FIXTITLE Bill and Joan Scott.docx
IN HARMONY
The Story
Of
Bill & Joan Scott
Recruitment of team drivers for long haul will always be on high demand, for a number of reasons. Pairing two reliable drivers uncertain of the compatibility is tricky, but the most common route. Many jump in the truck together as strangers and figure out the rest as they go. Some are acquaintances, or even friends that have teamed up to truck over the road together. At least that has been the case until a new wave of drivers entered the workforce. The wives; the spouses; the other half of the driver.
More and more teams traveling cross country are married couples. Each situation of husband and wife may vary. Some are older with an empty nest. Their children are grown with families of their own. To a degree, jumping in the truck opens the door to a new chapter in their lives. Trucking as a team offers them a chance to see the country as a couple. Retirement also depends on the retiree. Some wives obtaining their own CDL view trucking with their husband as a way to keep an active lifestyle. Instead of relaxing and finding new hobbies with so much earned free time, trucking provides them with an opportunity to visit new places every day.
Married couples that drive as a team are proven to be safer than the average driver, stating that with a co-pilot as a spouse the less likely the driver is to speed or take other hazardous risks. Many trucking companies encourage couples to drive team, ensuring their products are delivered in half the time of a single driver. Teams turn more miles per day than solo drivers. Also, the company benefits from the maturity and dependability of performance from a married couple. Because the duo is in harmony, both are willing and capable of having what it takes to succeed traveling long hours for extended lengths of time. As a husband, traveling with your partner relieves the stress of needing more home-time. By combining an experienced truck driver that already enjoys being an expeditioner with his better-half, the world becomes their playground. In a way, the two become paid tourists, traveling the country eager for their next adventure.
These two Legend nominees have traveled together often, but only recently made it official for either to lead the way in the driver’s seat of their custom designed truck. Bill and Joan Scott, both originally from Canada consider themselves nomads. The couple have been married 22 years, but have known each other over half their lives. Bill and Joan share a lot of the same goals and they get along great. Who better to visit the nation’s beautiful wonders with than your best friend?
Bill is a second generation trucker that was operating an old Cummins, twin stick at just nine years old. He knows the ropes of trucking and possesses the skills and intelligence to help train Joan to be the best possible truck driver she can be. Joan retired March of 2015, after dedicating 28 years in the computer field. She brings to the table qualities that all trainers look for in a united team. Her readiness to learn and aptitude of understanding allow them the ability to enjoy trucking as a means of travel, versus a daily job. Being like-minded, the two know exactly how to communicate with one another in order for business to run smooth, while also taking pleasure in the everyday adventures of meeting new people and constantly moving from city to city.
Bill is the youngest of five children. Before trucking his father served in the military. His family moved around a bit, during and after his time in the Army. Once Bill came along, his father was trucking full-time and farming when able. As far back as he can recall, Bill’s father had him on a tractor. As early as diapers. Growing up, every summer was spent riding with his father in his truck. The first experience he had behind the wheel was sudden and unexpected. His father had a broken arm in two places. Bill explains, “I remember that day clear as ever, I was nine and we were on the road like usual. He turned to me and said, ‘You know how to drive. You get in the seat.’ So I did!” And just like that, Bill was hooked and became a natural.
Their family lived everywhere. From the suburbs, to the more rural areas. Even on the edge of an Indian reservation. Being exposed to the diversity of our people and assorted cultures all over our lands, opened Bill’s eyes to the infinite amount of hidden world still out there. The more unrefined regions full of genuine existence is where his heart is drawn to. That intense desire to explore and understand derived from his childhood. Of his favorite places to visit today with Joan, Arizona ranks high on the list for that reason. Besides the open scenery, they appreciate the versatility of the many nationalities thriving in that one state. They are heavily impartial to Arizona due to the wholeness as a people from all different backgrounds that are welcomed. Born Canadian, Bill and Joan are just as honored to be in America. So much so, they completely wrapped their brand, new 2016 Western Star 4900 with the United States flag honoring our country proudly. Continuing onto their ARI 132 custom sleeper is a sunset of the Arizona skyline. Bill states, “We are proud of America. I may be from Canada and it will always be my home, but my body and soul is American.” Also on the truck is a tribute to everyone that has been affected by cancer. The words “Cancer Sucks” is displayed on a purple ribbon in respect for the survivors, the ones still fighting, and all that have passed.
Joan shares that exact sentiment when they plan their routes. She says, “Before I retired, I loved taking my vacations and going with him out on the road. For me, seeing the world is amazing. I absolutely love to travel! We have seen just about every Canadian province and visited each state. When in this lifetime are you given the opportunity to travel and get paid to do it? After I sold our house and everything in it, I joined him full-time. The only difference now is that I don’t want to sit in the passenger seat the whole time. I’ve spent the majority of my life working in an office for many, many years and now I get to do this every day. I love being on the road and trucking provides me a way to explore. The best part is, you can come back to the same place and each time you’ll notice something new. That’s the beauty of our journeys. Every day is something different.”
