Roy Craig, president of Transcom Fleet Services, shares his deep knowledge of the trucking industry and offers practical insights for new and growing trucking businesses in this episode of the Miles and Mentors Podcast. Roy talks about his early start in the industry, almost born in a truck and working with trucks from the age of six, which gave him an instinctive understanding of how trucking businesses work. He explains that Transcom supports companies by working with their existing management, offering help that goes far beyond giving out a binder of ideas. Roy says they step in to help with everything from writing letters and contracts to training staff, making sure their support becomes part of the company’s daily routine. Throughout the conversation, he warns against relying too much on load boards and brokers, instead encouraging owner operators to build direct relationships with shippers to keep more of the revenue and grow sustainably. Roy points out that most new trucking companies fail not because they lack money to get a truck, but because they do not have a plan for growth and compliance. He shares how small fleets can grow quickly, adding trucks and drivers, but if their office and management do not grow with them, it creates risk and inefficiency. To avoid these problems, he urges new fleet owners to read trade magazines and keep up with regulations, technology, and new ideas, even paying attention to ads in those magazines for new tools and equipment. He says that to protect your investment and stay efficient, you have to care for your equipment properly, taking a gentle approach to driving and avoiding harsh stops and starts that damage trucks. Roy also talks about how important it is to remember the responsibility drivers and companies have for safety on the road, something he sees as a core duty of the job. Throughout the episode, Roy shares how Transcom’s work helps companies large and small, and how his lifelong experience in trucking shapes his advice for others. For those ready to grow from one truck to many, this episode gives a clear picture of what it takes to build a solid foundation and grow without losing sight of the details that keep a trucking business alive and thriving.
