For The Red White & Blue

As Glen and Karla Horack roll down the highway, it’s hard for passersby not to pay attention to the gleaming, flame-red 2019 Peterbilt big rig they’ve been driving these days.  Honks, waves and even salutes from other vehicles greet the husband-and-wife team from Elkland, Missouri, as they cover some 300,000 miles a year for Prime Inc.

Last year, the truck and trailer earned first place and People’s Choice Award   in the Pride and Polish truck competition.  “We get other drivers taking pictures with the truck a lot,” Glen says.

Here’s why: If people pass on the driver’s side, they’ll see names of Glen’s family members who have served in the U.S. Military.  On the passenger side, they’ll see names of service members from Karla’s side of the family.  If they follow the Horack’s truck, they’ll see the Marine Corps motto and a classic World War II photograph.  And if they face the Horacks on the highway, they’ll hardly be able to ignore the Marine battle cry—OORAH—in all-caps and gold lettering.  The battle cry, says Glen, a St. Louis native who served in the Marines from 1977 to 1983, is “just part of being a Marine.”

Glen designed the graphics, and Stripes & Stuff Graphic Signs in Springfield, Mo brought the truck’s look to life.  This is the 11^th truck Glen has driven since joining Prime 28 years ago, and it came to a surprise to his wife of 37 years, who didn’t expect the new rig to have a military theme.

“He even surprised me with the color because I picked out yellow for the last two trucks,” Karla says.  Now their new rig is bright red.  Names on the rig might honor family members who served, but those aren’t the only names you’ll see on this truck.  The couple carries markers with them so military veterans they meet in their travels can sign the trailer.  “At one point, there were 80 to 90 signatures,” Glen says.