Kenworth T800s Haul Away the Old, Open Future to New Stanford Stadium

Tue July 25, 2006
Truck and Trailer Guide

When Stanford University decided the time was right for a teardown instead of a touchdown, Ferma Corporation and its Kenworth T800s were selected to help haul away the remains of the school’s 85,500-seat football stadium built in 1921.

Over the decades, Stanford Stadium hosted a steady stream of Stanford football games, track meets and graduation ceremonies in addition to national and international events like Super Bowl XIX and soccer events for the 1984 Summer Olympic Games.

It was Ferma Corporation, one of the leading demolition and general engineering firms in Northern California, that helped kick off the new $90 million, 50,000-seat, double-deck Stanford Stadium project to a fast start.

Ferma’s equipment lineup features 17 Kenworth T800s with Caterpillar C15 and C13 435-hp engines, 13-speed transmissions, and 36,000-lb. rear axles.

The company’s three new Kenworth T800 heavy haulers are equipped with 475-hp engines. Ferma also has three Kenworth T300s, including two service vehicles and one flatbed.

“We had two weeks to complete the job and we finished ahead of schedule,” said Rob Verga, equipment manager of Ferma Corp. in Mountain View, CA. “The first week we worked from 7 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. on two shifts.”

Ferma’s T800 pulling end dump trailers carried up to 18 yds. (16.5 m) of concrete per load, while Kenworth T800s pulling Ferma-designed debris trailers hauled 65 to 70 yds. (59.4 to 64 m) per load containing the stadium’s aluminum bench seats, steel, metal and wood, noted Verga. Ferma Corporation was responsible for hauling approximately 500 loads, with much of the material designated for recycling.

Ferma Corporation first began purchasing Kenworth trucks in 1990 and has relied on them ever since for their durability, driver comfort and retention, and resale value.

“We’re really pleased with our Kenworths. They get the job done,” said Verga. “We have some Kenworth T800s with the new cab interior to help keep drivers comfortable and they just love it. We don’t have driver turnover very often. Some have been here for 20 years.

“We also get really good service,” Verga said. “Bay Area Kenworth, our dealer, treats us right and handles all our maintenance. They come and pick up the trucks and deliver them back to us when the service work is completed.”

The stadium’s grand opening is scheduled for Sept. 16 when Stanford hosts Navy on the gridiron.

Kenworth Truck Company, a division of PACCAR Inc., is a leading manufacturer of heavy and medium duty trucks.

For more information, visit www.stanfordstadium.com or www.kenworth.com.