October Truck of the Month
Story by Duncan Putman  

 

This month we go to Western Pennsylvania to find October’s Eye-Catching Truck. It’s a 2007 International 9900ix powered by a Caterpillar C15 ACERT rated at 475 bhp. It has a Fuller 13 speed manual with double overdrive with a ceramic Eaton Fuller clutch. The rears are Dana Spicer single reduction with 40,000 pound capacity and the gear ratio is 3:55.

 

The cab is a Hi-Rise 72 inch sleeper with Eagle package interior. Alcoa Durabright wheels carry this impressive looking cab which is owned by David Dudo of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. David’s company is called Dudo Trucking, LLC and leases the tractor-trailer to Beemac Trucking located in Ambridge, PA. Dudo is an operations manager at Beemac and employs driver Joe Prosperi to operate the 9900ix.

 

Dudo believes Beemac to be the best trucking operation going and plans to stay with the company until retirement.

 

Dudo plans the loads and Prosperi delivers them using either a 2007 East MMX aluminum 53 foot spread-axle flatbed equipped with Roll-Tite tarp kit or a ’07 Fontaine Infinity AX 48 foot flat. Although they haul primarily steel, Dave and Joe will move anything that will go on a flatbed. Joe runs 48 states all week long but David gets him home for the weekends. Dudo credits Joe with “doing an outstanding job!”

 

David has been married to Marlene for 12 years and the couple have 2 children, Steve and Kelly. Marlene works as “CoCo the Clown” doing childrens’ and other events while their kids are very active in sports and fitness pursuits.

 

Joe lives in Marion, Ohio with wife Tracy and their 2 dogs. Tracy is still attending college but enjoys travelling with Joe during the summer months.

 

The International’s tractor unit number is POKE 4648 in honor of David’s friend, Corporal Joseph Pokorny of the Pennsylvania State Police. Pokorny was shot twice and killed while in the line of duty on December 12, 2005. The slain trooper hailed from Aliquippa and was very close to David’s cousin, Corporal David Bova, also with the PA State Police. Joe’s badge number was 4648 and Dudo plans to have a more detailed memorial painted on the back of the tractor in honor of Pokorny.