In 1981 I was teaming fresh dairy cows out of Wi to the CA valley running an Astro with an 8V71 headed west across NE when a Montfort blew by ,he called me on the radio and said...hey baby bullhauler....ya know it's illegal to park on an Interstate right ?
I remember as a kid in the early 70's going with my dad in the summer. On his 71 cabover Peterbilt (where the stacks tipped up with the cab and intake tube went through the corner of sleeper, screaming 318 Detroit). We had a load out of Detroit to Denver, and stopping at the truck stops. Hearing Charlie Rich when She gets behind closed doors. New song. I would count the Monford trucks, my favorite trucks. Stopping to see family in Greely. We wound be having a BBQ, (Coors not me just a sip) and when the wind would change you could smell Monford's lots. good memories. I'm 63 now just getting done with 40 years of Trucking.
First time I loaded at Monfort I loaded salted hides. Hauled them to the port in L.A. my refer stunk for a month. After that nothing but boxed beef in my refer. Any one else remember the Harold Stroud trucks? 1980-81 they would always catch me down around the I-10 - I-20 split. Miss my early days of driving. Retired in 2014 never had a wreck….3 million plus.
Ya I Remember Stienbecker's. I worked in there wash bay for a very brief time. Left to work Cattle at Monfort feedlot. The one southwest of Greeley. Though I did different types of work at both Monfort feedlots and the packing plant. I hauled Monfort swinging beef to L.A Driving for Willie's Grain. I Drove Local deliveries and loading for Shupe and Yost. Harvey Shupe being one of the Finest people I've ever work for. That was my beginning as a 3.5 Million mile Truck Driver. Good Days! The smell of high sulfur diesel on a hot summer day. Jake Brakes the pulled the front bumper to the ground. And Lots of Comrodery from fellow Drivers. And Good information in the truck stops and on the C.B. Doug Estrick was my Mentor Driver. Does anyone Remember him. He was a Well known Character. Thanks for the video and Best Wishes from Montana! M.H.
I learned how to drive the mountains from a Monfort driver but we were in Pennsylvania and New Jersey it was quite educational and every week we would pass each other going the opposite direction some times we'd change direction and agree what truck stop to meet at.
I used to work at the Monfort plant in Grand Island. Mid 80's had one of the Monfort trucks stop in with a beautiful scenic painting the entire trailer of the truck and trailer. I noticed a small sign on the side of the cab "Member of The Monfort Racing Team". I asked about it, driver said he was one of the remaining drivers who had a ticket doing over 100mph. He said that if a driver lost his license they keep a desk position open for them till they got it back.
Yea I know about Montfort. Started in 79 retired in 2022 I ran with them. Yea I was blessed with horsepower. Boys would run. So did them boys out of Liberal Ks, National Carriers. They had the left lane named after them but there were a lot of us that could and would run with them C&H had some trucks that haul the mail.
70-74 looked fast when the national speed limit was 55. Add to that Monfort ran back west empty, so of course they passed plenty of trucks when the climb West started. Triple digit trucks were leased owner/operators
I was one of the first 100 trucks to drive I-80 when it opened across Pennsylvania. I could never run with them but knew they had the info on where the bears were, great memories.
My Pop who is Dead now ran the West Coast! and All over South Florida? Way back in the 1940,s and in 1941 he joined the USMC for 20 years. He got in 1962 as a GYSGT. and immediately went back driving Truck for Monfort of Colorado. He Trucked all over the Country he loved, Owning and Driving Truck,s right up till the day he died in 2008 on his 88th birthday. When he Started up his 1982 KWOPPER! Lit up a Cigar and slumped over the wheel dead? he had a aneurysm in his heart? and it blew apart from smoking Cigar,s all his life. But the point, I wanted to make, my Pop drove many road,s in our great country when they were dirt roads plus 1 & 2 lane only! And when he got out of the USMC in 1962 most road's and big highway,s were finally finished. Rte 380 from My Pocono to Scranton Pa. Drove across that road the first day it opened.
I used to buy meat out of a Monfort semi that came to Las Vegas a couple of times a month. I wish somehow that the awesome tasting "Steak Tonight" could come back. Amazing on a charcoal grill. Thanks for posting the info about the company and the trucks.
When I started trucking in 1980, the "monfort lane" referred to the left lane, because Monfort's trucks were known to be so fast that they spent a lot of time in the left lane passing other trucks.
My first road job was for Ellsworth Freight Lines in the early 70’s. I would be crawling up the mountains in Pennsylvania on I-80 with the four ways on and a Montfort driver would buzz me on the cb. “Hey Turtle Express is that thing running or do you need help”? Whoosh and he was gone! We ran naturally aspirated Cummins 250’s turned down because they was too powerful. Pretty embarrassing.
I started trucking in the early 80's and the left lane was called the Monfort lane and I saw a lot of their trucks in the left lane,they blew my doors off many times.
