1976 AUTOCAR C9564 Michigan 11-Axle FLOWBOY in snow 8x10 Color Photo

Description

This is an excellent quality 8” x 10” newly reproduced full color photo of a 1976 AUTOCAR Model C9564 11-Axle “Michigan Special” pulling an 8-Axle FLOWBOY Semi-Trailer on a snowy day in November 1995. The Autocar was owned and operated by GENTNER TRUCKING of Saline, MI, while the Flowboy was owned by AJAX PAVING INDUSTRIES.
”SAMPLE” will not appear on your photo, it is only on the scanned image.
DESCRIPTION: The original photo was taken by me on a snowy day in November 1995 of the Autocar-Flowboy that I drove. In 1995 Gentner was still running some 14 pre-1987 Autocars powered with Cummins 400 and Caterpillar 425-hp diesel engines. This particular Autocar had an NTC 400-Cummins with a 13-speed Roadranger. Gentner pulled 8 Flowboys for Ajax Paving in 1995, from various Ajax asphalt plants in southern Michigan.
Did we haul asphalt in the snow? Good question. Ajax had an asphalt resurfacing job to finish on the Michigan side of the Ambassador Bridge to Windsor, Ontario. The forecast for the day was to get into the mid-40s. So, yes, we were called to work, and waited for the weather to warm up and the snow to melt. We loaded asphalt in the early afternoon, and when the temperature had reached the point that asphalt paving was allowed, Ajax finished their work on a dry surface.
MICHIGAN 11-AXLE FLOWBOY COMBINATIONS: Michigan law allows an unlimited gross weight, determined by the axle configuration with a maximum of 11-axles. This combination could legally gross 148,000 lbs. With a tare weight of about 50,000 lbs., the legal payload was about 49-tons/98,000-lbs running on 42 tires. The 8-axle Flowboy trailers had 4-lift axles, 2 towards the front and 2 at the rear. These lift axles had to be lifted for turning corners. Only once did I forget to lift the axles on a turn, with the whole rig going straight until I got it stopped … I never forgot again! The 49-50 ton loads of asphalt were taken in 3-drops under an Ajax Asphalt Storage Bin while on a weight scale. Ajax was perhaps the 2nd largest asphalt paver in Michigan, with many plants spread around the Detroit-Ann Arbor area. After pulling off the scale, the insulated rubber tarp was operated by the driver, by climbing up onto the front of the trailer and activating the air-operated cylinder that pulled the tarp over the entire load, while in transit to the paving site. These Autocar would run 65-70 mph on the interstates, taking about 2 miles to get up to speed. With brakes on all axles, they stopped very quickly.
GENTNER TRUCKING: The company was started by Bill Gentner with a single dump truck and loader, in the 1960s. This well managed and maintained fleet grew over the years to 14 pre-1987 classic Autocars, 27 post-1988 Peterbilt Model 357 11-axle combinations of trucks and tractors, and one tandem dump, when I began driving for them in the Spring of 1955. At that timer they were located south of Techumseh, MI in an old gravel pit. They soon moved to a large beautiful shop & office on US-12 west of Saline, MI. Their well-maintained shop on a large parcel of land consisted of 8-pull in bays, backed by a long drive-thru lube bay capable of holding 2 complete trains. With room to park all 41 units side-by-side at the end of the day … it was quite a sight. This was a ‘class’ operation in every respect. The night shift maintenance crew consisted of 8 excellent mechanics and a tire man. As they grew, Bill was joined by his 3-sons and a brother, all handling different parts of the operation. They generally bought 2-3 new Peterbilt 357’s each spring, and I believe operated about 48 units when I retired in 1998. I always considered Gentner to be one of the 3-4 top gravel train operators in Michigan. While I do not know the details, the company ran into problems in the construction recession of the early 2000s, and filed bankruptcy.
CONDITION: This outstanding color glossy photo is a newly reproduced photo from a vintage photo in my personal lifetime collection. This photo has been printed on excellent quality HP PREMIUM GLOSSY PHOTO PAPER using originalHP 64 Inks producing a professional quality photo that resists fading over 100 years ... the best money can buy. This 8x10 photo has a white border on all 4-sides.
For your information, the description and documentation of this photo will be loosely taped to the back side of this photo. I try to ad some “added value” to my photos by researching each one, adding some history and information that you may not know. If I get something incorrect, please let me know … thanks!
SHIPPING & HANDLING:  This item will be shipped via USPS FIRST CLASS MAIL - PACKAGE RATE (non-machinable) within the USA, including FREE USPS Tracking from USPS from my door to your mailbox. Your item will be mailed FLAT, carefully packed in a large 9x12 double envelope with a cardboard stiffener in the inner envelope ... the cardboard stiffener assures you it will arrive in excellent condition.
I can usually mail your photo within 24 hours of your payment thru PayPal, and sometimes on the same day. You will get an email confirmation from PayPal that postage has been purchased, with a tracking number from USPS to track your photo from my post office right to your mailbox.
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I will be adding a number of vintage truck and construction equipment photos/ads, listing an additional item or two almost daily, including many of Gentner’s ‘Gravel Trains’, ‘Short-Doubles’ and ‘Flowboys’.
I still have several file boxes and shelves full of items to sell.  Please check my auctions and store frequently to see what new items I have added.
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Rest assured, you get what is represented.  It may be ‘old school’, but I treat my customers like I would like to be treated myself.  Trucking and construction have been my life, and now in retirement I do this with a labor of love and enjoyment.
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