FIXTITLE Robert Ellinger.docx
HIGHWAY HERO
The Story
Of
Robert Ellinger
In any line of business, you have an elite few that pave the way, setting the perfect example for others to follow. These individuals are the ones that never give up; that grasp the bigger picture. The success that they have achieved is acknowledged, but often only spotlighting the high points. Every well-established person with seniority has had their beginning days, as anyone else getting started. This Legend is a fine case in point to the success attainable for those that commit to their work and refuse to settle for anything average.
By setting high standards and goals, the possibilities to bring about the intentions is what pushes a person through the most difficult situations. The learning curves and trying times are the periods in life where you can acquire the most valuable information. Understanding and maturity are the results. With those two gifts, a person can go a lifetime doing what they love.
Being a seasoned veteran of 48 years in trucking, Robert Ellinger has earned his level of wisdom gained throughout his lifespan of experience. With well over 6 million miles to-date, his proven ability and knowledge of traveling the road, prioritizing safety as his main objective displays his patience and skills, maintaining an accident-free record since 1968.
Robert has dedicated his life to the trucking industry for nearly half a century. His accomplishments establish the fact that he is more than qualified to be deemed a highway hero. By choosing to work long-haul only for the majority of his professional trucking career, allows him to be the traveler at heart that simply enjoys the journey of an open road. However, don’t just categorize him as a steering wheel holder. Being the inquisitive person that Robert is, he revels in the sights of our beautiful country, but also understands the need to continue improving. He returned to college later in his adult life and earned his Associates Degree in Liberal Arts, while still trucking as a company driver.
Long before he discovered trucking as a means of income, Robert found himself operating heavy equipment in his early teens. His family resided in Colorado where his father managed a ranch, while his mother worked full-time as a stay at home mom. Raised on a farm, Robert became as familiar with tractors and combines, as he was with their farm animals. He was tending to cattle and riding horses by the age of four, hunting and fishing at ten, and driving machinery before fourteen.
When I asked Robert how the learning process went on their farm, if it took him long to learn the ropes he responded, “We weren’t exactly taught. You just watched everyone and when it came your turn, you climbed on whatever piece of equipment was in front of you and you took off. We figured out the rest as we went along.”
Some of Robert’s fondest memories came from the backwoods and mountains of Colorado. Listening to his hunting expeditions through the lands of the natural forests with his brothers and dad sounds like the perfect upbringing for a young boy with the curiosity of the world in sight. Still seeking to explore more of our nation, Robert hasn’t slowed down his eagerness to discover. At just ten years old, Robert would fish areas of the wilderness known for its mountain lions and bears. The wildlife was so inhabited that Robert recalls seeing over several bears, and a couple of sightings of mountain lions, just in the few years he hunted there in his youth. Thankfully, his family never encountered any potentially dangerous situations. Only a collection of fun family memories.
After high school, Robert had intended on following his older brother into the U.S. Marine Corp. On the day of enlisting, a recruiter with the Navy at the same building as the Marines recruiter had saw Robert and struck up a conversation with him. Robert joined the Navy instead at the age of seventeen. Immediately after boot camp, he was sent overseas to Vietnam for two years, serving as a communication technician. The rest of his time he was stationed at the Navy base located in the city of Newport, Rhode Island.
Robert was 21 when he opted out of the military. He pursued a couple of outfits, and eventually found his way to trucking. Stuffed behind a desk, punching a clock never interested him. Even though he had never actually driven an 18-wheeler on his own yet, his childhood taught him that the only way to learn is to be unafraid. With his background in farming, he wasn’t intimidated by the larger than life vehicles. Nor did he shy away from the long hours. Robert explains, “When I first considered trucking, I was told that I could drive a truck. I figured since I’ve always been around trucks and cattle haulers, it seemed like a natural choice for me. Before that day, I had never drove a big truck. I kind of knew it in my head before I did it… the motions and what to do. By the end of the day, I could actually shift it. From that day on, I just tried to learn as much as possible. I listened to my truck. I paid attention to my surroundings. Still do! By being a driver that is aware no matter what is going on around you is very important.”
His first trucking company was based out of Colorado, in the oil field. For over five years, Robert drove a variety of trucks while schooling himself on the dynamics of trucking pertaining to his environment. The hills of Colorado exposed him to plenty of trips that tested his driving abilities. During the winters, factoring in snow, mud, and ice to the equation trucking through the hillsides, around cliffs and constantly up and down steep slopes pushed Robert to be the type of driver that he is today. He is patient and composed; determined and strong-willed; and agile and sharp.