I worked at a grocery distribution center in Syracuse ,Ny. back in the 80's. We had about 150 drivers. Even clear out east they called the left lane the Monfort Lane.
My dad ran I80 before it was officially open in pa hauling iron in the late 60s and 70 s and he still talks about the circus wagons in the left lane didn't take long for him to turn yellow and get out there with them we still run his w900 with a never late V8 so I'm glad for them every time I run that truck too
I was a senior in high school and got a job right across the road from the Saratoga truck stop at a truck leasing company. This was in 1969 just as Montfort started the East coast run. Saratoga truck stop agreed to put in a special fuel island just for Montfort. That is when they had all W900.s There were circus wagons in there 24 hrs a day. Those were times I will never forget! By the way, I grew up just north of the 111mile stick and when I-80 was being built I would ride my bike on the new slab in the Montfort Lane 👍. I drove for 50 years and finally retired and have many memories of the Montfort Lane. I really would like to find a model of a conventional Montfort circus wagon 👍. Thank you for a great informative video and God bless 👍
Those were the days for sure. I started driving legally in 1972 .Monfort was on the top of the hill. Then u look around at Carolina Western , Inman , Big Sky of Montana ,Willie Shaw just to mention a few that made trucking fun in those days! Still remember like yesterday and can't help but think how we used to get down & with it. Too many four wheelers and idiots out there today for crews like that to run. And a I-80 Walcott was a small diner ,8 fuel pumps & pump jockeys. So much for all of that trip into yesterday. You guys take care and remember , those headlights bouncing in the rear view mirror may just be Rodeo Clown or Phantom 309👍
I remember those days. I was in my twenties then and worked for a nebraska bullhauler then. Golden cal was big in those days and gave those monfort boys a run for their money.
Yep, I knew about the Monfort lane because I was a team driver (as in owner operator) with National Carriers, Liberal, KS. in 75 shortly before a bank took over the operation of Monfort. Monfort was kind of like a late 20the century pony express, those guys ran wide open back then and no other trucking company could compete with their service. Seems toooo me as I remember it, Monfort ran is small caravans. Hold on buddy, most Monfort, National Carriers and a lot of other drivers lived on real White-Cross and or black Beauty speed, lol. Those were the days.
@@JAAB9296 my point is a lot of truck drivers we're on pocket rockets speed to get from point a to point b I pulled a reefer from East Coast West Coast back to the East Coast solo I know what I'm talking about toothpicks get off bull wagons they are dipped in speed
My dad drove for Monfort back in the 80,s . I would ride with him every summer and Christmas. He drove for wallbanger who had some trucks leased on he also had some of the old rent a rides. I have a toy Monfort truck but it is not one of the ones you have . My dad is gone now but I still drive and own my own truck . I will never forget my Monfort days. I was 10 years old the first time I seen the statue of liberty 🗽 and it was in a Mofort truck
I drove for Monfort from 1976 to around 1980 and the went to Steinbecker Bros. when they were leased to Monfort......and most of the stories are true. Like stories of the "Hunts Point 500".
Damn " Hunts Point 500" I have not heard of that in a long time. These kids nowadays think of the gumball race but doing it with a car and doing it with a big truck is to different things. One of the stories that I know about Monfort driver, him and another truck driver was coming out of New York and the other truck driver got a speeding ticket the Monford driver pulled over too and he told him that I'll pay that ticket since you're running with me. There was another trucking company that had the same reputation I can't remember the name but they had 359 Peterbilts single bunk and they were out of Oklahoma they were called "The Good Time game" They mostly ran to California back to the east coast on 40 Just like the Louisiana company called "Ti-Gator" or" Kate's pickles" out of the Carolinas Just like Mary Kay's cosmetics. The company bought 359's and 379 peats and they were pink and the women wore their pink uniforms When you got to run with one of those girls you knew what you was doing and they were called "the Little Pink Ladies"
Yes Ken , I remember the Steinbecker bros brown KWs in early 80,s. I drove for Jim Lang he had 20 trucks leased to Monfort in 83-85. Yes the monfort lane was for real, i was turning Greely to NYC or Boston and back in about 4 - 5 days . Very rarely went to Hunts Point usually unloaded at Soloman brothers , lower Manhatten , Brooklyn market or up in the Boston market . Turning and burning !
Twfo1969, being from La., well remember the Ti-gator trucks. Earlier this year was east of Pensacola and had a Ti-gator blow my doors off. Didn't think they were still operating as l had not seen any after l quit the road.
Montfort weren’t the only one tearing up the interstate. Back in the mid 70’s I’d come up from Nogales up the Patagonia Trail, and jump on I - 10. at Benson. When the sun went down the speed wet up. Trucks would go by me so fast the stones on the shoulders would get sucked up in the draught and would be tinkling on the front of my 76 K-100. They would travel in mini convoys.
