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Trucker helps Famous Father and His Band “Roll On”

|Josh Gentry is a pretty down-to-earth guy. The 43-year-old trucker has a fun, easy-going personality and is quick with a story – drawing from his nearly two decades of experience behind the wheel. Gentry, by many standards, is the ‘run of the mill’ blue-collar guy, with one subtle difference. Gentry’s father Teddy is the bassist for a little band you may have heard of – Alabama. For the Gentrys, their two worlds are now converging. With Alabama embarking on their 2023 “Roll On 2 North America Tour” the band needed some heavy hauling ability. At that same time, Kenworth – who’s had a long-standing relationship with the band – was celebrating their 100th anniversary. To mark that occasion, the company decided to provide the band with a T680 76-inch mid-roof sleeper for the concert tour. Of course, now they needed someone to drive it. That’s when Josh got a call from his dad asking if he’d like to drive for the band on the tour. Needless to say, he jumped at the opportunity and has been driving for the band since June.
I recently had a chance to catch up with Josh in between tour stops. The down-to-earth Gentry told me about growing up with a passion for trucking and why the industry means so much to him.
“I’ve just always felt that the Lord put the desire in my heart to have a love for it and appreciation for it, and that’s where it’s just always been,” Gentry said. “And to me, it’s not just the machines themselves, it’s the people I’ve met through the amazing, incredible industry.”From his start in the industry, to whether or not he ever felt pressure to follow in his father’s footsteps, Gentry shares his stories from the road and growing up with a famous father. Josh also shared with me a hilarious story about his first trip to the Mid-America Trucking Show, an event he says he hasn’t missed since 1988. LL

For many years, ALABAMA used Kenworth trucks to transport its equipment to concert sites across the country. In 2003, the band visited the Kenworth plant in Renton, Wa., to pick up a new Kenworth W900 72-inch AeroCab. The band has also visited the Kenworth plant in Chillicothe, Ohio. Alabama Visits Renton, Wash. in 2003
“For over 15 years of touring, we have had the pleasure of Kenworth trucks moving our equipment up and down the road for over a million miles. We are thrilled the fine folks at Kenworth are sponsoring our 2023 ROLL ON 2 tour,” said Teddy Gentry and Randy Owen. “We just celebrated our 50th anniversary and now Kenworth is celebrating their 100th anniversary. One thing is for sure, we depend on Kenworth trucks, and look forward to continuing our relationship.” “Kenworth values our longstanding partnership with ALABAMA, and we are excited to provide a Kenworth T680 for this year’s tour,” said Genevieve Bekkerus, director of marketing.
“We thank band members Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry for choosing to team up with us again and know Josh Gentry (Teddy’s son) will enjoy driving this truck during the tour.”
About ALABAMA
Over 50 years ago, Jeff Cook, Teddy Gentry and Randy Owen left the cotton farms of Fort Payne, Alabama to spend the summer playing music in a Myrtle Beach, South Carolina bar called The Bowery.
It took them six long years of tip jars and word-of-mouth to earn the major label deal they’d been dreaming of.
Then, seemingly no time at all to change the face of country music. ALABAMA, country music’s first band, was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2005. The group is known for hit songs including “Mountain Music,” “Roll On,” “Dixieland Delight” and “If You’re Gonna Play In Texas (You Gotta Have A Fiddle In The Band).” From humble beginnings picking cotton in the fields, to international stars.
ALABAMA went on to sell 80 million albums and charted 43 No.1 hits, becoming the most successful band in the history of country music.
In November 2022, co-founder Jeff Cook passed following a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s disease.
With his prior encouragement and wishes, ALABAMA continues touring on a limited basis, keeping the iconic music they created alive for the current and future generation of fans.
Thank You Alabama for 50 years of Great Country Music.

I Would like to say a few words about my good Friends Wayne and Kelly Reed, owners of Reed’s Wrecker Service in Helenwood Tn. Reed’s started their business in 1976 by Wayne’s Daddy, Clell Reed who worked hard to make their business what it is today. Clell Reed went on to be with the Lord not to many years ago and since then His Son Wayne and Wife Kelly has taken over the business.
Now on a personal note they have come to my rescue more times than I can count, no matter what time of day or night it is. They have always been more than fair with me, as I am sure they are with everybody. They seem to be able to make you feel better about the spot you have found yourself in, whether its a ditch or plowing through a tree that fell in front of you, like my last call I made to them or you just ran out of fuel. Give Wayne and Kellie a call they will most likely be able help you no matter your circumstance.
Thank You Reed’s for taking care of Scott County since 1976 we are glad that your there. Nick Manis

YELLOW CORPORATION
CEASING OPERATIONS
FILING BANKRUPTCY

JULY 31, 2023•Tyson Fisher
Yellow Corp. Is ceasing operations and filing for bankruptcy, according to the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. On Monday, July 31, the Teamsters announced in a news release that Yellow will be ceasing operations and filing for bankruptcy.“Today’s news is unfortunate but not surprising,” Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien said in a statement. “Yellow has historically proven that it could not manage itself despite billions of dollars in worker concessions and hundreds of millions in bailout funding from the federal government. This is a sad day for workers and the American freight industry.”
The move by Yellow will put tens of thousands of employees out of work, including about 22,000 union members. As of publication, no other details of the bankruptcy were known. Yellow could not be immediately reached for comment.
The news comes about a week after Yellow avoided a Teamsters strike.

Stop of The Week was found in Cullman Alabama
Puckett’s Barbecue
I worked through the weekend and found myself at Cullman Alabama, where there is plenty of choices of BBQ. Picking the one you want to try is the only problem and that’s a nice problem to have as a BBQ fan.
Well my mind was made up before I got there after looking at what google said was available, and my choice was Puckett’s BBQ which boasted of being voted top 10 in America.
I had the BBQ plate which had pulled pork and brisket, baked beans, sweet potato fries and coleslaw.
I thoroughly enjoyed and would recommend stopping by Puckett’s BBQ just off I-65 in Cullman AL.