“Mountain Specs” Help Tractors Maintain Traction

Download a PDF of this release.

“It’s not easy trucking, and not for the faint of heart, that’s for sure,” said Domenico. “You have to stay mentally focused at all times and be prepared for all types of weather conditions. And you have to deliver in tight delivery areas in tight time frames.”

Domenico was so adept at delivering in the mountains that he established his own trucking company in 2000, and started his fleet with two Kenworth T800s. Success was quick to follow as his contract with a grocery store chain expanded to 17 locations within a 300-mile radius of Denver. Today, the Domenico Transportation fleet of 32 Kenworth T800s and three Kenworth T660s is well established in the Colorado hills as a premier contract carrier known for its reliability and can-do attitude. It also delivers flowers and other goods throughout neighboring states and into the Dakotas.

“I can attribute much of our success to the fact that I was a driver for so many years. I know what our drivers encounter and what it takes, from a vehicle standpoint, to get the job done safely,” said Domenico. “To be successful, customers rely on us to get there when we say we’ll get there. We need committed drivers and reliably built trucks. We also need a maintenance shop that will keep our trucks running in optimum condition. My brother, Jack Domenico, heads that part of our operation.”

Downtime is virtually non-existent for Domenico’s fleet. He operates a slip-seat operation where his newest Kenworth trucks put on between 180,000 to 220,000 miles per year.

“They’re running 20 hours a day, seven days a week,” said Domenico, who purchased his trucks through MHC Kenworth – Denver. “Our older trucks, including my original Kenworth T800, still put on about 100,000 miles a year. In fact, that first T800 has well over 1 million miles under the hood and you’d be hard pressed to tell this truck from a 3-year old truck. That’s one of the many good things about Kenworths – the trucks are so well made that they stay looking good and performing well beyond what you might expect. People ask me why I don’t have a shorter trade cycle than 8 or 9 years. I tell them I would – if my trucks didn’t hold up – but Kenworths do.”

To keep vehicle performance high, Domenico has his “mountain specs” nailed down. “Our specs do evolve as new technology comes into the market,” he said. “When disc brakes first became available, we were quick to jump on board. Our trucks stop on a dime and no water or corrosion can get inside the brakes since they’re sealed. And, the brakes last – we have some with close to 400,000 miles on them and they still don’t need replacing.”

Domenico believes the use of stability control systems, wide base tires, auto shift transmissions and Kenworth AG400 suspensions help his vehicle’s tires maintain traction with the road. “The auto shift transmission we use plays a two-fold role,” he said. “First, it offers smooth acceleration, and then it provides a positive footprint on snow and ice when shifting gears. If you miss a gear with a manual transmission, you can have trouble making it up hills. Plus, the automatic means both hands are on the steering wheel.”

To maximize road traction even further, Domenico has sanders located in front of the drive tires. Twin 150-pound tanks house sand and with a push of a button, sand is released in front of the drive tires. “The system works great, especially when coming to a stop,” said Domenico. “It gives our drivers added confidence and the ability to maintain a good grip on the road. Plus it saves countless hours putting on and removing chains.”

While the Kenworth T800s and T660s perform well in winter conditions, the trucks also get outstanding fuel economy. “Our fleet average is a bit over 6 mpg, but our top driver is getting slightly over 7 mpg,” said Domenico. “We’re constantly going up and down 6- to 8 percent grades, so we feel very good about our performance. And, with the T800’s set-back front axle, maneuverability is excellent at loading docks. Many of the stores are located right next to ski resorts, so space is at a premium. That means you’ve got to have a sharp turning rig or your drivers will get frustrated making three-point turns.”

Driver turnover isn’t a problem for Domenico. “We spec these trucks right when it comes to driver comfort,” he said. “Each truck has leather seats with seat warmers and is equipped with 38- and 62-inch AeroCab® sleepers, which are used in emergencies or when bad weather causes delays. Plus our latest trucks feature the Kenworth GPS navigation system. That’s a great help to our newer drivers.”