The Death Of Glider Kits In America, Owner Tommy Fitzgerald Exposes The Truth To What Happened 

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It's really wrong and should be illegal to give the government the right to regulate the trucking business because they always abuse there power and the only thing they are good at is pure corruption.

Went to Byrdstown about 7 years ago to order a Fitzgerald Glider. Best decision I ever made. Still going strong💪🏾💪🏾

When I was trucking, a couple of other O/O's used to give me crap about my 2 old Kenworth K-100's cabovers compared to their newer trucks. Mine might have been old but they were paid for and in great shape! Back when diesel went up past $4.20 per gallon. They found out the hard way that chrome, and fancy lights don't pay the bills, and those big "Rooster cruiser" engines excessively eat the most costly thing! FUEL!! When some of them were sitting home after their trucks got repo'd. My "old truck" was still going & making money.

I built two used gliders for a customer back in 1982 (I just started working and was still in high school). Both trucks were 1977-78 Mack RS700L from the west coast of Canada. The first one we installed a 300 Maxidyne with a 5spd transmission and 4.17 Mack differentials on 10.00x20 rubber. The second one we built a couple of years later this one came with a V8 mack that we removed and installed a Mack 300+ Maxidyne with a RTO 9513 transmission and 3.88 (I think) Mack differentials on 11.5x22 rubber . Both trucks were used for gravel and stone and had wet lines installed and no sleepers. The first one had spoked wheels on all axles, the second one had bud wheel hubs on the front axle only. Both trucks had no brakes on the front axle (you could do that back in the 70s as long as the complete brake assembly was removed). They were two of the best looking trucks around. Up by me back then in the mountains people used to make their own trucks all the time. People were poor and if you had an IH or Kenworth truck and you blew up the differentials and you had an old B model Mack sitting behind the barn with a good set of differentials, guess what happens, you now have a IH with Mack rears! We used to swap different engines or transmissions all the time, we had a lathe and extra driveshaft tubing in stock for various length problems. I once replaced a gas Waukesha engine for a 671 Detroit for a fire truck that was being refurbished. The stuff that was still running on the road up by me in the early 80s was crazy, B models, Autocar, Brockway. One customer had two old Brockways from the 50s with gas Continental engines and wooden cabs. I worked on such a wide range of equipment. It was a great learning experience as we only did repairs only (we only owned two trucks our 1956 hardnosed LJ Mack wrecker that we repowered from a 707 gas to a 237hp 675ENDT diesel and a 5x4 quad box tranny, the other truck was our loaner, another LJ softnosed tractor with a 673 non turbo diesel and a dualplex tranny). I learned everything I know working in that shop, we would make and set up any truck you wanted.

Tommy was about to explain something about the option of crashed trucks and you interrupted him.

I live in a van down by the river. He's from a school bus in the woods and made it big. You give me hope.

I met Bryan, tommy and alex @ the wildwood truckshow.. amizing and down to earth type of people.. we talked for a while and i enjoyed taking to the 3 of them!! When im ready to get a new pete, ill be going to Alabama! Stay safe guys!

It's Glade Springs Va. Exit 29 on I 81 across from the Petro

CLASSIC INTERVIEW, KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK.

The epa is our worst enemy now

Love the genuineness of the people. Great video!

In 2018 my boss bought two Pete 579 daycab gliders. Today, I'm buying one of them from the company. I plan to add a sleeper if I ever need to quit local and go OTR. 😁

I love this interview awesome work Alex

I ordered a '16 389 Pete from Fitzgerald in which I asked for a New Detroit, after waiting months I was told that the truck had a Fitzgerald Detroit, I was informed that I had to either order a new truck or take this one, they admitted the mistake and offered me a major warranty. Fortunately it was a great motor without any issues. I put 850K on the truck and had light issues so I opted to rebuild it. I didn't have any other issues with the truck as a whole.

Alex!!! Another great interview.

Love my truck, biggest thing I don't like is I misses being able to get a glider, always wanted a 389 with a c-16 under the hood. Normally when loaded I'm between 90,000 and 120,000 lbs, and the trailer is stretched out to 140 to 170 feet long. When the weight and tires are that far from the drives I wanted the power to drag that trailer up a hill.

My great uncle lives in Byrdstown. My grandma was born their, along with the rest of her mom and dads family. I live in Cookeville, where they did have an office at for a while. Cookeville is too far away from Byrdstown (Pickett County, TN)

Congratulations on your success...Keep on trucking...

thanks for making the trip to film. cool vid

Great interview all the way thruuu🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

His family built a great product and then threw their business in the garbage!! Proof that people need to stick with what they started!!