My grandpa and uncle drove for Monfort. My Dad drove for Curtis out of commerce city Colorado and that's where I learned how to drive the 1693 cat hauling swinging beef out of Monfort. The Monfort Lane became a reality when Kenny Monfort stopped all meat deliveries going to hunts market because everyone was getting robbed! The governor of New York begged for Monfort to bring the much needed meat. Kenny said he would with one condition! His trucks are going to run the left lane through Pennsylvania and New York and they will not stop for anybody or anything, including law enforcement!!! Monfort was granted the exemption and therefore they were legal to run the left lane as fast as they felt needed. It was a term born for the run to hunts point,but didn't to catch on around the country.
Hey dig this,I drove for C R England,in 1977,running team, my cousin and me ran out of the Burlington N J.terminal,would run out to the west coast at that time we were making 7 1/2 cents a mile Montfort would blow right by us and we ran pretty damn fast ourselves,LOL.!!!
@@earlevans2428 I remember yellow jacket from early 80s at monfort , big radio and he could knock down some miles ! He also had a big base radio at his house , talked all over the USA … RIP yellow jacket
I live in Greeley And yes the left lane is still known as the Monford lane there family farm is on HWY 392 just west of HWY 85. They did alot for the town of Greeley
I loved it Monfort trucks were beautiful i loved it those days were real men real trucks I hauled swinging beef on rail trailer from American beef packers in Omaha to hunts point in ny retired 4 years now got tears in my eyes when i heard the Monfort lane
Yeah but nowadays Bull haulers own the hammer lane . We run 800 hp C16 Cats in our 379 Peterbilts the slowest truck in our fleet is geared for 125 mph . Ashes to ashes dust to dust if it weren’t for bull haulers the left lane would rust . Hammer down .
I was with Packerland out of Green Bay, those monfort guys were constantly under foot forever had to tell them get out the way when they’re trying to pass other trucks
I rember this company. They were fast but you have to rember back then our g w was around 73200. All of use o o had fast trucks back then. We all worked together.
I used to drive from Monfort I guaranteed I wanna stay there and retired but they quit me. I’m still here on the road and I try to share some of the stories and experiences I’ve had was it Monfort nothing like that the old guy said I didn’t start till 1990 NM we all know 1997, 1998 was the end of Monfort transportation after they bought out the Colorado Rockies
Mumford Lane was the passing Lane the ones that I ran across were 3406 cats good running four quarter horse or better some head the V8 cat experimental motor from Caterpillar
People don't believe me when I talk about the old days for sure I was in the middle of those days Mumford and this is the kicker Cr England were left lane owner's great memories
If they were running 1693 Caterpillar four and a quarter they had big horses I drove a three and a quarter 1693 one time for a guy in eastern Ohio and that thing was a beast I can only imagine what a four and a quarter would run like
My first truck was a ' 75 Marmon with a 325hp 1693. It would pull like an ox. This was in 96. No air conditioner, no power steering , spring ride and no heat in the 36" Mercury flyin coffin. But Boy I was truckin.
I DROVE FOR MONFORT, BUT IN THE EARLY 80 S, BUT EVERYTHING WE HAULED HAD TO BE DELIVERED YESTERDAY, IVE DRIVEN ACROSS THIS COUNTRY, FROM SOUTH OF FRESNO, CALIFORNIA, TO PHILDELPHIA, PA. IN 3 DAYS.
I'm going to disagree with you on that. I drove a "Dollar Truck" Midwestern Distribution - Fort Scott Kansas. They had the slowest trucks. 😀 We didn't pass anybody.
IN 1973 I DROVE A NEW KENWORTH CAB OVER LIKE THEIRS ONLY YELLOW AND BLACK WITH A 350 CUMMINS AND 13 SPEED HAD EVERYTHING ON IT AVAILABLE AT THE TIME. AIR RIDE SUSPENSION AND SEAT. I THOUGHT I WAS COOL STUFF, BUT I STILL GOT PASSED BY THE MONFORT TEAM DRIVERS. THEY PULLED 40 FEET TRAILER'S BECAUSE THE LAW ONLY ALLOWED A TOTAL OF 55 FEET FOR TRACTOR AND TRAILER. I HEARD THAT THEY HAD A HARD TIME KEEPING DRIVER'S BECAUSE OF LOSING THEIR LICENSE BECAUSE OF SPEEDING TICKETS, ALL THOUGH BACK THEN YOU COULD GO TO ANOTHER STATE AND GET A NEW LICENSE. THOSE WERE THE DAYS.
Those really were the days. I had a Minnesota, Nebraska, Colorado, and Arizona class A driver's license back before all the states linked up with computers. 55-mile-per-hour speed limit, and an 85 mile per hour Cat powered Kenworth.
Well, there is a problem with getting the spacing correct and having the cab tilt or the hood tilt. If the spacing is right the cab/hood just hits or worse breaks the bumper when opening.
I was told that the Monfort Company would pay for their drivers speeding tickets. It was actually listed on your paystub as "safety bonus"...Anyone verify this?
