I hope that if you’re reading this, you’ve also read the first book. My termination from Conway really made me doubt my driving skills. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the last time those skills would be questioned — there are moments in this book that will show that as well.
I feel that I need to share something important at this point in my journey. Back in 1999, God brought an angel into my life. This person, who does not want to be named, has been my main source of strength for the past 26 years. She has been there in all aspects of life — the kind of support system all men dream and pray for.
During this portion of my career, you’ll read about several trials and tribulations, both personal and business-related, that we survived as a team. But for now, let’s move forward with my story.
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The Transition
After Conway, there was a lengthy period before I figured out where my next source of steady income would come from. I had shut down my commercial cleaning service in 1998 when the EPA introduced stricter regulations that made continuing unfeasible.
Thankfully, I had built strong relationships with the trucking companies I had cleaned for, and they occasionally threw me small jobs. Still, those were some of the leanest times my fiancée and I had ever faced.
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Short-Term Jobs
I managed to secure two short-term stints of steady work, each lasting about two months. One was with a corrugated container company in Columbus, Indiana. The other was with Hogan Leasing out of St. Louis, Missouri.
I never truly enjoyed either job. After what happened at Conway, I simply didn’t trust working for another company. It felt like none of them could be relied upon.
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The Inheritance and a New Direction
When my dad passed away, he left me a small inheritance. After probate, I decided to use part of it to purchase a semi tractor.
I didn’t have the stomach for corporate policies anymore. I wanted to be my own boss — full-time.
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Finding the Truck
In early September 2003, I came across a truck listing in Truck Paper, a publication specializing in quality used trucks. It was a 1999 International sleeper road tractor being sold at International Used Truck Sales on the south side of Indianapolis.
I went to see it in person and took it for a test drive. The truck had a 10-speed transmission, and I was immediately impressed by how tight the shift pattern was and how smoothly it handled — both excellent qualities for a used truck.
But what really sealed the deal was the fact that it had only 490,000 miles on the engine, and the engine blow-by was exceptionally minimal for a truck with that many miles. Right then and there, I knew this was the one.
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Going Independent
The truck was equipped with one of the most fuel-efficient and powerful engines of its day: the Cummins N14.
I applied for my own DOT number and did extensive research into what I was getting into — the costs, the challenges, and the responsibility of chasing down my own revenue. That research convinced me the safest and most economical path was to lease my tractor on with a company.
I looked for a carrier that provided trailers and had fair Independent Contractor policies. To my surprise, CSX Intermodal was the best fit. They had the least restrictive policies and offered exactly what I was looking for.
My fiancée and I formed a C Corporation for tax purposes. She was the President/Secretary, and I was the Vice President/Transportation Engineer. We named our new company Jones Express in honor of my dad. I even placed a memorial for him on the truck.
I applied at CSX in late September, went through orientation, and was hauling my first load by the first week of October.
It felt good — no more answering to anyone, no more one-sided company policies. For the first time in a long time, I felt like I had found my happiness… finally.
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My Situation – Please Read
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My Trucker Life 