Old Faithful on the Road

By George L. Nitti

In the heart of Yellowstone National Park, Zachary Pickering, owner of Yellowstone Towing and Repair, recently rolled out a new addition to his fleet that’s a mobile homage to the region’s rugged beauty and heritage: a 2024 Kenworth 990 with a Custom Built CDR 50-ton rotator, made by Custom Built, LLC. Dubbed “Old Faithful,” which is named after the iconic geyser, the rotator blends Yellowstone’s natural allure with the company's commitment to family legacy and quality service.  

“Normally, I don’t go for wraps,” Pickering explained. “They’re expensive, and they often don’t last as long as other finishes. But with this truck, we wanted something that would stand out, especially because it’s often in the park where tourists from all over the world visit. We wanted it to look really cool—something that connects with the landscape and captures the feeling of running alongside the bison and the buffaloes.”  

The wrap’s design came from Pickering himself, a third-generation operator of the family business (his son, nephew and other family are in line to be 4th generation), who also has a background in communications and design. Using Adobe InDesign, he developed a striking visual that merges the company’s bold spirit with the majestic simplicity of the park.   

At the heart of this wrap, two pieces of imagery stick out. The pristineness of nature, marked by a series of towering pine trees along the side of the wrap. And a large compass, a symbol of exploration and guidance—a fitting image for a towing company that often ventures into challenging terrains to assist with recoveries. “I didn’t want to just do mountains and trees like some other companies,” Pickering explained. “The compass was my second choice, but it felt like the right choice, representing going where no one else has been.”  

Operating from their main headquarters in Island Park, Idaho, about 14 miles from the entrance to Yellowstone Park, the company serves I-15, Highway 20, and the winding roads within and around Yellowstone Park. “In the summer, we’re in the park nearly every other day,” Pickering said. “And we’re there to help when the park’s towing services need backup, like when we helped recover a camper 750 feet down a mountain. Sometimes, we even coordinate with Blackhawks for tricky rescues.”  

Beside Old Faithful’s eye-catching design is a rotator built on quality as the manufacturer, Custom Built LLC, is a family-operated business located in Kane, Pennsylvania that, like Yellowstone Towing, prioritizes craftsmanship. “They’re all-American made, with everything built in-house,” Pickering noted. “We love that they’re family-run, like us.”  

This Custom Built CDR 50-ton rotator is equipped with a powerful CX-15 engine producing 565 horsepower and an 18-speed transmission, delivering the strength needed for heavy-duty recovery jobs. Designed with long-haul efficiency, it features a premium comfort package, including a Neway suspension system for a smoother ride, ventilated heated and cooled seats, and a high-end Diamond Interior Package. Storage is fully customized, with compartments strategically designed in collaboration with the manufacturer for optimal organization. The unit is equipped with five winch lines, including two 50,000-lb main winches, two 20,000-lb auxiliary winches, and a 50,000-lb drag winch, making it a powerhouse in any recovery operation. 

Through thoughtful design with a connection to Yellowstone’s wilderness while embracing quality, Pickering has created a symbol that resonates with nature and the spirit of America. George L. Nitti is the editor and a writer for Tow Industry Week, contributing countless articles on tow industry graphics, recoveries, news, business and more. He is also a feature writer for American Towman Magazine, along with being its news editor.