I remember reading an article in a magazine in the late 70s about Montfort.They had Kenworth conventionals with 425 Cat engines and automatics.Then for economy and Cube they switched to Freightliner cab overs with 9 speeds.The drivers weren’t too happy about it.
Yes they were famous with their Kenworth W925s with Cat motors. Hopefully a model of the W900A model will come out from DCP for Monfort. The later years is when economy minded moved in and it all changed.
The Allison automatics were a test fleet of K100s w/DD92s. The rest of the fleet was W900 w/Cat 1693 13spd Eaton/Fuller (13 (12 Over) was blocked off.)
THEY MADE MONFORT TAKE MONFORT OF COLORADO OFF THEIR TRAILERS, BECAUSE THEY HAD PLANTS IN, GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA, GARDEN CITY KANSAS, TEXAS, AND IOWA.
The Monfort Lane is The Left Lane ...Mr Monfort would Pau any ticket the drivers may get out on the road..as long as that Tickets were not wrote inside the state of Colorado...
They definitely wasn't the fastest trucks out there on I-80 cuz I ran out of these coast and back for years and I blew many of their Mumford doors off many times
Or else nice to see it I used to drive Mumford I was only there about 6 months but I drove form and those stories are all true I know all some of the guys that pulled some really crazy s*** so I know exactly what you're saying and I've been in the business 51 and a half years so I know what I'm talking about have a good day everybody. Dave couch or South Bend Indiana
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In 1981 I was teaming fresh dairy cows out of Wi to the CA valley running an Astro with an 8V71 headed west across NE when a Montfort blew by ,he called me on the radio and said...hey baby bullhauler....ya know it's illegal to park on an Interstate right ?
I remember as a kid in the early 70's going with my dad in the summer. On his 71 cabover Peterbilt (where the stacks tipped up with the cab and intake tube went through the corner of sleeper, screaming 318 Detroit). We had a load out of Detroit to Denver, and stopping at the truck stops. Hearing Charlie Rich when She gets behind closed doors. New song. I would count the Monford trucks, my favorite trucks. Stopping to see family in Greely. We wound be having a BBQ, (Coors not me just a sip) and when the wind would change you could smell Monford's lots. good memories. I'm 63 now just getting done with 40 years of Trucking.
My dad was a Montfort legend back in 70s and 80s R.I.P Cutty Sark miss you pop!!!
My good friend Carl Dodson ran for Montfort. He was a crazy MF’r lol
First time I loaded at Monfort I loaded salted hides. Hauled them to the port in L.A. my refer stunk for a month. After that nothing but boxed beef in my refer. Any one else remember the Harold Stroud trucks? 1980-81 they would always catch me down around the I-10 - I-20 split. Miss my early days of driving. Retired in 2014 never had a wreck….3 million plus.
We bought a couple of pounds of ground coffee, and spread it on the floor. Leave it with the doors closed, then wash it out. Smells good after that.
Did you run 10 in Texas before it was finished near the Pecos River. Had to go into Sheffield?
Ya I Remember Stienbecker's. I worked in there wash bay for a very brief time. Left to work Cattle at Monfort feedlot. The one southwest of Greeley. Though I did different types of work at both Monfort feedlots and the packing plant. I hauled Monfort swinging beef to L.A Driving for Willie's Grain. I Drove Local deliveries and loading for Shupe and Yost. Harvey Shupe being one of the Finest people I've ever work for.
That was my beginning as a 3.5 Million mile Truck Driver. Good Days! The smell of high sulfur diesel on a hot summer day. Jake Brakes the pulled the front bumper to the ground. And Lots of Comrodery from fellow Drivers. And Good information in the truck stops and on the C.B.
Doug Estrick was my Mentor Driver.
Does anyone Remember him. He was a Well known Character.
Thanks for the video and Best Wishes from Montana! M.H.
I learned how to drive the mountains from a Monfort driver but we were in Pennsylvania and New Jersey it was quite educational and every week we would pass each other going the opposite direction some times we'd change direction and agree what truck stop to meet at.
I used to work at the Monfort plant in Grand Island. Mid 80's had one of the Monfort trucks stop in with a beautiful scenic painting the entire trailer of the truck and trailer. I noticed a small sign on the side of the cab "Member of The Monfort Racing Team". I asked about it, driver said he was one of the remaining drivers who had a ticket doing over 100mph. He said that if a driver lost his license they keep a desk position open for them till they got it back.
Yea I know about Montfort. Started in 79 retired in 2022 I ran with them. Yea I was blessed with horsepower. Boys would run. So did them boys out of Liberal Ks, National Carriers. They had the left lane named after them but there were a lot of us that could and would run with them C&H had some trucks that haul the mail.
70-74 looked fast when the national speed limit was 55. Add to that Monfort ran back west empty, so of course they passed plenty of trucks when the climb West started. Triple digit trucks were leased owner/operators
I was one of the first 100 trucks to drive I-80 when it opened across Pennsylvania. I could never run with them but knew they had the info on where the bears were, great memories.
