As someone who struggled to keep their room clean as a teenager, the idea of maintaining a truck to impeccable standards is still a daunting idea.
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If the sheer size weren’t already a deterrent, the dirt and dust that comes from long hours on the road would be my deciding factor.
But for Ken Muller, keeping his 2019 Kenworth T909 spick and span is one of the things he loves most.
Used as a logging truck to haul wood to the paper mill, the rig spends a fair amount of time in the bush.
“Working for Richards Transport in Morwell, the Kenworth is working at least five days a week, usually Monday to Friday,” Ken told Deals on Wheels.
“It’s a really good gig, especially considering I usually get my weekends to myself,” he laughs.
Image: Ken Muller
Ken re-joined Richards Transport around two and a half years ago following a small hiatus. Upon returning, one of the first questions he asked management was which truck were they going to give him?
“As it was still pretty new at the time, and they knew I took exceptional care of my trucks, they didn’t hesitate to hand over the keys to the T909,” he says.
“The team there really appreciate someone who will look after their trucks and take pride in the presentation.”
After staking his claim on the rig, Ken jumped head-first into making some changes that would see the Kenworth shine.
“Every good-looking truck needs stainless,” Ken says. “So, I’ve just been putting stainless on the Kenworth from time to time.”
“All I have to do is ask the boss and he never says no to me,” he laughs.
A large part of adding stainless to any rig is ensuring that it is maintained to the highest standard, to prevent rust and ensure longevity.
“I take a lot of pride in polishing it up all the time. Especially when it comes to getting it ready for truck shows,” he says.
“I will usually pull it off the road around one o’clock on a Friday afternoon and I won’t be finished cleaning it up until 11 o’clock that night.
“It’s definitely a big effort.”
The hard work paid off for Ken recently, with the T909 taking home Best Log Truck at the Heyfield Timber Festival.
Despite coming home with a trophy under his arm, Ken says his favourite part of the shows is bringing his son along with him.
“He’s more than happy to wake up at 4am and hit the road to the next show, he just loves it,” he says. “There’s nothing better than that.”
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