Muck Boots 'n' Slickers - Life of a Livestock Hauler

Not many have a truck fast enough to need one

 

I knew that. Had one just like it when they first came out. The time between LE radar deployment and the development of "other electronic detection devices" really was nerve wracking.

MS started with a box on a pipe pole roadside, cable run back to whatever concealment of the car. Catch man down the road at the next wide place.

NC in 54 had the "Whammy's". Cables across the road to time and cable to the concealed car. Cotton haulers delight, coming home with empty flatbeds, good steady tain, see one in time to slow, then snap the hand valve down and up as the tandem came across the cable. Snatch up the thing.

In say 56/57, on IL 47, in the city of Morris, Il, going downhill , thru the 25 MPH speed limit area, they had one. In front of the city hall,(2 lane jammed up storefronts) and in nice weather the "man" sat in a lawn chair on the sidewalk to monitor it. You zip by unknowingly, down and across the river and up to the "Owl" Truck stop, at 6 junction, the "other man" would greet your arrival. I raked him several tainy nights with an empty tandem cattle trailer headed to Waukesha.

 

On TX 34?, coming thru Enis, TX ,in my van, daughter driving, crossed I45 into area, 34 zigged left, went about 4 blocks and zagged back right.
Fuzz buster squawked loud steady. She eased are we past a 20 MPH sign and saw that 34 veered off left at an angle. Trap was, he was sitting 100 ' up the street past the 34 split off shooting down the 2 blocks. You were expecting to pick up after you had turned and could see 34 going on off.
Think the 20 MPH sign was portable for that days use.

 

I know exactly what you mean about missing living in the panhandle. I miss it every single day.

I've probably seen your truck before back when I was a youngin' living in Briscoe Co.

 

Picture of a picture, but this was my truck, and the last trailer I had when I lived out there.
This was parked along 1424.
2002 Western Star, N-14 Celect Plus, 18 speed, 3.58 rears on AirLiner, 245” wheelbase, 34” bunk.
2012 Western walking floor. 45’x102”x74” sidewalls. Rear lift, air electric and hydraulic lines underneath. 89 lights on the trailer. That was the second walking floor that Western built with the Keith Running Floor 2. The floor was 400 lbs lighter than the original Running Floor. Subframe, axles, and lock rods painted to match the blue on the truck.
That trailer weighed 10,940 lbs.
Super singles on the whole rig.
I could get under 28,000 lbs empty weight if I watched my fuel.
I legaled 56,000 lbs out of the ADM facility at Summerfield Tx several times (with an 84,000 lb permit).

 

I’ve always wanted to own a Star car, just wasn’t ever in the right place at the right time. Idk what’s on my mind but I’ve been looking at walking floors lately.

 

That was my first truck, and I still have a soft spot for a Star.

 

<---- So do I !

 

That's a good-lookin' rig.

 

Update:

Had. It had a clearance of 16'5" (not 16.5 feet), but the bridge has started to buckle. Ol' boy boogered it up pretty good!


Bridge buckled after impact from crane-hauling semi truck



So I reckon traffic will be diverted to the access rd until further notice. To get around it you can take US 87 south from TX 86 in Tulia (exit 74) and it'll put you back on the interstate just south of Kress.