Awesome group right there. Shout out from Fancy Gap. 👊😁

I knew I recognized that dude from somewhere. Semi casual! These guys are making power moves that's a true inspiration.

I really enjoyed the video. If I have an issue on my peterbilt and I'm near one of his shops, im stopping by

I love right down the road from Fitzgerald In Va. beautiful place and beautiful trucks!

Man I tell you what you getting an education of a lifetime all the trucker's that I see you talkin to but you can't learn if you don't ask it questions keep up the good work🇺🇸🇺🇲👍👌

I’ve been watching Semi Casual on RU-vid. Just by watching Tommy Fitzgerald his down to Earth personality shows it on RU-vid videos, he really seems like a good guy! Awesome story about the start of his family’s business. 👍

Thank You for giving us this incredible new.

Alex time to trade that old International for a new Pete. Here is the man to hook you up today!

It's a damn shame that glider kits are gone away. I always wanted a new Freightliner Argosy like they get in Australia and a glider used to be the easiest way to get one.

Great interview...good job!

I want to buy 12.7 but I don't know if the risk is worth it how long are we able do drive them until they are banned?

Fitzgerald should get into restoring older pre emission trucks

I actually drove one of the Coronado trucks from them it was a big step up from what I was driving it was a very nice truck it got a lot of comments going down the road and made me very proud, if I was going to buy a truck I would definitely buy one from them.

I'm in Birmingham currently with my truck in one of his shops getting worked on

I followed this guy a while back on his RU-vid page never knew he was the son of the man who created a beast !!

Favorite interview of all the ones you have done. Tommy is so genuine.

My first assigned truck was a 1975 359 Pete Glider. Its current iteration was a series 60 detroit that was turned way up. It could turn 2800 rpm if you didnt mind a bright red light blasting you in the face for over revving. Good ole Junkyard Dog junior. By the way it was a California Hood too.

Yes love that transparency

What is a glider? A truck that never died

The story of how his dad built this legacy is amazing. I hope that I can grow my business into something substantial enough to pass on as well.

ran away at 16 and made it! respect!

Last I heard about Fitzgerald was they owed like 30 million in back taxes. Figured that is what actually shut them down. I know the EPA is cracking down on companies, due to regulation increases. Just a shame.

This videos answers why the first building in your videos was so big and hardy nothing for trucks in it. I always wondered what would been going on in it and why so large now I know this had to have been where the gliders were being put together. I'd like to know where in the world you found all those 60 series Detroit's. I'm guessing salvage yards. Freightliner sold 1000's of trucks with 60 series in the 1990 thru 2000 in their FLD model. the truck was worth nothing but the engine was.

Had a ‘15 Columbia. Excellent rig! They treated me right. I would love to have another.

The Semi Casual guys are awesome. Love their content.

Thanks Fitzgerald family for serving truckers for as long as you could we appreciate it! 🛻

God bless each and every one her

After what they did in the glider business I would think they change their last name. Fitzgerald gliders bankrupt many owner operators that put their faith into a company that was supposed to be building quality and instead they got mismatch parts many of which came from China and engines that had no longevity to them. When they had problems Fitzgerald left them to fend for themselves. Truly disgraceful.

My question is why do these dudes think their glider kits are worth 150 to 180 to $200,000 bucks Just because they got a old style engine in it that's about it , Back in the day we bought them kits for $35,000 bucks brand new and we put the engine and transmission and rear ends in them , nothing new and hes right the federal put a crack on everything and there is more coming yet

ware can u buy the train horn crossing gate bell i seen it on a show of yours u hear the bells an then the train horn?

GEEZUS ! 14 seconds in, I’M IN !

I love that circle of without this guy I couldn't have done it no sir without that guy we couldn't have done it no sir without those guys this couldn't have done it. The circle of humble this and try to do something good is amazing. Love all you.

We need more gliders!!

Great show

I know 6 guys that bought Fitzgerald glider kits with 12.7 series60 every single one went to shit between 300~400k miles all needed engine rebuilds poor motor quality.

I almost bought a Glider from them but went a different route in my operation and wish I would have done it when I had a chance.

I didn’t realize gliders aren’t available anymore. I believe some dealers still make gliders. They order new trucks without drivetrains. Then order rebuilt engines, transmission, rearends.

Fitzgerald gliders are one of the most poorly made gliders on the market. Overhauled with used or Chinese parts. Never heard of one that made it over 500k without a rebuild.

