The Blue Smoke Thread

[jeeper61]

Sterling built trucks in Milwaukee for 45 years. They weren't the biggest name on the highway — but in the places where roads ended and the real work began, they were exactly what customers asked for.

Founded in 1907 as the Sternberg Motor Truck Company, the name changed to Sterling at the onset of World War I. A few things worth knowing about the HCS-297:

⛟ The HCS-297 was built with Sterling's patented dual chain drive — a 6x4 configuration that delivered the ground clearance and traction a conventional driveshaft couldn't match

⛟ The frame rails were lined with solid oak — pressed into the steel C-section to add strength and deaden road shock

⛟ The HCS-297 was rated at 15-20 tons and powered by a Waukesha 145GK engine — built for the kind of heavy, slow, demanding work that wore out lesser trucks

⛟ The HCS served the US Navy as heavy wreckers during World War II

⛟ Sterling acquired Fageol Truck and Coach in 1938, then sold the Fageol Truck division to Al Peterman in 1939 — that sale became the founding of Peterbilt Motors

⛟ White Motor Corporation acquired Sterling in 1951 — the name and production ended in 1953

Pictured: 1944 Sterling HCS-297 — Gary Mahan, Millington, New Jersey. Photographed at the 2021 ATHS National Convention and Truck Show. Check out hundreds of classic trucks at the 2026 show, June 2-6 in Springfield, Missouri. All the details at ATHS.org

 

[ray54]

Jeepers 61 do you anything about the truck from early 2000's that used the Sterling name. It could of been Fords last effort in the bigger truck market.

[Ian Beale]

8 hours ago, ray54 said:

Jeepers 61 do you anything about the truck from early 2000's that used the Sterling name. It could of been Fords last effort in the bigger truck market.

"Sterling Trucks Corporation (commonly designated Sterling) was an American truck manufacturer. Founded in 1998, Sterling was created following the 1997 acquisition of the heavy-truck product lines of Ford Motor Company by Freightliner.[1] Taking its nameplate from a long-defunct truck manufacturer, Sterling was slotted between Freightliner and Western Star within the Daimler product range (later Daimler Trucks North America)."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sterling_Trucks

[jeeper61]

11 hours ago, Ian Beale said:

Taking its nameplate from a long-defunct truck manufacturer, Sterling was slotted between Freightliner and Western Star within the Daimler product range (later Daimler Trucks North America)."

IMO they were actually positioned below Freightliner and sold mostly for vocational use.

Freightliner stopped production of Sterling trucks in 2009

[ray54]

I never really got into truck linage and history. I have heard of Auto Carr and Diamond T  even seen examples. But knew of several other companies over the years. I had thought Sterling was another that had been maybe a regional thing , or at least been around much longer than they were in the early days. And the modern version did not last many years ether.  Thank you both Ian and Jeeper. 

[twostepn2001]

The state of Texas prison system had a fleet of Sterling day cabs like this in the pic. Sometimes you would see a convoy of 4 or 5 prison trucks running together. A civilian driving the lead truck then inmates driving the others. The prison system has large farms all over Texas and also different types of manufacturing plants. Those trucks hauled from one prison to another. For example beef from a meat processing plant then haul furniture from another prison factory. My late father-in-law was one of the civilian drivers for about year before he got into crude oil hauling. He said they never had any problems with prisoner-drivers wanting to escape because all of them were "short-timers" and didn't want to risk escaping and getting longer sentences. 

[jeeper61]

Gary liked his old Fords

They were the start of the average person's car

 

[twostepn2001]

1964 Hendrickson powered by a Cummins 12 cylinder and has a Allison power shift transmission. This truck was designed and built specifically for Higgins heavy haul in Buffalo NY. It is still in use for its original purpose of moving hydroelectric power components in and out of the power plant on the US side of Niagara Falls. l would like to see the trailer it pulled but couldn't find any pics.

