GENERATIONS DEEP

EMMONS & SONS LLC.

EMMONS & SONS TRUCKING

Most of y’all know that once trucking is in your blood, it never leaves. This definitely holds true for Don Emmons of Donnie Emmons & Sons out of Chesterfield, IL. Don is the second generation in his family to be involved in the trucking industry with the third generation of his three sons not far behind. For some, a restoration project doesn’t take long, but for others, like Don, it is doing little by little and giving the truck a unique look with satisfaction in the work upon completion. At that point, you know the truck is exactly the way you want it.

Don’s father drove truck all of his life until he retired and since birth, Don knew he’d be behind the wheel of a truck one day. After high school, he enlisted in the Army and when his time was up in 1990, he started doing what he always knew he’d be doing…driving a truck. However, still being in the Army Reserves, 6 months out of active duty, he received a Western Union letter and was shipped overseas in Desert Storm for 8 or 9 months. But after that tour, he was driving again and never looked back since.

Folks, it didn’t take many years before Don found the truck he wanted, a 1999 Peterbilt 379. Don purchased the truck used in 2001 with 115,000 miles already on it. So began the process of making this truck what you see today. In 2014, the truck went to Quality Truck Sales in Springfield, MO to have it repainted from the original black and red to the black and white you see in the photos. In March of 2017, the truck went to White Trash Customs in Fredericktown, MO for a complete custom interior. Y’all need to take a look at the interior because it is both classy and tastefully done, colored to match the exterior. Make sure to check out the details of the exterior as well with all of the stainless including the bumper and stainless panels from 4 State Trucks, 6” Lincoln Chrome stacks with Pickett Elbows, Flex Air suspension, fenders and T bar from Bad Ass Custom Truck Parts and 15” steel air cleaners from Quality Truck Sales.

Pushing this 315” wheelbase workhorse down the road is a 500 Detroit under the hood, backed by 3:55 rears and a 10 speed Eaton Fuller transmission. You’ll find this truck, as well as their other 3 trucks, pulling a refrigerated trailer hauling meat out of West Texas. Don is the only one that drives this truck other than a few runs taken by his father. With their operation very busy, Don finds himself on a split between being behind a desk and behind a wheel. The brains behind the Emmons & Sons operation is Don’s wife Jody who is in the office making sure everything is organized and running smoothly.

So, what about that third generation? Don and Jody’s three sons not only possess the inherited work ethic, they are just as truck crazy as Don is with each of them having a restoration project underway. The oldest, Brandon, is 23 years old and coming upon completion of his 1972 Peterbilt 352 cabover. Next in line is 19 year old Nate with his 1980 Freightliner FLC, followed by 16 year old Tyler with his 1994 Kenworth Aerodyne cabover,

Y’all keep your eyes peeled for this beauty of a truck in the midwest. She was caught attending the 2018 ATHS Truck Show in Lexington, KY and you may just see her at the 2018 Guilty by Association Truck Show in Joplin September 27-29. Definitely full of Peterbilt class, this truck is definitely one to turn heads.