My Pop who is Dead now ran the West Coast! and All over South Florida? Way back in the 1940,s and in 1941 he joined the USMC for 20 years. He got in 1962 as a GYSGT. and immediately went back driving Truck for Monfort of Colorado. He Trucked all over the Country he loved, Owning and Driving Truck,s right up till the day he died in 2008 on his 88th birthday. When he Started up his 1982 KWOPPER! Lit up a Cigar and slumped over the wheel dead? he had a aneurysm in his heart? and it blew apart from smoking Cigar,s all his life. But the point, I wanted to make, my Pop drove many road,s in our great country when they were dirt roads plus 1 & 2 lane only! And when he got out of the USMC in 1962 most road's and big highway,s were finally finished. Rte 380 from My Pocono to Scranton Pa. Drove across that road the first day it opened.
I used to buy meat out of a Monfort semi that came to Las Vegas a couple of times a month. I wish somehow that the awesome tasting "Steak Tonight" could come back. Amazing on a charcoal grill. Thanks for posting the info about the company and the trucks.
Man those were good times. Thanks for shaking up my memories.
When I started trucking in 1980, the "monfort lane" referred to the left lane, because Monfort's trucks were known to be so fast that they spent a lot of time in the left lane passing other trucks.
My first road job was for Ellsworth Freight Lines in the early 70’s. I would be crawling up the mountains in Pennsylvania on I-80 with the four ways on and a Montfort driver would buzz me on the cb. “Hey Turtle Express is that thing running or do you need help”? Whoosh and he was gone! We ran naturally aspirated Cummins 250’s turned down because they was too powerful. Pretty embarrassing.
I started trucking in the early 80's and the left lane was called the Monfort lane and I saw a lot of their trucks in the left lane,they blew my doors off many times.
I worked at a grocery distribution center in Syracuse ,Ny. back in the 80's. We had about 150 drivers. Even clear out east they called the left lane the Monfort Lane.
I would love to sit down with truck driver back in the day listen to his stories
My dad ran I80 before it was officially open in pa hauling iron in the late 60s and 70 s and he still talks about the circus wagons in the left lane didn't take long for him to turn yellow and get out there with them we still run his w900 with a never late V8 so I'm glad for them every time I run that truck too
I was a senior in high school and got a job right across the road from the Saratoga truck stop at a truck leasing company. This was in 1969 just as Montfort started the East coast run. Saratoga truck stop agreed to put in a special fuel island just for Montfort. That is when they had all W900.s There were circus wagons in there 24 hrs a day. Those were times I will never forget! By the way, I grew up just north of the 111mile stick and when I-80 was being built I would ride my bike on the new slab in the Montfort Lane 👍. I drove for 50 years and finally retired and have many memories of the Montfort Lane. I really would like to find a model of a conventional Montfort circus wagon 👍. Thank you for a great informative video and God bless 👍
Has anyone found a place where models of the w-900 KW Monforts are available?
They were produced 10 years ago? Maybe longer,and are hard to come by.
Those were the days for sure. I started driving legally in 1972 .Monfort was on the top of the hill. Then u look around at Carolina Western , Inman , Big Sky of Montana ,Willie Shaw just to mention a few that made trucking fun in those days! Still remember like yesterday and can't help but think how we used to get down & with it. Too many four wheelers and idiots out there today for crews like that to run. And a I-80 Walcott was a small diner ,8 fuel pumps & pump jockeys. So much for all of that trip into yesterday. You guys take care and remember , those headlights bouncing in the rear view mirror may just be Rodeo Clown or Phantom 309👍
I remember those days. I was in my twenties then and worked for a nebraska bullhauler then. Golden cal was big in those days and gave those monfort boys a run for their money.
Yep, I knew about the Monfort lane because I was a team driver (as in owner operator) with National Carriers, Liberal, KS. in 75 shortly before a bank took over the operation of Monfort. Monfort was kind of like a late 20the century pony express, those guys ran wide open back then and no other trucking company could compete with their service. Seems toooo me as I remember it, Monfort ran is small caravans.
Hold on buddy, most Monfort, National Carriers and a lot of other drivers lived on real White-Cross and or black Beauty speed, lol. Those were the days.
@@Fffooprraacuda So, what is your point?
@@Fffooprraacuda what's your point
@@JAAB9296 my point is a lot of truck drivers we're on pocket rockets speed to get from point a to point b I pulled a reefer from East Coast West Coast back to the East Coast solo I know what I'm talking about toothpicks get off bull wagons they are dipped in speed
My dad drove for Monfort back in the 80,s . I would ride with him every summer and Christmas. He drove for wallbanger who had some trucks leased on he also had some of the old rent a rides. I have a toy Monfort truck but it is not one of the ones you have . My dad is gone now but I still drive and own my own truck . I will never forget my Monfort days. I was 10 years old the first time I seen the statue of liberty 🗽 and it was in a Mofort truck
that's really cool. Stay safe out there driver!
