Sometimes the right person walks into your life at just the right moment. For me, that person was Ernie Lipperd — a fellow CSX driver whose friendship would shape my trucking journey for decades to come.
CSX had its share of surprises in those early days, especially since I had never done this kind of work before. I’m the type of person who usually keeps to himself — I don’t speak unless spoken to.
About two months into my contract, I was hooking up to a trailer in the Cincinnati rail yard when another driver approached me. I had no idea that this meeting would change my life.
His name was Ernie Lipperd. People say that God puts the right people in the right places at the right time — and I believe it. I’ve been blessed by it many times, and this friendship was one of those blessings.
Ernie had been an Independent Contractor for nearly 30 years when we met, though he later retired due to job-related injuries. That’s one of the hard truths about this career: the longer you’re in it, the more you pay for it with your health.
Even though our time together at CSX was short, Ernie and I built a friendship that has lasted more than 23 years. We stayed in constant touch and later even worked together at another company. But in these early years at CSX, that bond grew fast.
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Working Side by Side
While I was running loads to various customers across Indiana and the surrounding states, Ernie had a dedicated run: two loads a day from Firestone Building Products on the southeast side of Indianapolis to the Cincinnati rail yard. It was routine but highly lucrative.
I also picked up quite a few loads out of Crawfordsville, Indiana, at Rand McNally Publishing. Some went to Avon, some to Cincinnati. Avon handled east–west rail traffic, while Cincinnati handled north–south.
One particular load gave me my first real introduction to weigh stations and weight laws. I picked up a sealed trailer of aluminum shavings in Cincinnati, headed for Enkei, a production plant in Columbus, Indiana.
At the Indiana state line, I pulled onto the scale. The digital display showed I was overweight on my drive and steering axles. Because the trailer was sealed, it was illegal to break that seal unless it was an emergency.
The scale master insisted I call a recovery company to adjust the load. When I contacted CSX, their response was simple: “The shipper will pay the fine. Wait until the scale closes and then deliver the load.”
So that’s what I did — and it was my first real taste of DOT rules and regulations. Unfortunately, it wouldn’t be the last.
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A Favor and a Blessing
Not long after I met Ernie, central dispatch offered me the same Firestone runs that he had been pulling. I don’t know if he recommended me, and I never asked, but I was grateful either way. Those runs became a steady source of revenue.
Meanwhile, my International tractor continued to perform well. It was a dream to drive, comfortable, and well built. Over the four years I drove it, I put another half-million miles on the engine.
During that time, I replaced the turbo, injectors, and the oil/coolant separator. The only time it ever had to be towed was when the turbo blew — and that was an experience that scared the life out of me.
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A Turning Point
By the fourth year, rail freight began to decline and fuel costs were climbing. I started to rethink my career.
I also needed more security when it came to healthcare and retirement benefits. Around that time, a new LTL company was opening in the Indianapolis market. I hated the thought of going back to being a company driver, but it seemed like my only option.
There were two reasons:
1. The cost of a full rebuild on my International wasn’t feasible.
2. Getting in at the start of an LTL terminal meant a shot at being near the top of the seniority board — an attractive opportunity.
After researching their policies, I saw they weren’t as driver-friendly as Overnite’s had been, but they weren’t as brutal as Conway’s either. After much consideration, I sold my International and decided to give company driving one more shot.
Follow me into the next chapter as I begin my time with Pitt-Ohio Express — and see whether it turned out to be a good move or not.
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