After a lot of number crunching, soul searching, and prayer we agreed to sign on the dotted line for a new truck. The only people who knew we were even contemplating this move were a few of our closest friends who knew the trucking business from the inside and a couple who have absolutely no idea about trucking but know us well enough to slap some sense back into us if they thought we were making a mistake. We love all of you and thank you for your continued support and prayers as we start this journey again.
The last time we decided to do this we were 10 years younger and naive about what it took to run a business (College can give you the basics but until you jump in you have no idea). I was in a job I hated and Diane had just been told her job was being outsourced overseas. I jokingly said, "Why don't we buy a truck and see the country? The next thing either of us knew we were in Nashville signing our life away and then headed to Kansas to lease our new (4 year old) Peterbilt to National Carriers in Liberal. 14 months later we were ready to throw in the towel and give up. We forged ahead by cancelling the lease and leasing with Palmer Transport out of Ontario, California. We were hauling new furniture made in the southeast to all points west and returning with new furniture made overseas to the east. We had found a home. The people were great to work with and no one pressured you to run too hard. The loads were light meaning tremendous fuel savings. It was hard work but it paid well and with the wonderful, hard working wife I have we turned everything around within a few months. Then our lack of business savvy hit us again. We were making money like we never had and instead of putting a percentage back we were spending every dime that came in. We lived like there was no tomorrow. Had to have the newest and best of everything. Then reality sank in. The recession was beginning. People still had no idea why their money wasn't going as far as it used to but they quit spending. When you start tightening your belt one of the first things we learned is that people don't buy furniture. If the springs from that old sofa aren't sticking you in the butt, it can wait. All of a sudden we were getting to California with no loads out and when the IRS finds out how much money you make they want a much larger cut. After a couple of months we were slipping in that dark hole again. While sitting in Ontario one day without having a load to get us out I started looking around for somewhere else to possibly lease the truck. I found Schneider National and what they referred to as the "Choice" program. You go on their website, look through their loads and pick what you want to do, where you want to go, and when you want to go there. You see upfront how much a load pays, how much it weighs, and everything you need to know to make an informed decision. I knew nothing about dispatching a truck or what to look for as that part had always been done for me. Even though we owned our business, we still were treated like an employee at most companies. For the most part it worked for me.
Some people hated this program and some loved it. I loved it. For the first time I was actually my own boss. My fate rested in my hands. Work hard you can do well. We were doing okay. After a couple of years Diane's mom started getting sick and started falling. We were afraid for her safety and decided Diane needed to be home for her. We moved her in with us and for the first time in about 6 years I lost my partner and best friend from the truck. It took quite a while before I got used to looking over at the passenger seat and not seeing her over there. She never got bored, and never complained. Everyone we knew tried to talk us out of her going with me on the truck telling us that we had too good of a marriage to ruin it by being right up under each other 24 hours a day. It worked just the opposite. It gave us the opportunity to know each other and get that much closer. Now her time at home has allowed her to reconnect with old friends, get deeper involved with our church, and become a real grandma to our grand kids. She also works as needed with one of her "besties." While she was on the truck with me she learned how I liked to run and where so she will also be helping to dispatch me. I guess I'm kinda jealous that these people, her job, and other activities have taken her out of the truck, but I'm proud to see her have the life she deserves for the first time in years.
I know this seems to be a drastic move at a time when I should be thinking about sitting back and relaxing. That is as far as it got, thinking about it. That just isn't me. Also we decided that financially I couldn't just sit and do nothing.
When our old truck went down with almost 1.5 million miles we decided it was time to put it, and us, out of our misery. I took a job with as a company driver and lasted all of 12 days. I tried another with Heartland Express and I won't say anything bad about them. They were a good company to work for but again, I was miserable the entire time I was there. Nothing to do with them, I just found how hard it is to work for someone else after doing it so long for yourself.
So here I am again. This time with a new 2016 Freightliner Cascadia Evolution truck. It will take a lot of hard work but with the support of friends, family, and our faith that the Lord will continue to guide us, we will be able to make a go of it.
I will be updating as frequently as possible through my Facebook page so please follow along with this renewed adventure at the link above and feel free to send me your comments, suggestions, or ideas. Just click the link and like the page for updates.
Love you all and look forward to hearing from you.
