In 1975, Tom Brown visited the Detroit Diesel demonstration area on his annual trip to the Louisville Truck Show. He was looking for a bigger engine for his 1968 Kenworth dump truck. Detroit Diesel exhibited a dump equipped with an 8V-92 - the very engine Tom was considering. The truck was also equipped with an Allison HT 740.

"I was never around an 892 to see how it performed," Tom said. So he took a ride. "It was fantastic. We were impressed with the way it handled the job." After the demonstration, Tom ordered the engine. And the transmission.

Twenty-five years later, Tom is still talking about that same transmission - because it's still in his truck.

"Time-wise, fuel-wise, efficient-wise, there's no comparison." - Tom Brown, senior operator, San Jan Trucking Company

"It's been in and running ever since," Tom said. "And since 1975, I've put almost 2 million miles on the transmission." That totals up to about 3 million miles over the lifetime of the truck. "I love the HT 740," added Tom. "It only shifts six times, and you're down the road rolling in high gear before the rest of them even think about getting started going through the manual gears."

"I wouldn't trade up for a new truck for the simple fact that it has 3 million miles on it. You can't buy that." - Tom Brown

Tom noticed a difference outside the cab, too. "When I went to the Allison Automatic, it greatly reduced my upkeep," Tom noted. Instead of replacing u-joints and rear ends, the automatic only required routine fluid and filter changes. "I don't have any downtime," said Tom. "And I've never missed a load because of the transmission."

Being at the top of the seniority list at San Jan trucking company, Tom gets the first call - and the first choice - on jobs in the area. "I do mostly road work," said Tom. Usually that means hauling a full load of asphalt across soft terrain while regulating the speed of the truck to keep up with a paving or grinding crew. "The Allison Automatic takes 90 percent of the work out of it," said Tom. "That's why I'm still able to do it today."

People often ask Tom what he plans to do with his truck when he retires. Many want to buy specific parts and some want the entire rig. But it's not for sale. "It doesn't owe me a dime," said Tom. "It has earned its keep and it's going to retire with me."

Allison Automatic, I'd quit today." - Tom Brown