My dad started driving near Chicago in the early 70's, so yes, I heard about the Monfort Lane!
I drove across the US in1976 and 1977, and on I-80 west and East was one Montfort truck after another.
I drove for Monfort from 1976 to around 1980 and the went to Steinbecker Bros. when they were leased to Monfort......and most of the stories are true. Like stories of the "Hunts Point 500".
I would love to hear some of your stories of Monfort!
Damn " Hunts Point 500" I have not heard of that in a long time. These kids nowadays think of the gumball race but doing it with a car and doing it with a big truck is to different things.
One of the stories that I know about Monfort driver, him and another truck driver was coming out of New York and the other truck driver got a speeding ticket the Monford driver pulled over too and he told him that I'll pay that ticket since you're running with me.
There was another trucking company that had the same reputation I can't remember the name but they had 359 Peterbilts single bunk and they were out of Oklahoma they were called "The Good Time game"
They mostly ran to California back to the east coast on 40
Just like the Louisiana company called "Ti-Gator" or" Kate's pickles" out of the Carolinas
Just like Mary Kay's cosmetics.
The company bought 359's and 379 peats and they were pink and the women wore their pink uniforms
When you got to run with one of those girls you knew what you was doing and they were called "the Little Pink Ladies"
Yes Ken , I remember the Steinbecker bros brown KWs in early 80,s. I drove for Jim Lang he had 20 trucks leased to Monfort in 83-85. Yes the monfort lane was for real, i was turning Greely to NYC or Boston and back in about 4 - 5 days . Very rarely went to Hunts Point usually unloaded at Soloman brothers , lower Manhatten , Brooklyn market or up in the Boston market . Turning and burning !
I miss the hunts point 500. Hit the pa line and it was game on.
Twfo1969, being from La., well remember the Ti-gator trucks. Earlier this year was east of Pensacola and had a Ti-gator blow my doors off. Didn't think they were still operating as l had not seen any after l quit the road.
Montfort weren’t the only one tearing up the interstate. Back in the mid 70’s I’d come up from Nogales up the Patagonia Trail, and jump on I - 10.
at Benson. When the sun went down the speed wet up. Trucks would go by me so fast the stones on the shoulders would get sucked up in the
draught and would be tinkling on the front of my 76 K-100. They would travel in mini convoys.
My grandpa and uncle drove for Monfort. My Dad drove for Curtis out of commerce city Colorado and that's where I learned how to drive the 1693 cat hauling swinging beef out of Monfort. The Monfort Lane became a reality when Kenny Monfort stopped all meat deliveries going to hunts market because everyone was getting robbed! The governor of New York begged for Monfort to bring the much needed meat. Kenny said he would with one condition! His trucks are going to run the left lane through Pennsylvania and New York and they will not stop for anybody or anything, including law enforcement!!! Monfort was granted the exemption and therefore they were legal to run the left lane as fast as they felt needed. It was a term born for the run to hunts point,but didn't to catch on around the country.
Great Story, but not true.
We drove for WJ Digby
I remember well hearing of the Monfort lane when I first started OTR trucking, in my own K-100 with a big, I thought, 350 Cummins.
Hey dig this,I drove for C R England,in 1977,running team, my cousin and me ran out of the Burlington N J.terminal,would run out to the west coast at that time we were making 7 1/2 cents a mile Montfort would blow right by us and we ran pretty damn fast ourselves,LOL.!!!
I use to know a Monfort driver. Not by name but by his CB Handle. It was Yellow Jacket. Talked to him on I-80 lots of times in the late 70's.
I would love to hear some of your stories of Monfort!
YELLOW JACKETS name was ZACH MITCHELL
@@earlevans2428 I remember yellow jacket from early 80s at monfort , big radio and he could knock down some miles ! He also had a big base radio at his house , talked all over the USA … RIP yellow jacket
I have lived some of those Monfort stories.
I would love to hear some of your stories of Monfort!
I have 2 of these trucks in 1/43 scale I love them !
Monfort trucks had white painted steel wheels, not shiny or aluminum. They also didn't have double wide bunks, single width.
Absolutely correct!
I remember the Monforts in Nebraska and the P I E with chains hanging on the sides in the 80s.
I live in Greeley And yes the left lane is still known as the Monford lane there family farm is on HWY 392 just west of HWY 85. They did alot for the town of Greeley
I ran with the Monfort crowd in the 70s hauling cattle into Gilcrest and Keensburg Colorado. I ran out of Windsor Colorado, best days of trucking.
