Jay Palachuk

Robert Conrad
August 2023

The idea that "less is more" definitely works for Jay Palachuk and you can see that by taking one look at his stunning 1996 Kenworth W-900. He began his trucking career with Pacific Midwestern Express, after his sister's boyfriend taught him how to drive semis and shift thru the gears without missing a beat. 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 Krenkevich 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 occasionally 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 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! Movin' Out salutes Jay & all of his hard work by choosing him as our August 2023 Working Show Truck of the Month.