08/07/2026
It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Terry Klenske, longtime owner of Dalton Trucking, who passed away Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at the age of 83.
For nearly five decades, Terry was the heart of Dalton Trucking.
Terry purchased Dalton in 1977 when it was a small four-truck operation. What began as something he once described as a hobby grew, through his hard work, determination, willingness to take chances and genuine love of trucking, into the company that so many of us know today.
But Terry’s legacy cannot be measured simply by the number of trucks in the fleet, the size of the yard, or the loads hauled over the years.
His greatest legacy is the people.
Terry believed in doing things ourselves, taking care of our equipment, taking care of our customers and, most importantly, giving people an opportunity to build a career. Years ago, when speaking about Dalton employees, Terry said his goal had always been to keep his people “for the long haul.” Anyone who has spent much time around Dalton knows that wasn’t just something he said. Generations of employees have worked here, many for decades, and countless families have built their lives around opportunities that began at Dalton Trucking.
Terry also had a lifelong love for trucks that extended far beyond the business. His passion for preserving trucking history became known throughout the country through his remarkable collection of antique trucks and his many years of involvement with the American Truck Historical Society. He served as National President of ATHS and helped bring the 2004 National Convention to California Speedway here in Fontana.
Those old green Dalton trucks were never simply things to put in a building and look at. Terry wanted them restored, driven and shared with people. If there was a truck show, convoy or gathering of people who loved trucking, there was a good chance Terry wanted to be part of it.
For those of us at Dalton, however, we will remember much more than the trucks.
We will remember seeing him around the yard. We will remember his stories. We will remember his ideas, his stubborn determination, his knowledge of an industry he spent a lifetime in, and a man who never really stopped thinking about trucks.
Terry took a four-truck company and spent nearly 50 years building something that will continue long after him. Dalton Trucking today carries his fingerprints everywhere — in the equipment, in the shops, in the people, in the way we do business and in the generations of the Klenske family who continue what he started.
A company can own a lot of trucks, but Terry built something much bigger than a fleet. He built a legacy.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the entire Klenske family during this difficult time.
From all of us at Dalton Trucking:
Thank you, Terry, for the opportunities you gave us, the company you built, and the road you paved for all of us.
Rest in peace, Boss. You will be deeply missed.
Terry Klenske
December 26, 1942 – August 5, 2026
