Uploaded March 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
Here we revisit Mid-State Solid Waste, a small locally owned company based out of Templeton in the north county. Many of you may remember seeing the CWS Square Body FL I filmed from them last summer, and in this video I present what I assume to be their spare front loader, a 1997 Peterbilt 320 with an old school Amrep front load body.
After a second failed attempt to film their WhiteGMC split rapid rail, it was almost a wasted trip until I heard this truck start up as I was waiting by the yard. There are many quirks and interesting details about this truck that make it far more unique than your average Amrep Octo FL. First and likely most noticeable is the rare "drop down" tailgate, something I've only ever seen in photos. I'm unsure about what the specific purpose of this design is besides more yardage, so maybe someone else out there knows more than I do. Another feature of this truck is the underbody arm hydraulics, an iconic manufacturing spec to most front load trucks of the era. You will also notice that this cab is in fact a RHS low entry, which leads me to believe that this was possibly used for manual collection before Mid State went entirely automated... but due to the lack of history or knowledge about the company or service area it is hard to say if this was the case. Lastly, one of the smaller features I like about this truck are the chromed Budd steel wheels... another thing unique to Mid-State’s older trucks.
Anyhow, it was definitely cool seeing this truck, along with a skilled operator behind the wheel, tackling this commercial route! Huge thanks to the driver for letting me follow along and grab some video.
Here we revisit Mid-State Solid Waste, a small locally owned company based out of Templeton in the north county. Many of you may remember seeing the CWS Square Body FL I filmed from them last summer, and in this video I present what I assume to be their spare front loader, a 1997 Peterbilt 320 with an old school Amrep front load body.
After a second failed attempt to film their WhiteGMC split rapid rail, it was almost a wasted trip until I heard this truck start up as I was waiting by the yard. There are many quirks and interesting details about this truck that make it far more unique than your average Amrep Octo FL. First and likely most noticeable is the rare "drop down" tailgate, something I've only ever seen in photos. I'm unsure about what the specific purpose of this design is besides more yardage, so maybe someone else out there knows more than I do. Another feature of this truck is the underbody arm hydraulics, an iconic manufacturing spec to most front load trucks of the era. You will also notice that this cab is in fact a RHS low entry, which leads me to believe that this was possibly used for manual collection before Mid State went entirely automated... but due to the lack of history or knowledge about the company or service area it is hard to say if this was the case. Lastly, one of the smaller features I like about this truck are the chromed Budd steel wheels... another thing unique to Mid-State’s older trucks.
Anyhow, it was definitely cool seeing this truck, along with a skilled operator behind the wheel, tackling this commercial route! Huge thanks to the driver for letting me follow along and grab some video.
