Roll on – Alabama Visits Kenworth Plant and Thrills Fans with Concert

Alabama’s Roll On II Tour recently came to the Seattle area as part of its nationwide tour -- performing a concert at the Washington State Fair. It also meant a reunion with Kenworth at the nearby Renton truck plant, as members of the band and road crew stopped by for a tour of the manufacturing facility. Also pulling in behind the wheel of the band’s Kenworth T680 was Josh Gentry, son of Teddy Gentry, co-founding member of Alabama.

“It was a scene reminiscent from decades earlier when some of the band members and truck drivers came to Renton to take delivery of their Kenworth tour trucks and receive a plant tour,” said Kevin Haygood, Kenworth assistant general manager for sales and marketing. “We partnered with Alabama in the late ‘80s through 2004 to provide trucks for their concert tours, and now, several decades later, we’re doing it again for their Roll On II Tour. It’s been a close partnership, and we were thrilled to have them at the plant once again.”

In 2023, Alabama hit the road with its Roll On II Tour.

“Now I’m getting to experience the amazing things I saw from the sidelines as a boy,” said Josh Gentry, who spent a lot of time riding in Kenworth trucks with Alabama’s tour drivers in the late 80s and early 90s. “I’ve always loved trucks, and when I was eight years old, trucks and Kenworth became an obsession. That’s why it’s humbling and surreal to see where these amazing machines are made. The trucks are built by people who have a passion -- they stand behind the brand. Seeing the trucks being built and meeting the people who work so hard to build them…well, it’s a dream come true.”

“Everyone at the plant was excited to host the crew, Josh and Teddy,” said Scott Smith, Kenworth Renton plant manager. “All told, we had 15 from Alabama join the factory tour. Some of our workers were building trucks when we last hosted Alabama at the plant, so this reunion brought back many great memories for those here. It’s been a great association.”

For Teddy Gentry, it was his first time through the plant. “It was amazing,” he said. “Hats off to all the employees. Doing the things they do…I don’t think I could keep up if I were out there. No two Kenworths are alike coming down the line – I didn’t know all the details that went into building a truck. I was blown away.”

For Smith and many other employees at Kenworth, the day after the factory tour with Alabama meant getting to see the band in their work environment. A quick drive to Puyallup (25 miles south of Renton) and the Washington State Fair had Alabama headlining the concert. Fans were on their feet throughout the concert and Alabama didn’t disappoint – playing many of their classic hits. During the 1980s alone, the band had 27 No. 1 country hits and it’s the most awarded band in the history of country music, with over 200 awards from a variety of organizations.

Since the concert was during National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, Teddy Gentry took a moment toward the end of the concert to pay homage to drivers everywhere for their contributions. He even singled out Josh and how proud he was to have him as the driver for the tour. A special nod to Kenworth and the factory workers at the Renton plant ended the prelude before the musical chords to Roll On (18-Wheeler) began serenading the crowd. The song is an anthem to truckers, and it was a fitting conclusion to a concert that no one would soon forget.

“It was a magical two days for Kenworth and Alabama,” said Smith. “We shared each other’s ‘home.’ There is a special bond between Kenworth and Alabama. And, even more, we know there is a strong connection between truckers and the band. That’s why this relationship has endured over time.”

“Exactly,” said Josh Gentry. “Randy (Owen) and Dad have honed their craft and have done it perfectly for so many years. They are still farmers back home and their music talks about honest and hardworking people. The song 40 Hour Week reflects that, and it’s relatable. Kenworth – through its trucks and people – are the same. We feel we’re a part of their family, and they’re a part of ours. Like Alabama, Kenworth puts their heart and soul in all they do.”

Trucks: From Boyhood Love to Driving Reality
Josh Gentry still remembers it like it was yesterday. It was the day trucking began running through his veins. It was late March in 1988.

“Dad came and got me out of school – I was only eight – and he said I was going to spend the weekend with him out on the road. Well, I remember I was madder than all get out. I don’t recall why. But then he said we would be at a truck show (Mid America Trucking Show), and my attitude completely changed. I was going to see a bunch of trucks!”

Alabama was at MATS with Kenworth, and in a few nights, they’d be playing a free concert for truckers.

“Josh has loved trucks since he was old enough to know what a truck was,” recalled Teddy Gentry. “I remember he’d get mad at me if I didn’t get a room next to the interstate so he could watch trucks go by.”

After arriving in Louisville, Teddy drove Josh by all the show trucks on display for judging. Then he got a special tour of the Kenworth booth before show hours. He climbed into a Special Edition W900L “James Bond” truck, and those toy trucks he played with quickly transformed into reality. “I was in awe. I wanted that truck so badly,” Josh recalled. “That started my love affair with trucks.”

Soon, Josh was asking to go out on the road more often, and more often than not, he asked if he could ride in the Kenworths. Request granted. “Riding with the truck drivers was like a vacation for me,” said Josh. “It was absolutely amazing. Riding in the passenger seat, truckers would pull up beside us and wave, and say on the CB – ‘Roll on Alabama!’ Those childhood memories became adult realities.”

He started his own trucking journey in 2004, driving trucks on his dad’s farm, later working as a company driver for various companies. “When Josh got his CDL, he started driving all the old trucks we had around the farm,” recalled Teddy. “He worked his way up the ladder. He didn’t start out with the best, but now he drives the best. I’m proud of him. I know he’s safe out there on the road and it’s a good feeling having him out on the road with me.”

Today, Josh Gentry is behind the wheel of a Kenworth T680, equipped with a 76-inch mid-roof sleeper and the PACCAR Powertrain featuring the PACCAR MX-13 engine, PACCAR TX-12 automated transmission and PACCAR DX-40 tandem rear axles.

“It’s a dream truck to drive,” he said. “The maneuverability and handling of the truck is great. We often get into tight spaces at the venue’s loading dock. Angles can be difficult, but this truck is perfect for the job.”
Out on the open road, Gentry said he has plenty of power to navigate hills and the smooth shifting of the automated transmission makes driving the T680 a pleasure. “I’ve driven other combinations, but nothing like the PACCAR powertrain. Engine and transmission technology certainly have come a long way. It makes driving a truck so much easier.”

Inside, the T680 is appointed with the Diamond VIT interior in slate gray with madrona accents and includes the latest in driver amenities. Both the driver and passenger seats are GT703 leather seats that are fully heated and cooled. The 76-inch sleeper includes space for a microwave and TV, a factory-installed fridge, and a rotating work table. The T680 also includes driver assistance systems, including Bendix Fusion Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) and Lane Keeping Assist with Torque Assisted Steering.

“I’m riding in style,” concluded Gentry. “I still remember riding in T600s and having so much fun when I was a boy. But now getting to drive the latest model from Kenworth. It doesn’t get any better than this.”

Kenworth Truck Company, founded in 1923, specializes in the design and manufacture of The World’s Best® heavy- and medium-duty trucks. As a leader in the development of advanced diesel powertrains, zero emissions vehicles, connected truck technologies and autonomous driving systems, Kenworth is creating transportation solutions to drive a better world. Kenworth’s Internet home page is at www.kenworth.com. Kenworth is a PACCAR company.