The Transmission

Matt Avery

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Breaking from the Haulin’ Herd: Grant Alderman’s 2008 Peterbilt 389 named ‘Milk Money’

Grant Alderman and his family do a lot of dairy hauling, it just made sense they’d cash in and call their show truck ‘Milk Money’. They purchased the 2008 Peterbilt 389 in 2013 from a dealership in Iowa. It was tired, worn and ready for a refresh, showing over 300,000 on the odometer. “We brought it back to Wisconsin and started tearing it down,’ reports Grant, who lives in Union Grove, WI. “We had it dissembled all the way down to the frame rails.”

The truck's name comes from the fact that the Alderman's haul a ton of dairy products. (Photo by Matt Avery)
The truck’s name comes from the fact that the Alderman’s haul a ton of dairy products. (Photo by Matt Avery)

Exterior Mods

The first item to address was the exterior. The truck was wearing its original black and grey color scheme, which soon came off. In its place went the family’s traditional blue and white color scheme, which adorns their fleet of other trucks, too.

Before things got too out of hand on the build, the Pete was used regularly. For about a year, it could be found making regular trips from Wisconsin to Ohio, pulling a tanker full of milk. 

Even the frame was given a glossy coat of blue paint. (Photo by: Matt Avery)

“We started dabbling here and there and soon, it turned into doing everything,’ said Grant. Before long, they hit the ground running, totally transforming the rig. “I wanted a plain Jane look on the outside, with minimal chrome,’ explains Grant.

Interior Changes

That subdued look doesn’t carry over to the vehicle’s interior. “The ‘wow’ factor always comes when I open the doors,’ said Grant. “People are so surprised at how over the top it is.” The cabin is chock full of custom touches, including new door panels, upholstery and tons of chrome – all matching the stark white and vivid blue color scheme.

Engine Mods

Those hues carry over to the painted engine, which is a Cummins ISX engine. It was just installed a few weeks ago. Everything was quickly sorted out to make sure it was ready to power over to the 2019 AMCAN Wisconsin show, where the truck was displayed.

Awards

That’s not the only event it has participated in. In 2017, it won two Best of Shows at the American Truck Show Circuit and it also won Best of Show at the 2017 Shell Rotella SuperRigs show.

Grant’s quite pleased with those accolades but most proud of his invite to the 2018 Peterbilt Pride and Class show, held on the grounds of Peterbilt’s Denton, Texas headquarters.

Future Plans

With nothing else left to add to ‘Milk Money’, Grant’s hoping his family’s high-level work turns it into a cash cow. The truck will be put up for sale soon, but already other projects are in the works.