FIXTITLE David Edwards.docx
DECIDED BY FATE
The Story
Of
David Edwards
Trucking had already been in the Edwards’ family for two generations by the time David Edwards came along. He is the oldest of five children, born in Carrollton, Illinois in 1960. Many referred to David’s grandfather, on his father’s side as Grandpa Peck. He was known for his non-stop work ethic, day in and day out. His huge heart, his generosity and the impact that he had on his entire family many years ago, still surface as his bloodline follow suite. The boots he left to fill by his children, and their children are predestined to succeed.
Grandpa Peck led the way for his family as an entrepreneur with a vision of reaching his goal. He wanted to be able to give his family something that they could be proud of. It wasn’t enough to plant humble roots, but he wanted his kids to understand what hard work and dedication would give in return for consistency. Anything that they put their minds to, he needed them to know that it was possible.
With an appetite for success, Grandpa Peck purchased a corn sheller and began his family business in Athensville, Illinois. In order to move the grain he was producing, he incorporated help from five of his six sons. Each one held their own and delivered grain throughout a 100 mile radius of their family farm.
Danny Edwards, Grandpa Peck’s oldest of the crew inherited his father’s passion for the farming and trucking industry. Danny went on throughout the years continuing to build a name for himself in the business, along with four of his other siblings. It was unavoidable that the Edwards’ children would be exposed to the family pedigree, for all of their talents ran in the family and seemed natural even at an early age.
For as far back as David can remember, his dad and Grandpa Peck was always driving a truck. “My earliest memory of my dad driving had to be when I was about 3 or 4. I can remember throwing a fit when his truck would leave without me in it,” he said. His father was as young as 13 when he first started driving for his grandfather. By the time he was an adult, he had perfected his skill. As a professional truck driver, he was able to provide a nice living for David and his brothers and sisters, while his mother stayed home to tend to their five children. When his father initially started his trucking career, he purchased his first truck from his Grandpa Peck. It was a black, bubble nose GMC. He primarily hauled grain locally and was home every other night. David shared with me a number of memories, growing up within a trucking family. One of his favorites revolved around their traditional Saturday mornings. His Grandpa Peck’s house was along the highway in town and all of his uncles would come over for their Saturday breakfast, cooked by his grandmother. “I remember they would all be gone trucking and then come Saturday morning, they would meet up at grandma’s and their trucks would line up for two city blocks.” He continues, “In each of the trucks my uncles carried a cigar box where they would put their ticket and fuel receipts. On Saturday mornings they would give their cigar boxes to my grandma and she would switch them out for an empty cigar box for the next week…. It always meant a lot to me seeing my family work so well together. To this day I still carry a cigar box with me in my truck. It reminds me of them days.”
Growing up in a small, farming community of less than 1,000 people David’s childhood memories were spent playing outside with other kids, sharing toys and getting dirty. “It was a pretty, small town. My parents lived there all of their lives. So if we did something bad, it would make it home before we did!” By the age of 12, David found himself working for a farmer outside of town by the name of Harold. He and a few others worked the 500 acres, handling all duties asked of him that he could possible muster. David says, “Back then, our type of work was very hard-core. Harold was one of those old school farmers. He taught me a lot! Between him and my dad, I learned so much about a person’s work ethic.” Having two distinguished, respectable men in David’s life helped mold him into the man he is today. He credits both influences for his humble, yet head-strong type of attitude.
David continued to work for Harold until he graduated high school. On his farm he grew wheat, corn and soy beans. He had a hog operation too, raising pigs and also cattle. He learned how to drive tractors for the planting season. During the off season he spent time fixing fences or cleaning the animal houses. There was always something needing to be done year round. At 13, he was driving a car on his own. Mainly due to his time back and forth from home to Harold’s farm for work. David would start early in the mornings before school and proceed until the late hours of the night. He shares one of the many life lessons taught from Harold, “He would always remind me that work came first, no matter what. If you get injured, you have to pick yourself up… no crying home to mommy.” It was a tough world for David back then, but Harold made sure his prodigy had thick enough skin to handle it. Along anything else that may come his way.
By his 16th birthday, David’s parents were more than happy to help him get a car. No more chauffeuring him to and from anymore. The deal was, Danny would help his son get his first vehicle, but it was up to him to maintain the insurance and car payments. It was a new 1976 Camaro, with blue and white stripes. He laughs as he shares his father’s little secret, “Once I got my car, them two bills were so expensive, all I could do was work and go to school to be able to pay them. It wasn’t too long after I got my car that I started thinking my dad did that on purpose.” His junior year he picked up a second job at a local gas station. He would attend school for half of a day, go straight to the gas station and work until 5 or 6 in the evening. Then, head over to Harold’s to finish his duties there before heading home for dinner.
