A young, wide-eyed Lew Hayes often sat on the front passenger seat of his father’s dump truck as he delivered aggregate, sand and gravel to work sites throughout the Detroit area. “My father drove a 1938 Ford Model AA dump truck when he started this business,” Hayes said. “He had to crank it by hand to get the bed to dump.” Today, Lew’s late father might be amazed at the durability, payload capacity and driver comfort provided by the 13 Kenworth T800s operated by Hayes Trucking. Their viper red Kenworth T800s carry aggregate and dirt to and from commercial building and residential construction sites and major highway projects. “We started buying Kenworth T800s five years ago and found that they’ve been the best trucks for our company,” Hayes said. “Kenworth has done a very good job of spec’ing and building these trucks to handle the rigours of our operation. We’re particularly pleased with their reliability.” The aggregate hauler worked with its local Kenworth dealer to develop specifications for the T800s, which include a 475-hp engine and 13-speed manual transmission. “The higher horsepower and torque enable our trucks to get up to speed even with the heavy weight they haul,” Hayes added. “With the electronics in the engines, we can control each truck’s top speeds and rpms to help maintain good fuel economy.” The company’s Kenworth T800s feature a set-back front axle to provide optimum wheel cut for greater maneuverability and a shorter 167-inch wheelbase. Hayes said that driver comfort also is important a part for running T800s as the company’s drivers especially appreciate the Kenworth T800’s quiet cab, more leg room, and the state-of-the-art dash.
