Working Show Truck Of The Month - Amy Meissner McGrath
Today's trucking industry, like so many other sectors of the job market, has seen an increase in the amount of women choosing to drive trucks as a career path. Amy Meissner McGrath is living proof that little girls can grow up to be anything they want, and be successful in whatever career path they choose to take. Trucking was a choice that Amy made thanks to the influence of her grandfather Carl. He drove trucks for 46 years and retired back in 1993. His favorite trip was hauling paper to and from Wisconsin for Irving Paper. Now 87 he's enjoying his retirement and attending various local truck shows with his classic 1966 Brockway. Amy has certainly followed in her grandfather's footsteps - she drives a 2000 Western Star Heritage Edition for Lockwood Construction Services.
She pulls a variety of company trailers including a 2015 Fontaine "Extreme", a 2011 East dump trailer, and an East live floor as well. Amy delivers such things as granite, lumber, dirt, gravel, mulch, and pipe. Her Western Star has over 1 million miles on it but she keeps it looking show ready every time it leaves the company yard. Power comes from a 650 CAT engine that's paired with a set of 4:10 gears and 46,000 lb rears.
The truck is painted a unique pale green and goes with the "less is more" custom approach. The tanks are painted to match the cab with polished straps. The truck also features a painted visor, stainless half fenders, and a custom bumper. Amy said that her most memorable experience since she started her trucking career was this past June, when she delivered a load of playground chips to a local elementary school. When Amy pulled up in her shiny, green Western Star the children were all smiles and wanted a first hand look. The kids were part of a summer enrichment program and they had plenty of questions for Amy about her job and, of course, her truck! She said there was plenty of laughing and clapping on the children's part and some tears of joy on her part, as she answered their questions. Amy said she'd always wanted to be a trucker buddy and bring a truck to display at a school. As fate would have it, this delivery of wood chips became way more than just another delivery. Amy was able to show these youngsters that a dirty job cab be just as important and rewarding as an office job. She also showed the young girls that they could grow up and become anything they want to be. Amy wanted to send a big thanks out to her family and friends for all of their love and for continuing to support her "trucking habit". She also wanted to thank Rob and Jessica Lockwood for believing in her and allowing her to learn the construction end of the trucking industry. Amy Meissner McGrath can drive trucks and deliver any type of load just like the "big boys", and she represents the trucking industry with style and grace.
Movin' Out applauds Amy's efforts and determination by choosing her & her shiny, Western Star as our September Working Show Truck of the Month.