Big Rigs · Ohio · November 12, 2026

Ohio Owner-Operator Turns a $17,000 2000 Peterbilt 379 Into an Award-Winning Horse Hauler

By Big Rig Daily Staff

An Ohio owner-operator bought a beat-up 2000 Peterbilt 379 for $17,000 and turned it into a trophy-winning horse hauler he calls a "school bus for horses," Overdrive reports. The truck, named Pendleton, now has a Western-themed saddle-leather interior and a growing shelf of show awards.

From wheat to horses

Paul Brookhart grew up in Wapakoneta, Ohio. "I hated school," he told Overdrive, so he got his CDL and went trucking.

He started out hauling wheat in an older Kenworth T800. Then came hay. Then horses. Runs through Lexington, Kentucky, led him to start his own horse transport business, Hidden Brook Equine Transport, first with a pickup and a horse trailer.

Sleeping in a day cab

His first big rig was a 1995 Peterbilt 379 with 1.6 million miles on it. It was a day cab, so he tried sleeping across the seats. At 6 feet 2 inches tall, that did not work well.

Some nights, Overdrive reports, he hung a hammock in the trailer next to the horses. He later found a 36-inch sleeper for the truck and said it felt like moving into the Taj Mahal.

That 1995 Pete is still running too. It had passed 2.1 million miles as of October 2026.

Building Pendleton

Then Brookhart found what he called a "rough" blue-and-white 2000 Peterbilt 379 with a Cat 3406E engine and a 13-speed Eaton Fuller transmission. He paid $17,000 and fixed it up a little at a time over two years.

Several Ohio and Indiana shops helped with the work. The engine was gone through, the frame was shortened and an axle was removed to cut weight. The outside was painted a rich gun metal gray, with hand-drawn pinstriping. The custom interior, sketched out on a napkin over lunch, uses saddle leather and a cowboy theme. Overdrive's writer said the cab smells like a local saddle shop.

The name Pendleton comes from a popular whiskey.

Running late, then winning

Brookhart registered Pendleton for the Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville this year. He rolled in as the very last registered truck, with the paint on the dash still wet, and drove with the windows down in March to air out the fumes. The show gave him the "Running Late" award.

Since then, Pendleton has picked up trophies for Best Interior and Best Bobtail at other shows.

Why it matters to truckers

Not every show truck starts as a showpiece. This one started as a $17,000 used tractor that was improved bit by bit while it kept working. For anyone who loves classic semi trucks, it is a reminder that the Peterbilt 379 still draws a crowd.

Quick facts

• Truck: 2000 Peterbilt 379, named Pendleton.
• Price paid: $17,000.
• Drivetrain: Cat 3406E engine, 13-speed Eaton Fuller.
• Rebuild time: about two years, a little at a time.
• Awards: "Running Late" at Louisville, plus Best Interior and Best Bobtail trophies.
• First truck: a 1995 Peterbilt 379, now past 2.1 million miles.

FAQ

What does Pendleton haul?

Horses. Brookhart's business specializes in horse transport.

Where is the owner from?

Wapakoneta, Ohio.

A question for readers

Is there any truck on the road today that can hold a candle to a classic 379?

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