Beyond Driving
34 OVERDRIVE APRIL 2009 If it's time to quit, due to the economy or for personal reasons, owner-operator skills can open the door to other trucking opportunities. BY MAX KVIDERA I f life on the road is losing its appeal, there are many jobs other than driving that allow you to stay in trucking and make good use of your experience as an owner-operator. Many of them offer more regular hours, nights at home and consistent, occasionally higher pay. Raymond Brown has had different roles since his day as an owner-operator. He now heads safety and recruits and oversees the small container division for Service One in Florence, Ala., which is an agent for Sargent Trucking. He started Service One with his partner, Robert Walker, who's now his boss. The agency works with about 90 owner-opera-tor trucks hauling wire, paper products and offi ce furniture. Jeff Ashcraft, vice president of business development at Sargent, says several of its agent companies are run by former owner-operators. A lot of drivers have developed skills that would make them good to work at jobs other than driving, Ashcraft says. Working in an offi ce can be great, though making a switch during the recession might be tough due to limited hiring demand. Trucking companies with openings want experienced salespeople who can bring business with them, says Craig Robins, owner of Robins Consulting of Addison, Texas. They're moving away from hiring for operations positions and looking for immediate help on the sales side. Yet when the industry rebounds, non-driving positions will open up, observers say. Here is a glance at people hold-ing jobs where an owner-operator's experience can be a great fi t. I'm happy sitting in this chair instead of in a truck. Raymond Brown of logistics outfit Service One