FIXTITLE KW Moore.docx
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The Story
Of
K.W. Moore
The mind of a child is so fragile, filled with imagination. Their curiosity is innocent and their personalities are infectious. Easily influenced, sometimes in ways unknown for years. Most kids grow up to be the exact replica of their mother or father. Some choose to break the cycle, and go opposite directions. Others are completely oblivious, while many proudly step into the role of their idol. Whether your imprint is from a parent, relative, or close friend we have all been at a point in our life where we wanted to be that one special person. In your mind, at that very moment ‘that person’ had everything going on. And some day you were going to be just like them. Call it our inner-child mindset, but to acknowledge that type of ambition and allow it to affect your life in a way so dynamic that you spend your entire existence reaching that goal is extremely extraordinary.
This nominee’s article provides us with a happy childhood, a loving grandmother, fulfilled dreams and aspirations, ending with a beautiful love story. Life had thrown him tragedy and sadness. Enough to cripple a grown man’s heart for a lifetime. With courage and lots of support, he found his way back to happiness. The kind of joy he never knew was out there. A love so strong he felt inspired, reborn, and ready to tackle the world.
When I am able to contact these drivers for an interview, it usually goes two ways. One, they decline and with respect I completely understand. I’ve always said my life would be one for the books, but still don’t think I would be able to act on it. It’s the most common reason. They wish to keep their private life private. Second, they feel as if their story is insignificant and unimportant, convincing themselves not to share any personal history. I’m here to explain, each individual that has voluntarily let down their walls, invited us in for a glimpse of their life, from beginning to end is more than worthy of appreciation. Agreeing to let a complete stranger display your most vulnerable times for the entire country to read is a major deal. Every person that walks this Earth has a story that is valuable and deserves to be told. These real stories come with a person in their life that with one single memory can put a smile on their face. They all harbor regret. A memory bank full of childhood flashbacks. And also a heart with a list of names written on it that either chipped away at it, or helped mend it back together.
In speaking with K.W. Moore, his tone is serious, but not too stern. Which tells me he is used to demanding toughness and strength. At the same time I hear a softness. He is humble. Polite. Carefree in his laughter. When he speaks of his wife, Faith the pace of his conversation speeds up. Like, he can’t express enough loving words about her quick enough. He is sincere when he describes the day he held his son in his arms for the first time. He is genuine.
Together since 2011, married in 2013, he and Faith have it all together. Great careers and most importantly, a caring marriage devoted to their two kids. Faith’s daughter, Serra recently turned 18 and graduated high school. K.W.’s son will turn 14 on the 11th of this month. The happy couple met through a mutual friend named Freddie. At the age of 30, Freddie was diagnosed with colon cancer. Eight years later, they had to say goodbye to their close friend three days after Christmas, in 2008. The month before on November 20th, K.W. lost his grandmother just days before his own birthday.
K.W.’s grandmother wasn’t your typical grandparent that you only visited during the holidays. Or hugged at the annual family reunions. Sometimes, when the good Lord sends a little favor your way it comes in the form of a sweet, gentle, and extra caring grandmother to help raise you. With that added attention, you get home cooked meals on a daily basis, a tidy home, and lots of unconditional love.
Born and raised in New York, K.W. had a handful of hard working people to pick from as role models. He grew up out in the country on a farm with his blended family consisting of his mother, stepfather, stepsisters, and grandmother. He enjoyed fly fishing with his stepfather and playing outside, but who and what took up most of his attention was his uncle and his uncle’s truck. He says, “I had to be around 8 years old then. He drove a milk tanker doing farm pickup. On the weekends he would pick me up and I would ride with him. I was hooked!” The duo traveled his uncle’s regular route through New York, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. His truck was a white Daycab, an R-model Mack decked out with chrome and lights. Occasionally, his uncle let him shift gears from the passenger seat, fueling his fire to be in that driver’s seat as soon as possible.
