July/August 2023 Truck of the Month: Jay Palachuk
Back in 1981, Jay Palachuk began driving a KW W-900A for Pacific Midwestern Express, after his sister’s boyfriend taught him how to shift gears and drive semis! After 6 months, PME
offered Jay a position driving a company truck and he wound up purchasing his first truck in 1983, a used ’79 KW W-900A. He purchased several other trucks throughout the years, including the stunning ’96 Kenworth W-900 that you see in our photos, that he took ownership of in 1999. He’s owned it ever since and in his own words it’s basically “an original truck”. The truck was ordered by Dwane Krenevich in 1995, and it was delivered to Vancouver, British Columbia where it was PDI’d. Jay says that Dwane flew out to Vancouver with Dean Willerton, the salesman from Kenworth, and they drove the truck back to Winnipeg, Manitoba. The truck sat in Dwane’s shop for 4 years, and he only drove it ocassionally to golf tournaments that were hosted by Kitchen Craft Cabinetry. Jay says he was lucky enough to purchase the truck in 1999 from Dwane and it only had 1,500 miles on it at the time! Jay had been hauling cabinets form Winnipeg to Florida, on a dedicated run twice each month, and he’s still hauling them today for Decor Cabinets Ltd. with his “original” ’96 K-Dub. Jay says the truck still has the original 60″ Aero 1 sleeper and the 285″ factory wheelbase remains untouched. Jay has added extra grille bars and painted full fenders over the rears and he pulls a stainless spread Great Dane van with a fully polished front, painted rails, and lots of “chicken lights”! The truck has a 3:21 gear ratio on Rockwell rear ends, along with a Rockwell drop axle. Power comes from a 3406E Caterpillar and Jay shifts the 18 speeds with ease after after 40+ years of trucking! The “less is more” look definitely works on this “96 KW, and Jay Palachuk takes a great deal of pride in keeping her shining all season long!
