Leading Medical Center’s Mobile Mammography Unit Reaches Remote Areas with Kenworth T660

PACCAR’s Truck Donation Aids Life-Saving Efforts

SEATTLE, Wash. – It’s a startling fact. Women in Washington state have the highest per capita incidence of new breast cancer cases in the country.


“It’s recommended that women over 40 have a yearly mammography for early detection of breast cancer – the leading cancer killer among women,” said Albert B. Einstein Jr., M.D., executive director of the Swedish Cancer Institute. “But in outlying areas, and especially among working women, they tend to put off the exams due to time, the distance they need to travel, and often financial constraints.”


With a philosophy of “if they won’t come to us, we’ll go to them,” the Swedish Cancer Institute continues to take mammography mobile with the help of a recent PACCAR gift of a new Kenworth T660.

“We’re a non-profit hospital and our outreach program is vital to communities in western Washington where we reach areas that have limited access to health care,” said Dr. Einstein. “We work with those insured, as well as uninsured – we don’t turn anyone away from a needed mammogram. With the gift of the Kenworth T660, we can continue our program – which will image an estimated 6,200 women throughout the region in 2008.”


The aerodynamic Kenworth T660 transports the Swedish Breast Care Express trailer, which is equipped with digital mammography, complete with satellite transmission technology. This ensures a timely and smooth transmission of data and images. Through grants and our own investment, the trailer and medical technology is valued at nearly $1 million. It is truly life-saving equipment.”

PACCAR vice president Helene Mawyer said, “PACCAR and Swedish are leaders in their respective fields. Our working together generates significant benefits to the communities in which we work and live. We’re honored to be able to support the life-saving work being done by Swedish every day in the early detection of breast cancer.”


Piloting the Kenworth T660 with 72-inch AeroCab® sleeper is Rick Hoy, a veteran driver of 35 years, who came out of retirement to drive the new Kenworth for Swedish. According to Hoy, who has driven 2.5 million miles without a chargeable accident, driving the truck and seeing how appreciative women are for the mobile service makes his driving job more of a mission, than a paycheck.

“When I retired, my best friend Skip and I were planning to fish till our arms fell off,” said Hoy. “On our fishing trip to Alaska, my wife called and told me Skip was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. His wife broke the news to him when we returned from Alaska. He died nine months later and we were all devastated.


“When I heard about this driving job, and what it meant in early detection, I came out of retirement and felt it was divine intervention that this opportunity came along. I call our mobile unit ‘Hope’ in honor of Skip,” said Hoy. “We reach out to folks who might not otherwise be able to get screened. Their faces beam when we pull up.

“This truck drives like a dream,” Hoy said. “We have the Kenworth GPS navigation system, which is a great tool for finding new locations, plus the Kenworth Clean Power® no-idle system, which helps the environment.”


Hoy said the Kenworth T660 and graphics package, coordinated with the trailer, make the unit eye-popping on the road. “People give me the thumbs up all the time,” he said. “And when I put on my blinker to change lanes, drivers are extremely courteous and back off to allow a lane change. I think they know and appreciate the service we provide. It just reinforces that everyone can see what a wonderful and life-saving program we have going on.”

The Swedish Cancer Institute (SCI) opened in 1932 as the first dedicated cancer-care center west of the Mississippi. A true multidisciplinary program, SCI offers a wide range of advanced cancer-treatment options in chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery – backed by extensive diagnostic capabilities, patient education and support-group services. For more information, visit www.swedish.org.

Kenworth Truck Company is the manufacturer of The World’s Best™ heavy and medium duty trucks. In addition, Kenworth is the recipient of the 2007 J.D. Power and Associates awards for Highest in Customer Satisfaction for Over The Road, Pickup and Delivery and Vocational Segment Class 8 trucks. Kenworth’s home page is www.kenworth.com. Kenworth. A PACCAR Company.