By 14, he was working steady on the farm feeding the horses and cleaning stalls. Licensed at 16, K.W. began working at a local beer discount store. He saved up and purchased his first car. A 1973 Dodge Duster. His senior year in high school, with plans to enlist in the military his life went down a different path. Involved in a motorcycle accident resulting in one fatality, K.W. spent the following nine months in recovery. From the head-on collision with another vehicle in his lane, after three hours of surgery he suffered a fractured skull, 380 staples, and 160 stitches to his head. The outcome was devastating. K.W.’s mother reached out to his biological father for the first time, unsure if this would be her son’s final hours. Over time, K.W. a proven fighter surrounded by an amazing, supportive family made a miraculous recovery. Once he was released from the hospital, he returned home to his grandmother’s care. At his bedside, she literally nursed him back to health. Not completely 100%, but well enough to pick up where he left off. With an entirely new perspective on life and his father willing to build a relationship, K.W. was back to a good place.
Physically unable, his opportunity for the U.S. Marine Corp was not an option anymore. Having to start from scratch, there was only one feasible choice that actually made sense; trucking. He landed his first trucking job starting out driving a 6 wheel truck. No CDL was required, being there were no air brakes on the trucks. He then obtained his Class B license and switched to driving a box truck. For six years he delivered frozen foods. Another local trucking company was looking for additional drivers. Ready to drive the big trucks K.W. stopped by the office, but was told he needed a Class A license to drive for them. He understood the regulations and pleaded for a chance to prove himself. His lack of experience had the upper hand. However, K.W. had some connections and was able to go on the weekends and the mechanics of the company worked with him on some basics of driving. With their help, K.W. took his road test and passed. Immediately he went OTR hauling aluminum in a covered wagon to all 48 states.
A year had passed before he opted to come off the road. He picked a local outfit doing farm pickup, exactly like his uncle did back when he was a young boy. “It was a good job and I liked that my truck was mine. Nobody else drove it. So I started doing little things to it like my uncle did to his,” he said. The only reason he moved on was the money wasn’t where it needed to be.
K.W. came across a job opening in the paper needing professional drivers to haul gasoline. The company was based out of Queens, but they had a terminal less than 20 minutes from his house. Not quite convinced if that was the direction he wanted to go in, but he did have his Class A license and tank endorsement. All that was left was his hazmat. He decided to go for it and landed the job. With this being his first union job he enjoyed the perks: nice equipment, nice wages, medical, etc. He hauled gasoline and hazmat in the tristate area of New York. Three years later the company filed Chapter 11.
In all, K.W. drove gasoline for over 10 years. Including the tanker company he went to next, in 2004. This is also the company that introduced him to Freddie. From day one, the two guys were inseparable. The year of 2008, death came back into K.W.’s life to shake his entire world again. This time taking two of his closest and beloved people. The woman that raised him, healed him, and loved him like no other; his grandmother. Then his best friend at the young age of 38, leaving a beautiful wife and five little girls behind. K.W. says, “He kept telling me, ‘All I want to do is make it one more Christmas. That’s all I want to do’… and he held out until Christmas. The doctor had originally only gave him two months and that was in June.”
Through Freddie is how K.W. met his wife, Faith. Freddie and Faith were friends in high school and remained close. During Freddie’s birthday parties for his kids, Faith and K.W. would both show up. They got to know each other over time. After Freddie passed, they both stayed in contact and would often visit with Freddie’s daughters. “We went on like he was still there,” he explains. “One night when a bad storm came through I called her to check on her. At the time Faith lived one town over from me. She invited me over for a home cooked meal and I never left!”
He was currently driving for a guy that owned five trucks leased to an oil company. It wasn’t until November 2013, with the encouragement from his wife did he decide to take his trucking career to the next level. He says, “My wife is very inspirational. I remember telling her that I’ve always wanted to own my very own truck. I honestly never took the idea any further. I had come to terms that it probably would never happen.” K.W. recalls his wife basically stating that if owning a truck was what he really wanted, then he needed to do it. He went on debating that he wasn’t sure how to go about getting a truck. “Then Faith told me that if I really wanted a truck that she would have me a truck in our driveway by the end of December. I was like, how in the world?” K.W. knew at that point, she was serious. He also knew that he could do it. They both agreed. Something his grandmother had told him years before had always resonated with him. -Follow your dreams or you’ll end up working for someone who did.