I calld Fitzgerald about 20 times in February trying to get a glider but didnt know they were affected heavily by the ice storm. I got a 2022 pete else were bt I wanted a glider bt its all good

Love the videos I’m a master diesel mechanic trucks are what I love

Hello!. Love your show!

Gosh! Did he actually explain the glider kit? Went on to everything else.

I'll check out their dealership soon. I am looking forward to get a new truck

I like the saying "People like doing business with people" Problem is alot of people get into money and they forget where they came from.

Fitzgerald quality isn't a whole lot better than Chinese, I know a number of guys that had a ton of problems with their gliders, especially with fitzgerald "in-house reman" motors. I always laughed seeing the signs outside their crossville location about volvo & mack being owned by China yet their own quality is no better than volvo or mack

I go to the semi Casual truck show ever since I moved to the crossville area great truck show

They are in Tennessee also.

I don’t care how much you’re making. Just don’t sell me a lemon truck. And that’s what these guys have been doing for years

There’s a lot more differences other than motor and transmission. The only advantage these trucks have is elog. Less truck for a higher price.

Glad he's doing gliders anymore. They built a junk glider motor for me in 2018.

This video plays TWICE!

Sad to not be able to build a true power monster any more

Bravo! A man in the trucking industry that ain't trying to pee on your leg & convince you it's raining. I almost wish I was not retired now. Good job Son, I wish you well.

Cool stuff

Man, another great one with the Glider family! 🥳

I ENCOURAGE STRONGLY for all motor and diesel enthusiasts to do research on EPA and Green act and SIGN THE RPM ACT!!✌🏻 💪⚔🇺🇸🗽⚖🗽🇺🇸⚔💪

Obviously, the corporations that own the big manufacturers see that the gliders were taking money out of their pocket. They want these older trucks or older drivetrains off the road so they can sell new ones, period.

I met a guy that worked in the “warranty” dept at Fitzgerald a few years ago. He Showed me a pic of a line of blown up Detroit’s.

My reason why I didn't look at gliders when I was looking for a truck is that I don't like the Series 60 12.7 engine. I'd welcome a 3406E, C15, N14 or Series 60 14 liter over the smaller engine Fitzgerald preferred to put in their trucks.

Jokes on Tommy. A new glider market is ramping up and is beginning to make small shops very wealthy. "Reconstructed" gliders are popping up for sale all over Truck paper. Factory built trucks with emissions engines, swapped with pre 2000 engines, retitled for the current year, going for 175k and up. There's a dealer out of the Midwest, I won't say their company name but they are taking 2017 and newer rigs, and converting them.

i work for a company that delivered Peterbilt glider kits to Byrdstown,TN

Love the video! I met theese guys in Nacogdoches TX A couple a weeks ago. Really great guys😎

Great video

Tommy you are a special person my dream was always to owned aPeterbilt if I was able to buy a peterbilt I would have you to build it for me

I built a glider truck for FryWagner industrial truck repair..

Dang I didn’t know that! 😞

Wow on the barn find! But, zero miles?

Shout out to Mitchell for giving to the children. Making us from NC proud as hell! I have also spent time in the children's unit at Baptist with my stepson when he was very young and it is a sad place for anyone who has a heart. Thank you for giving to the children who are in need of help sir. God will surly bless you!

The federal government should be ashamed of what they did to the trucking industry if the aftertreatment was so good why are owner operators still having so many problems with there trucks from 2008 and newer owner operators can spend any amount of money on average they spend $8,000.00 to $20,000.00 just on aftertreatment system and that not touching the motor 😳 🤔 🙄 🤣

Great video guys

My overall impression was Fitzgerald didn’t rebuild reliable Detroit Series 60’s

its a damn shame its not made anymore. just looking to get into the dump truck game and im really liking the western star 49x and id love to get one with a Detroit model 60 damn shame hopefully the laws change

I used to pick up gliders trucks at that location

I have done something similar with pickups. Take '98.5 24v Cummins and put it in new F-350. Old Cummins in new Fords is pretty popular around here.

Profit is not a dirty word!…I’m definitely stealing that line from you Tommy So true and fantastic to hear a real businessman say it out loud… I would absolutely buy a truck from this man based on his honesty alone lol😂

Sell them without VIN numbers and the customer figures it out themselves....

I met Tommy at MATS about 7 years ago and he is exactly the same in person as he is in the video.

Time for a EU tour🤙🏻🤙🏻