Hi all yep bought my first truck 1972 71 Brockway 318 detroit 13 speed fuller Left land we called the Monfort they would blow my doors off
I loved it Monfort trucks were beautiful i loved it those days were real men real trucks I hauled swinging beef on rail trailer from American beef packers in Omaha to hunts point in ny retired 4 years now got tears in my eyes when i heard the Monfort lane
I hauled swinging meat in the late 70s & 80s for safeway. ran with afew of those crazy drivers.
The haul ass lane!!!! Great story!!!
Yep, thats the Monfort Lane!
The left lane a fast lane have truck for 55 years and I used to run with them guys
Monfort lane is the left lane or get the heck out of the way lane. Use to give em 48 hours to get from Denver to Boston. Hammer Down!!!
I have a Peterbilt 352 ( monfort of Colorado). No truck number, but trailer number is #544.
Yeah but nowadays Bull haulers own the hammer lane . We run 800 hp C16 Cats in our 379 Peterbilts the slowest truck in our fleet is geared for 125 mph . Ashes to ashes dust to dust if it weren’t for bull haulers the left lane would rust . Hammer down .
I was with Packerland out of Green Bay, those monfort guys were constantly under foot forever had to tell them get out the way when they’re trying to pass other trucks
I rember like yesterday seenin runin to n y city every day what a memory beautiful classy equiment for the day
Legendary. Enough said.
I rember this company. They were fast but you have to rember back then our g w was around 73200. All of use o o had fast trucks back then. We all worked together.
I used to drive from Monfort
I guaranteed I wanna stay there and retired but they quit me. I’m still here on the road and I try to share some of the stories and experiences I’ve had was it Monfort nothing like that the old guy said I didn’t start till 1990 NM we all know 1997, 1998 was the end of Monfort transportation after they bought out the Colorado Rockies
Mumford Lane was the passing Lane the ones that I ran across were 3406 cats good running four quarter horse or better some head the V8 cat experimental motor from Caterpillar
for you old time truckers knows that the mofford Lane is the Hammer Lane also no that the JB Hunt Lane was the ditch on either side of the interstate
B/4 the Montfort Lane it was the Big R lane. Carolina Western was no slouch.
My friends drove for Carolina Western this was a part of Carolina Freight.
Ran out of Gothenburg Nebraska had 3W 900s leased to monfort till we moved them to sunflower out of York
People don't believe me when I talk about the old days for sure I was in the middle of those days Mumford and this is the kicker Cr England were left lane owner's great memories
Montfort Lane! Check your mirror before entering the passing lane. Doug in Iowa
I would like to purchase one , great vidio.
Cool stories. I started driving in 1993, l remember Monfort
Nice truck. Nice seeing you again at Garners.
Have a Happy New Year Logan.
If they were running 1693 Caterpillar four and a quarter they had big horses I drove a three and a quarter 1693 one time for a guy in eastern Ohio and that thing was a beast I can only imagine what a four and a quarter would run like
My first truck was a ' 75 Marmon with a 325hp 1693. It would pull like an ox. This was in 96. No air conditioner, no power steering , spring ride and no heat in the 36" Mercury flyin coffin. But Boy I was truckin.
I lived the legend fm 90 -92 tractor 2015
Man I can't take no more of this one I got to change
Yes, used to truck beside them.
the left fast lane. i drove back in the day.
I DROVE FOR MONFORT, BUT IN THE EARLY 80 S, BUT EVERYTHING WE HAULED HAD TO BE DELIVERED YESTERDAY, IVE DRIVEN ACROSS THIS COUNTRY, FROM SOUTH OF FRESNO, CALIFORNIA, TO PHILDELPHIA, PA. IN 3 DAYS.
I used to go from L.A. Ca. to Houston, Tex. in 24 hour every week! For Bertolino trucking, San Diego, Ca. V12 Freightliners 475 to 600 horses!
Monfort Lane is the left lane. Colorado to New York in 4 1/2 days. Hard core trucking. 👍
It’s only 1700 miles from Greeley to hunts point. More like 25 hours. Just saying.
SHOULD BE 4 AND HALF DAYS ROUND TRIP ? RIGHT
What took you so long?
Ha! 4 1/2 days was the round trip!
MISS KENNY & THE "CREW" EVERY DAY.
Get this on valentine's day
The slow lane was called the McClain lane .
I'm going to disagree with you on that. I drove a "Dollar Truck" Midwestern Distribution - Fort Scott Kansas. They had the slowest trucks. 😀
We didn't pass anybody.
I worked for Montfort in the early 90’s
I remember the Monfort Lane! :-)
The monfort lane was the left lane because they hauled swinging meat and drive faster than most lol
IN 1973 I DROVE A NEW KENWORTH CAB OVER LIKE THEIRS ONLY YELLOW AND BLACK WITH A 350 CUMMINS AND 13 SPEED HAD EVERYTHING ON IT AVAILABLE AT THE TIME. AIR RIDE SUSPENSION AND SEAT. I THOUGHT I WAS COOL STUFF, BUT I STILL GOT PASSED BY THE MONFORT TEAM DRIVERS. THEY PULLED 40 FEET TRAILER'S BECAUSE THE LAW ONLY ALLOWED A TOTAL OF 55 FEET FOR TRACTOR AND TRAILER. I HEARD THAT THEY HAD A HARD TIME KEEPING DRIVER'S BECAUSE OF LOSING THEIR LICENSE BECAUSE OF SPEEDING TICKETS, ALL THOUGH BACK THEN YOU COULD GO TO ANOTHER STATE AND GET A NEW LICENSE. THOSE WERE THE DAYS.