As a young boy Bill always loved trucks, along with the whole concept of trucking. His family knew he did too. In an effort to prove them wrong, Bill went in a totally different direction pursuing a career as a certified chef. Once he accomplished that goal, a year later he returned to his roots. A close friend of his father owned a trucking company that operated throughout Canada and the U.S. Being his first trucking job, he stayed on with the intentions of gaining as much experience as possible. In the beginning, he ran only local for two years. At 20, he picked up a route to Detroit hauling everything from steel to drywall. Anything he could manage on an open deck, he hauled it. By 23, he purchased his first truck. In 1980, he started his own business, Bill Scott Enterprises running heavy haul. On the side, he pulled refrigerated freight from California to Florida for a couple of years. Also, on and off for three years he pulled specialty work out of Canada for the mines. Never slowing down, Bill was consistently aspiring to learn more. To better himself and strengthen his craft.
Opposite of Bill, Joan was an only child. She lived in Ontario, Canada with her mother. At only four years old, she lost her father and by the age of twenty her mother passed too. “They were wonderful people. My mother was an exceptionally hard worker. A perfectionist at that. I grew up fast though. Being without them taught me how to take care of myself. I became extremely independent,” she said. Growing up, Joan was intrigued with computers. The amount of training it required to operate them and the knowledge in return had Joan’s complete attention.
Over the course of two years, with multiple classes Joan landed her first job with an insurance company. From there she worked in the Information Technology (IT) Department for a hospital, before landing a position with an automotive parts company working their Specialty & Bar Coding Division, where she recently retired from. Just like her husband, Joan’s free-time was spent working on alternatives to better their families. Together they assisted Bill’s father in building a successful trucking company pulling campers, locally. While the two men worked morning, noon, and nights Joan pitched in before and after her regular work hours.
Bill continues, “A trucking company in need of a lot of trucks offered us a contract. My father’s health was declining as he grew older and his one wish was to reach one million dollars in business before he died. I took the chance! I told him, ‘I just bought five trucks. We’re going big time!’ Before he passed in ’94, we had reached five million a year. Unfortunately, he had a heart attack in his truck. He always said he’d die in his truck and he did, but I know that he went as a happy man because of that.”
Bill and Joan kept the business advancing for another six years. In 2001, they made the tough decision to close the doors and move to the United States. Having done business in America, they were familiar with the trucking industry and the adjustments needed to adapt. With eleven years in total, together they agreed it was time to venture away from the family business and take that success of his father’s company and use their favorable outcome as affirmation to relocate and start over, far away from home. Bill adds, “My dad was my hero. He always said that you can never achieve something if you never try. He repeated that. He always pushed me to go after whatever I wanted and to believe that I can do it… and here we are. Years later, keeping his trucking legacy alive.”
On Thanksgiving weekend 2008, Bill and Joan joined Mercer Transportation. Before committing, Bill operated his own business as an expedited carrier running out of Detroit. Seeing the writing on the wall concerning fuel and a number of other obstacles, the proactive couple made the switch to Mercer Transportation. For six years, Bill ran every week and a half from Toronto to California earning him a lifetime of over 3 million miles. Since coming onboard, Joan agrees with Bill stating that Mercer Transportation offers a family-oriented environment. Their facility accommodates everyone, providing a comfortable, friendly atmosphere that you don’t get at most companies. “Plus, there is always someone here to see you succeed,” Bill said.
This July, Joan plans to be fully trained and certified as Bill’s official team driver. With 36 years’ experience, 30 of those as an owner operator, Bill accepts his partner’s willingness to take the wheel while they continue to travel together. I inquired why Joan wanted to switch seats so bad. Taking in your surroundings can’t be too much different from the other side of the truck, can it? She explains, “It’s the freedom. That truck will take us wherever we want to go… and now I get to help get us there.” Along for the ride are their two four-legged companions, Jughead and Shylo. Jughead is their seven-year-old female Jack Russel Terrier and Pug mix. She has been trucking with them for the better part of her life. Shylo is six years old. He is part Yorkshire and Pomeranian and joined the crew at only five weeks old.
Back at home, they have seven children in total. Bill has two daughters and a son. Joan has three sons and a daughter. Together Bill and Joan have thirteen grandchildren and one great-grandchild with another due in the Fall ranging from 23 years of age, to as young as one and a half. Trucking over the road the majority of the year, doesn’t alter the love and care they share for their family while away. I believe Joan said it best, “We want our kids to be happy and to enjoy life every day, just as we do. After all, life is too short to not be doing what you love to do. Follow your heart and make a life worth living.”