Bennett Driver Tip! We asked our learning and development specialist Michael Durden if he had any tips for new drivers: “Make the load board work for you. Figure out the lane you like at the right price, and create your own path.” #truckers #trucking

When Bennett Motor Express agent Debra Main called Bennett owner operator Rusty Bamber and his partner and escort driver Heather Lusby asking if they would pick up a boiler in Nebraska and haul it to the White House power plant in Washington, D.C., Heather said, “Of course! I love Trump, so I would do anything that would bring a hot shower and water to the White House.”

The couple thought it would be exciting to gain entry into the heavily restricted White House campus, but that wasn’t the only excitement they experienced during the adventurous trip, shares Heather. First, Debra had to work with government officials to get clearance for Rusty and Heather, who steers the back of his multi-axle trailer. Background checks and reams of paperwork had to be handled weeks before they could pick up the load.

Careful Route Planning Crucial for Safe Oversized-Load Delivery

The couple traveled from their home in Houston to Lincoln, NE, to pick up the 109,000-pound boiler from Cleaver Brooks, a world renowned provider of commercial and industrial boiler room products and systems. Because of the massive over-dimensional size of the load – 38 feet long by 16.11 feet wide by 10.9 feet tall – the heavy haul driving team had to take a route that was about 250 miles out of the way to comply with permits.

After picking up the boiler, they traveled through Kansas to Missouri, then through Tennessee to Virginia, where they had to wait for three days. When it was time to make that final leg of the journey, they were notified shortly after midnight to prepare for the trip. They were inspected by the state troopers, whose job was to escort them to the state line.

Unfortunately, the state of Virginia mis-routed them. The state troopers escorted them on I495 to I395 − a mile and a half of overhead tunnels with lots of construction. When they reached 395, which would be the expressway into D.C., they found themselves unable to continue on due to 13.6-feet-wide jersey walls that were too narrow to accommodate their nearly 17-foot-wide load. As a result, they had to back up a mile and a half and be taken on an alternate route.

Heightened Security for High-Profile Government Freight

When they reached the state line, the Capitol police were waiting to escort them to D.C., but not before a second inspection. Because they were going to the White House, the load had to be inspected a number of times. When they arrived at the border of the White House campus, they had to be inspected a final time by the Campus police.

Out of the driving team, only Rusty and Heather were allowed to enter the campus because they had been cleared ahead of time. “It was very cordoned off,” Heather says. “The secret service were all over the grounds. The Capitol police were everywhere. It was great. We really enjoyed the experience.”

The entire trip from door to door took 12 days. “Bennett made sure we picked up really early to give us a lot of extra time in case we broke down anywhere or met with any problems, which really paid off,” Heather says. “It was a tough journey, but getting to the White House is what made it wonderful. I have the best job in the whole world!”

This load was one of about eight total traveling to the White House, says agent Debra Main, who regularly books loads for Cleaver Brooks for large institutions all over the nation. She says they were “ecstatic” about how this load was handled.

If you are an owner operator interested in moving high-profile government freight, give Bennett’s Driver Recruiting Department a call at 800.367.2249

Owner operator Jerry Johnson joined Bennett in 2004 after being referred by another trucker who told him that Bennett was the place to work. Jerry came off a string of negative experiences with other trucking companies who did not treat him honestly, he says, and he is very happy with Bennett where he is getting lots of loads and has done very well.

“I had leased to four companies that tried to make money on me without me knowing,” he says. “Here, you don’t have to worry about that. At Bennett, when you’re told something, you can trust it.”

Jerry’s more than 13 years with Bennett hasn’t all been a bed of roses, he admits.  “I’ve gotten mad and tried to quit a couple of times, but then thought better of it. I’m glad I did because at this company, the people are good, the money is good and they treat you like family. And I’m telling you the truth!”

