HOUMA, La. (WGNO) – It’s safe to say that Victor Sheppard got his money’s worth on his 2007 Toyota Tundra. The Houma resident drove the truck for more than a million miles, and was rewarded with a new truck this week – for free.
Toyota said in a news release that the million-mile Tundra, a 2007 model year, was one of the first of its kind assembled exclusively at Toyota Motor Manufacturing in San Antonio.
Since purchasing the truck, Sheppard has been the sole owner and has put an average of 125,000 miles a year on the odometer, regularly driving long-haul trips from his home to North Dakota, Wyoming, and Virginia for his job. The truck still has its original engine, transmission and paint job.
Toyota decided to swap trucks with Sheppard at Greg Leblanc Toyota in Houma, where Sheppard received a 2016 Tundra on the house.
Sheppard has logged 117 dealership service visits over nine years, ranging from timing belt replacements, oil changes, and the manufacturer’s regularly scheduled check-ups.
He said his old truck is still “almost like new.”