Sometimes the smartest move isn’t chasing bigger loads — it’s protecting your body and future. My switch from a side kit to a Conestoga trailer cover not only saved my shoulders and back, but also opened the door to steady freight, better pay, and a company that would change the final stretch of my career.
In February of 2018, after much consideration, and since my back was beginning to bother me more rapidly — with my shoulders also showing signs of wear from pulling the tarp over my head to close the trailer — I decided to put a Conestoga on it.
After researching, I chose Tarp Stop in Perrysburg, Ohio. I took my tractor and trailer there so they could record the size and measurements for the purchase order, then left to run a few loads while I waited. About two weeks later, the Conestoga was ready to install. It took two full days to get it mounted, but once it was finished, it made a world of difference.
Just before the Conestoga was installed, I was fortunate enough to be asked to run permit loads out of Voss Clark to Elkhart, Indiana. These runs were perfect for me: they paid well and had me home most nights. The deliveries were to Manchester Tank in Elkhart, and from there I’d usually reload at InKote or Intec in New Carlisle, Indiana for freight back to Kentucky.
When those runs weren’t available, Voss Clark always seemed to come through with something else. The truck was running pretty well for a change, and my revenue stayed steady. If the Elkhart loads weren’t released until late in the day, I’d load them anyway, then drive up and sleep in the truck so I could deliver on schedule. The return loads out of New Carlisle usually went to Florence, Georgetown, or Louisville, Kentucky. Those runs lasted about a year and a half until Manchester Tank finally closed down in Elkhart for financial reasons.
Even after Manchester Tank shut down, I still ran mostly out of Voss Clark. One day I picked up a load from Voss Clark going up to Steel Tech in Michigan City. I delivered that load easily and reloaded a return back to Voss Clark. That’s when U.S. Steel cut the rate — and the worst part was Kaplan didn’t push back at all. As usual, it was us owner-operators and independent contractors who paid the price.
That was the moment I made my decision. I contacted Steel Transport — and it turned out to be the best move I could’ve made. In fact, it felt like coming full circle: finishing my career with a company that cared about its drivers, just like the one where I started.
Please stay with me as I make the transition into Steel Transport. I think you’ll enjoy this part of the story.
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My Trucker Life 