Jerry offers advice for all drivers, wherever they are in their careers. Here’s Jerry’s recipe for success:

• Don’t let your emotions get the best of you! Think about what you’re doing before you do it. No job is perfect. Everybody gets mad on the job sometimes. At Bennett, I’ve always found a way to work through the problems, and they have always come through and made things right.
• Give it some time. My biggest advice to drivers is to be patient! Take the time to learn your company’s system. You’re not going to learn it off the bat. You have to grow into the company. That’s all there is to it. At Bennett, if you learn the system, there is no reason why you can’t do well.
• Be willing to be flexible. The more versatile you are, the better off you are, especially when freight rates go down. Whatever your company needs, even if it’s not something you’ve done before, be willing to change gears and try something different. You’ll do good, and they’ll keep coming back to you!
• Present a good attitude. If you treat people well, they will treat you well. A good attitude can carry you a long way. Treat people the way you want to be treated.
• Build relationships. Make a good rapport with people and give them a chance to see what you can do and how you think. Establish yourself with the company and the agents, and once they get to know you, that affects how you grow in the company.

If you’re looking to make the change and drive for Bennett, or if you’d just like more information, visit www.drive4bme.com, or contact one of our recruiters at 800-367-2249!

When Bennett Motor Express owner operator Carl Lawrence got Alaska on his mind, he and fellow owner operator, Jerry Boyd wanted to come up with a way to get loaded there sometime. In early 2017 they talked to freight agent Nancy Denend about the possibility. Nancy, who covers military freight for bases on the west coast of the US, had a bead on some freight from Oak Harbor, Washington to Eielson Air Force base in Alaska. With about a month’s notice, Jerry and Carl committed to the loads and their adventure planning began.

Knowing the demanding trek would take them through Canada, Carl and Jerry had both purchased new trucks in 2016 that would help them be compliant with West Coast and Canadian emissions regulations. Carl and Jerry drove across country to meet at the shipper who was preparing a Navy squadron for training in Alaska. While at the shipper on a Tuesday in July, the drivers met up with a third operator, Steve Latham who also committed to the journey. When Carl and Jerry chatted with Steve, it was clear that he wanted to run a similar route. So the three men decided to convoy.

Their 2,346 mile route to Alaska took them about a week. Carl shared that the trip took them through Kamloops and Prince George, British Columbia. A forest fire in BC caused the group to detour out of route and then they found their way back to Route 37. On 37, Carl said that, “You were lucky to see a half dozen cars the whole day. The road had no shoulder, no places to stop and no one to help. We were all thankful we planned ahead with spare tires and plenty of fuel”. Crossing over into the Yukon Territory, Carl said that they were on the lookout for Sergeant Preston of the Yukon, a character in the 1960’s TV show, but had no luck.

Once in Alaska at the air base for delivery, the group decided to get in some sight seeing. They headed to the Fairbanks airport to pickup a rental car for a drive to Denali National Park. At the park, the guys did some hiking and took in the breathtaking scenery. Carl also got an up close look at one of Alaska’s black bears and a buffalo walking down the road.

When asked if he would do the trip again, Carl replied, “Yes, as long as it’s in the summer. Things could be very hairy up there in winter.”

David and Marie Hutchison Enjoy Unforgettable Adventure Together

The Alaskan freight involved five loads. While Carl, Jerry and Steve convoyed with three of them, owner operator David Hutchison saw one of the flatbed loads on the Bennett load board. He called his wife Marie in Connecticut and teased her that he was thinking of loading out for Alaska. Marie told him in no uncertain terms that ‘he would not be going to Alaska without her’.

Marie booked a flight from Kennedy airport to Washington and met David there to join him on his Alaska trek. Marie, had only ever been on very short trips with David, but nothing as long as the 2,500 mile voyage into the Alaskan wilderness. The couple hooked up with fellow owner operator Michael Christensen who hauled the remaining freight on the journey. Michael was unable to stay together with the couple only because of a necessary 34 hour restart.

David and Marie saw exactly what they had hoped for. The couple have done moose and black bear tours all over the northeast, but never got to actually see what they went for. In Alaska, they were not disappointed. In addition to seeing black bear and mountain goats, they were able to see a moose and a buffalo up close and personal. When they were nearly done with their trip, they joked that the only thing they wish they could see was the ferocious grizzly bear. Sure enough, looking into a field along a roadside stop, they got to see a grizzly!

As David reflected on his trip on the way back to Connecticut with Marie, he said that he would love to go back to Alaska again, “even in winter”. His only requirement is that he have a young side kick to sling tire chains in the brutal cold. Marie, who now has plenty of experience with life beside her husband out on the open road, in truck stops and battling for temperature control in the truck, said “I agree”. Maybe she will change her tune the next time an Alaskan adventure hits the load board.