New Boss Fired Me From Trucking Company To Save Money; Within A Month…
The Long Haul Home
Wilson, Reynolds, and Jenkins Freight took shape with startling speed. We leased five trucks, secured a small terminal, and hired key personnel.
Patty joined us as dispatcher, followed by two experienced mechanics and five veteran drivers. We painted the trucks midnight blue with silver trim and our new company logo.
Meanwhile, High Veil was spiraling. After I left, three major clients pulled their business.
Word of the Kansas City move had leaked, and morale at High Veil was rock bottom. Drivers were jumping ship weekly and deliveries were being missed.
We moved carefully, building our infrastructure. “The money will follow if we focus on quality,” Jenkins insisted.
By the third week, I met Bill Thompson again. “H Highvale just dropped their rates below yours,” he said. “They’re desperate to keep us.”
“They can’t sustain those rates,” I replied, “and they can’t match our service.” I told him about the Kansas City move.
By the end of the meeting, we had a handshake deal. Thompson Foods would move 20% of their shipping to us immediately, transitioning the rest over 60 days.
Similar conversations played out with Western Distributing and Lakeland Foods. We weren’t just taking clients; we were taking the good people, too.
Then Doug called one evening. “Harvey, you won’t believe this. Darren just announced they lost the Cornerstone builder account.”
“Who’d they sign with?” I asked. Doug laughed. “They went with National Logistics. Darren’s been running around screaming that you somehow engineered it.”
The plan was working better than we’d hoped. We didn’t need to actively poach all of Highvale’s business; the company was imploding on its own.
Two months after being fired, I was back behind the wheel delivering to Thompson Foods. The truck I drove had my name on the door.
“You’re a lifesaver, Harvey,” Bill said as I handed him the manifest.
His phone buzzed, and he smiled. “It’s official. As of this morning, we’ve terminated our contract with High Veil. You’re now handling 100% of our freight.”
“Appreciate your trust,” I said simply. “Trust is why you got it,” Bill replied.
Highvale had lost 80% of their Tulsa business in the last six weeks. On the drive back, I passed their yard and saw a “For Lease” sign.
Through the window, I could see Darren on the phone, gesturing frantically. I didn’t feel satisfaction, just a quiet sense that things were working out as they should.
Back at our terminal, Jenkins met me. “Have you heard? They’re declaring bankruptcy effective immediately.”
Six months after being fired, I stood in the yard of Wilson, Reynolds, and Jenkins Freight. We now had a fleet of 15 trucks and 32 employees.
Highvale Syndicate Freight no longer existed. Their assets were liquidated, and we’d acquired three of their trucks at auction.
“Never thought I’d be back in the freight business,” Jenkins mused.
“Having regrets?” I asked. He laughed. “Hell no. Best decision I’ve made in years.”
We’d built something valuable because we valued the right things. That afternoon, I took a rare day off and drove out to the lake with Elaine.
“Happy?” she asked simply. I watched the sun glint off the water. “Yeah,” I said. “I am.”
Sometimes the long haul isn’t about the miles. It’s about the journey back to what matters.