Those really were the days. I had a Minnesota, Nebraska, Colorado, and Arizona class A driver's license back before all the states linked up with computers. 55-mile-per-hour speed limit, and an 85 mile per hour Cat powered Kenworth.
Left lane at triple digits!
Montfort meat haulers out of Colorado they used to run hammer down in the left lane that is why it's called the Monfort Lane now
Use to see them pulled over getting a speeding ticket in the first 20 mile west end of Ohio pike back in the 70's.
Buckeye bears were notorious for showing no mercy ----
When will they get the spacing between the cab and the front bumper right? They screwed up the Mack R Model, the same way.
Well, there is a problem with getting the spacing correct and having the cab tilt or the hood tilt. If the spacing is right the cab/hood just hits or worse breaks the bumper when opening.
And the right lane is the Swift lane?
I was told that the Monfort Company would pay for their drivers speeding tickets. It was actually listed on your paystub as "safety bonus"...Anyone verify this?
Monfort didn't pay speeding tickets.
Had a Monfort driver tell me that if they got a ticket under x speed they had to pay it, over x speed Monfort paid it. Don't know how true it is.
Yesterday I saw one of those trucks but it was a freightliner and he was shifting hard
an old Freightshaker.
Any of you guys know Dean and Ron Cook? They were an OO Team 1972 ish to 79ish.
I worked for monfort at kuner and gil rest
I remember reading an article in a magazine in the late 70s about Montfort.They had Kenworth conventionals with 425 Cat engines and automatics.Then for economy and Cube they switched to Freightliner cab overs with 9 speeds.The drivers weren’t too happy about it.
Yes they were famous with their Kenworth W925s with Cat motors. Hopefully a model of the W900A model will come out from DCP for Monfort.
The later years is when economy minded moved in and it all changed.
The Allison automatics were a test fleet of K100s w/DD92s. The rest of the fleet was W900 w/Cat 1693 13spd Eaton/Fuller (13 (12 Over) was blocked off.)
At 65 mph they would pass you like you were tied to a tree
Fast trucks in my days! 70s..Monfort lane!
THEY MADE MONFORT TAKE MONFORT OF COLORADO OFF THEIR TRAILERS, BECAUSE THEY HAD PLANTS IN, GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA, GARDEN CITY KANSAS, TEXAS, AND IOWA.
The Monfort Lane is The Left Lane ...Mr Monfort would Pau any ticket the drivers may get out on the road..as long as that Tickets were not wrote inside the state of Colorado...
New to your channel love your channel..
MONFORT LANE= Left hand lane of the Interstate, because it's where the Monfort drivers flew!!!!
I absoutly know what the Montfort lane is! 10-4 east and west bound on I-70 and other interstates.
hello , it was once told, that the company, would pay speeding tickets over 75 mph. now what do you think of that??
I have heard it was over 100mph
I have heard it was over 100mph
That rumor got started early on , fact is they never paid speeding tickets, regardless of the speed.
@@earlevans2428 hello. Merry Christmas,. did you once work at Monfort ?
7 hours later.... Yesssss
The Circus Wagons!
I was just just starting interstate drive guess where 1 80 a lot I remember those days well . I tried to keep up with them, I had the but not the guts
The Monfort lane was the left lane and they would go from Greely Colorado to the Bronx over night
Don't mess with the circus wagons blowing off your doors on I 80 driver
Hammer Lane !!!
....or the grammar lane!
i think it was a 108 inch cab, peterbilt was 110 inch cab
I remember them from the 70's
They definitely wasn't the fastest trucks out there on I-80 cuz I ran out of these coast and back for years and I blew many of their Mumford doors off many times
There used to be an outfit out of Clinton, NC named Lundy's. They had some Diamond Reo's that Monfort didn't have anything for.
I've heard a few outfits from NC that ran really hard.
Or else nice to see it I used to drive Mumford I was only there about 6 months but I drove form and those stories are all true I know all some of the guys that pulled some really crazy s*** so I know exactly what you're saying and I've been in the business 51 and a half years so I know what I'm talking about have a good day everybody.
Dave couch or South Bend Indiana
Monfort Lane = Hammer lane
You said a round trip was 1700 miles. Not correct. Round trip to New York and back was 3500 miles and we ran 7200 miles a week two man.
I can remember them days
I did not see a place to reply or to purchase one
I'm sorry these model trucks sold out long ago. Every Monfort release has been a fast seller.