The December after graduation, David enlisted in the Navy. When I inquired why the Navy, he replied with a simple answer, “My dad was in the Navy.” His idol had spent four years serving as a Ship’s Serviceman. The only time he ever spent not driving a truck. Before leaving, David welcomed his first child. She was born in Carrollton, in 1979. Soon he was sent to Great Lakes, Illinois for eight weeks of training. Then in 1982 his second daughter, Mandy was born in New York. The following four years he lived in Earle, New Jersey. In 1983, he reenlisted and headed back to the Great Lakes to attend gun school. A year later, his adoption process had become final for two year old, Shereen. At the end of the year, David had two more children; twins Monica and Justdina. He was now the father to five young girls, including their new addition to the family, Shereen who was also born in New Jersey, in 1982. It was the August of 1985 when David’s only son, Jeremy was born.
That same year David was assigned to a new location in San Diego to serve aboard the USS Meyerkord, as a Gunner’s Mate for a year. The next four years he shifted gears and settled into a recruiting position in Wisconsin. In 1989, at the age of 29 David felt his time with the Navy was up and he began to get truck driving fever. He was more than ready to get back to his roots and on the road again.
January of 1990, he enrolled in truck driving school in Racing, Wisconsin. Four weeks later he received his CDL. His first trucking company that he went to work for was located in Marshfield, Wisconsin pulling flatbed primarily on the east coast, but eventually taking on all 48 states. Soon David brought on his little brother, making this company his first trucking gig as well. They were able to ride together for a month, while training. A year later, the two both left. David’s main reason was to be home more often.
He went on to land a local job running a relay from Wisconsin to Chicago every day. He had a partner and the two would run their separate shifts. David would leave out during the day, unload, reload and return at night. His teammate would then take off at night, unload, reload and be right back for David to keep the cycle going. He stayed on for two years before going to work for an owner operator out of Arlington, Wisconsin. It was the perfect fit. He had a contract hauling name brand shoes to their department stores. There were nine locations on his dedicated route throughout Florida and Georgia. Once he was familiar with the ropes, he brought his brother on board and he landed a run in south Texas.
Three years later he joined an LTL company for a year and a half. He decided to come off the road for a bit, after being promoted to a supervisor. The only catch being it was a night job. He swapped companies to another LTL outfit and remained there for five years. After 15 years of living in Wisconsin, he relocated his family to Liberal, Kansas and went to work hauling cattle. After some time, David’s life took a slight turn and he found himself as a single father in unfamiliar territory. A co-worker put him in contact with a gentleman by the name of Steve that would forever change his life.
David and his son, Jeremy found their way back to their old stomping grounds in Illinois. Harold, his good friend and mentor since working for him as a young teen, had purchased a trailer house and put it on his farm for David to live in many years before, when he first enlisted in the Navy. Humbled once again by the compassion of a man that he looked up to, the father and son duo settled in, while David realigned his goals.
Steve was an owner operator that heard of David’s situation. He also heard how much of a hard worker he was. Steve was aware of his family’s origin in the business and the respect David carried with him on the road hauling each one of his loads. But mainly what stood out about David was the dedication he put forth to giving trucking an honorable reputation. David went into more depth, “Steve gave me that one shot and it turned my entire life around!” He immediately went to work for Steve hauling cattle and hogs. December of 2004 was his turning point. By his second year, he felt that he was finally breaking ground and by his third go-round, he was on his feet and ready to purchase a truck.
January in 2006, Steve bought a brand new, maroon 2005 Kenworth W900 and financed it for David. Still in awe, with a modest tone you can literally hear the gratitude in David’s voice. “That man changed my life,” he says. “He put me to work not knowing me. Then he bought that truck. I would not be an owner operator today without him!” For eight years, David stayed loyal to Steve. It was only when his area was hit with a severe drought that business began to slow down. He was left with no other option to support his family than to search for another fit.
In August of 2012, David joined the team at Patterson Motor Freight, out of Houston, Texas. Being a ‘workaholic’ Patterson Motor Freight was right up his alley. “I’ve been working since I was 12, but this has proven to be one of the most challenging jobs I’ve ever had.” With multiply drops and pickups, and as many as 15 customers on each load, Patterson Motor Freight requires a lot of responsibility. Which is the very reason David has finally found the right trucking company to call home. “I make great money and they are extremely good to me.”
The year of 2012 brought in another positive factor for David. He married his wife, Jana. When a man is able to freely boast about his spouse, proves to me that he acknowledges that he married a good one. “I get an overwhelming amount of support from Jana. She’s extremely good to me,” he says. The two wed in a small, intimate wedding April of that year. They chose a small, country church located at a known historical site in Panhandle, Texas. Jana has three children; James, Christian and Jenna. With all 9 kids combined, David and Jana have their calendar full of birthdays, including their 21 grandkids.
With a lifetime of trucking, David has managed to run almost 3 million safe miles across the country. He comes from a long line of proud truckers and continues to pass on his knowledge of the industry to his son, Jeremy. Unfortunately, David’s father Danny passed away a year ago. To honor Danny and to keep his name alive, Jeremy named his son after him, Daniel David. What started with one man and his passion for trucks and love for his family, has turned into a successful business built to last generation after generation, through one professional career; trucking.