The couple have been active members of Chi-Town Large Cars since joining the club in 2012. Chi-Town Large Cars is the largest non-profit organization in trucking. The club of 155 members, throughout three countries participate in raising money and awareness for childhood cancer and families in need. Faith is Chi-Town’s National Secretary. While K.W. serves as their East Coast President. Serra, their daughter is the East Coast Secretary. In May, the Chi-Town Large Cars East Coast chapter sponsored the fundraiser, Gift of Hope. An annual charity that raises money for children living in a single parent household. The money is awarded to students wanting to further their education and applied toward their college tuition. K.W. has attended the annual truck and Hot Rod show since it began, eight years ago. “My proudest moment as a member of Chi-Town Large Cars was last year when we raised over $10,000 in one day for the AshleyCan Pediatric Cancer Foundation,” K.W. said. All proceeds went directly to providing assistance to families with children fighting cancer, funding research, and to help ensure a better future for the children.
This year’s 2015 Chi-Town Large Cars truck show and benefit, hosted in Chicago will be their third show as members. The club selected the Wonder Family as their honorary guests and sponsors for the event. Their son, Seth was born four months premature. Weighing in at only 1 pound and 10 ounces, resulted in a number of complications for their precious newborn; 482 blood test, 40 IVs, 3 central lines, 56 X-rays, 1 brain MRI, and 5 blood transfusions… ALL within his first few weeks of life. Despite the odds, covered in prayers Seth celebrated his first birthday in April at home with his loving parents. Chi-Town Large Cars chose them as the benefactor on account of the enormous amount of medical bills the family has been left with.
A close friend and member of Chi-Town Large Cars, Tracy Devitt played a huge role in K.W. getting his dream truck. Tracy had sent K.W. a picture of a Kenworth to see if he was interested in buying it. The original owner was no longer able to truck and sadly needed to sell. Tracy flew to Minnesota and drove the truck back to his shop for K.W. Before K.W. even put his eyes on it in person, Tracy had his mechanics go over it from top to bottom. A week later it was to his standards and ready for K.W. to pick it up. The owner had only one request. If K.W. would keep its name the same. On the side of the sleeper it read, Orange Blossom Special. K.W. honored his word and his truck’s name remains, Blossom. K.W. picked up his truck the first week in January of 2014. He then leased it to Trans American the following week and was out on his first load January 14th.
Blossom is a 1997 W900L Kenworth, with a completely redone motor. Pete the Painter, a friend of K.W. and Chi-Town club member was working at Nationwide Chrome and Customs located in Fremont, Indiana at the time. K.W. dropped his truck off at Nationwide Chrome and Customs with Pete for two weeks. During that time, they removed the old sleeper. Replaced it with a flattop. Put in new carpet. New windshield and windshield gaskets. And also gave it a brand new paint job; Atomic Orange.
With over 2 and a half million miles and 25 years of experience, K.W. went with Trans American for a number of reasons. The biggest leverage was that former members of the club had been leased on there and said positive things about the company. At Trans American based out of South Plainfield, New Jersey they specialize in heavy haul moves driving 13 axle and 19 axle trailers. Sometimes requiring police escorts. He says, “Trans American is huge on safety. We’re also big on keeping our equipment clean. I’m old school, like my uncle so I like that. Plus, they treat me very well!” At Trans American, they haul machinery to equipment. Anything that goes on a flatbed, step deck, or double drop trailer. 80% of their freight comes off the pier in New Jersey. There are 26 company trucks and 24 owner operators. He is usually home every weekend, running from the East Coast to the Mid-West region. Never down South. He continues, “Dispatch works great with me and I don’t have to wait to get paid.”
When I asked K.W. what his future goals are, he kept it simple. “I’m already doing what I’ve always wanted to do. I just want my one truck, keep it for me, and do my thing. I didn’t want a fancy show truck, but definitely one that was recognizable. Now I want to keep redoing this truck the way it is for the next 15 or 20 years and make a name for myself.”
He expresses to other drivers to keep at it. Not to let little things discourage you. Every job has its good days and bad days. That is life. Don’t let it hold you down for too long.