 2004 with a brand new truck purchased from Freightliner of Knoxville.
  
*2004 Express 960 Cruiser
Sterling Acterra with 96" Bentz sleeper - A collaborative effort of the Knoxville dealership and sleeper manufacturer Bentz Transport Products of Ft. Wayne, IN, this 33,000 GVW truck was introduced at the 2003 Expedite Expo.

**Mercedes-Benz MBE900 Series 6.4 liter/280HP engine

• Allison 6-speed automatic
• 22 foot Hercules cargo box
• Cab and sleeper are air-ride equipped
• Tilt wheel, power windows and door locks
• TV, DVD, fridge, full-size single bunk

Jim and Beth have been in the expediting business for just about 3 years. Their first truck was an FL70

"We had a Bentz Transport Products sleeper on the last truck," says Jim, "and we've met Keith Bentz at a couple of truck shows.  We saw a picture of the 96" condo Bentz sleeper and liked the looks of it, so I called Keith." 

"He told me that they were building these for Freightliner of Knoxville.  We went down to Knoxville, met Jon Mosier and took a test drive.  We went back in about a week and picked up the truck."

"The truck is great!"