[yellowrosefarm]

37 minutes ago, twostepn2001 said:

1964 Hendrickson powered by a Cummins 12 cylinder and has a Allison power shift transmission. This truck was designed and built specifically for Higgins heavy haul in Buffalo NY. It is still in use for its original purpose of moving hydroelectric power components in and out of the power plant on the US side of Niagara Falls. l would like to see the trailer it pulled but couldn't find any pics.

That's an IH R series cab, isn't it?

[twostepn2001]

4 minutes ago, yellowrosefarm said:

That's an IH R series cab, isn't it?

lt could be, l know IH supplied cabs to other truck manufacturers like Diamond T and Pacific Trucks. 

[lotsaIHCs]

1 hour ago, yellowrosefarm said:

That's an IH R series cab, isn't it?

At first I thought it was a 54-55 first series Chevy/GMC (1 piece windshield), but the door handle doesn't look right for that. I'd say it's probably an IH like you say. 

[TN Hillbilly]

23 hours ago, twostepn2001 said:

1964 Hendrickson powered by a Cummins 12 cylinder and has a Allison power shift transmission. This truck was designed and built specifically for Higgins heavy haul in Buffalo NY. It is still in use for its original purpose of moving hydroelectric power components in and out of the power plant on the US side of Niagara Falls. l would like to see the trailer it pulled but couldn't find any pics.

Still on the job 60 years later...

Try that with ANY new 2026 truck!

[Howard_P]

Here are two pictures I've found with different trailers.

[jeeper61]

Odd looking with the set back front axle 

[jeeper61]

An old bed bugger interstate truck a 1937 KW Shovelnose 

 

[twostepn2001]

l was digging through some files on my PC and found a copy of "The Hag" Merle Haggard singing "Movin' On". Dug around a little more and found a pic of Sonny's KW. Also had info about the truck in the TV show. Kenworth furnished two trucks per season for filming. The main truck was a '74 W-925 VIT. lt had a Cummins VT903 V-8 and a 13 speed transmission Claude Akins and Frank Converse both got their commercial licenses (way before CDL's) and actually drove the truck during filming. But looking back, l can't remember ever seeing either one backing up.....lol 

[TroyDairy]

16 hours ago, twostepn2001 said:

l was digging through some files on my PC and found a copy of "The Hag" Merle Haggard singing "Movin' On". Dug around a little more and found a pic of Sonny's KW. Also had info about the truck in the TV show. Kenworth furnished two trucks per season for filming. The main truck was a '74 W-925 VIT. lt had a Cummins VT903 V-8 and a 13 speed transmission Claude Akins and Frank Converse both got their commercial licenses (way before CDL's) and actually drove the truck during filming. But looking back, l can't remember ever seeing either one backing up.....lol 

Thats a pretty ol gal!  

[jass1660]

On 5/6/2026 at 2:50 PM, twostepn2001 said:

l was digging through some files on my PC and found a copy of "The Hag" Merle Haggard singing "Movin' On". Dug around a little more and found a pic of Sonny's KW. Also had info about the truck in the TV show. Kenworth furnished two trucks per season for filming. The main truck was a '74 W-925 VIT. lt had a Cummins VT903 V-8 and a 13 speed transmission Claude Akins and Frank Converse both got their commercial licenses (way before CDL's) and actually drove the truck during filming. But looking back, l can't remember ever seeing either one backing up.....lol 

Restored and still running 

 

[jeeper61]

1935 C series getting loaded by a Lorain cable shovel 

[jeeper61]

1930's Grading crew packed up to travel to the next job

Looks like a Gallon pull grader not sure of the crawler make 

[jeeper61]

Donner Pass CF Freightliner COE Pusher Truck

[jeeper61]

Independent Asphalt Paving Company Bellingham, Washington, ca 1906.

[jeeper61]

[jeeper61]

https://www.facebook.com/reel/2083413489262439

[jeeper61]