Robert’s next move landed him in the steel mill business of Texas, pulling flatbed ever since. He lived in New Mexico on a 40-acre farm. During this time, he attended college classes three times a week. Occasionally on work trips out of Idaho he traveled through the lands of Montana, admiring the open country. He considered living there and especially liked the lack of population. In 1995, Robert relocated to Montana and found the good folks at Sammons Trucking.
This December, Robert will celebrate his 21st anniversary with Sammons Trucking. He states that the office staff provide a great working environment, making work feel less like work, but more like being around family. “Pay day is always on time. For as long as I have been there, they have never missed a penny. If we have any issues, all we have to do is call them and they take care of you right then.” Robert continues, “I like that I’m my own boss and they respect that.” His average run could range up to 2,300 miles staying out two to three weeks at a time. Sometimes more, generally depending on his choice.
Initially joining the driving force of Sammons Trucking as a company driver, almost two years later Robert became an owner operator and leased on to Sammons. He has earned a number of awards for his hard work and dedication to the company. Last year, in the MCM (Motor Carriers of Montana) Competition Robert earned the title 2015 Montana Motor Carriers Trucking Division Champion, of the Tank Division. He is also a proud member of the Sammons Trucking Million Miler Club, as well as their Two Million Miler Club. From 1998 through 2009, he was given the Sammons Trucking Silver Fleet Award. Throughout the many years spent with Sammons Trucking, Robert has been recognized as their Safe Operator of the Month numerous times and held the title of Montana Motor Carrier of the Month in August of 2009. Shortly after, he was named the 2010 Montana Motor Carriers Driver of the Year. He values his commitment with Sammons Trucking, not for the recognition but because that’s the only way he knows how to do business. With loyalty, providing nothing less than the best he can offer.
While away from home Robert has his trucking partner, Buster Brown riding shotgun. Buster Brown is his eight-year-old Dotson that his grandkids rescued and gave to him seven years ago. Also Robert’s wife, Joan enjoys traveling in the truck with him. Together they visit museums all over the country.
Considering his time spent working over the road, he remains extremely close with his family. His passion for the road stems from his commitment to provide such a good life for his loved ones at home. Joan praises her husband on his role as a caring father, at home and when he is away. They have four sons, 19 grandchildren and a four-year-old great-granddaughter.
Their oldest son retired from the Air Force and has been leased on with Sammons Trucking, as well. At first, the two ran team for a few months. Then his son took another job with a different company, but returning a year later. Their second son is a welder, the next in line works as a superintendent at a SEMA construction business, and their youngest son runs a hot-shot service for a drilling company.
When Joan discusses Robert and covers more details pertaining to the man many only recognize from behind the wheel, she mentions that he instilled in their children the authenticity of possessing a good work ethic. As parents, they are both extremely proud of their boys and their success, but she knows that having such a strong role model as a husband and father has meant the world to their family. Joan says, “He is very outgoing! Aside from loving to hunt and fish, he really enjoys spending time with our grandkids too. He has always been an excellent dad with a good sense of humor and he gives all of that to the entire family. I have a lot of respect for my husband. Just for being the man that he is and the provider that he strives to be for us.”
You can catch Robert on the road in his 1999 Freightliner. He prefers the older, classic look, explaining his pick in a mid-roof style truck. For some, trucking is their niche simply because they are good at it. They have perfected their craft to the point that operating a semi is near effortless. Others, need the getaway for balance. As an escape from the chaos of repetition to stay sane. Most travel to explore nature’s beauty and to be introduced to the many walks of life that our nation occupies. Robert, however falls into the category of trucking for leisure. His reasoning for trucking is the tranquility that comes from the silence in his cab. The freedom of an open road; the inaudible noise of the world placed on mute. In peace, Robert drives with a clear mind, unaffected by the news or any social media. It’s just him and Buster Brown cruising from state to state, living the life in their own lane. After 48 years, he enjoys trucking not to ‘get away’ per say, but because he can.
He has debated if he should retire soon. Next year at the latest. The only real rhyme or reason to do so is the amount of years that he has put into trucking. He is more than ready to spend more time with his growing family… but he has been able to juggle all of it before. Why change anything now? It’s not like he isn’t perfectly healthy to continue trucking for another few years. The trick is knowing when to walk away. Living a life that you have perfected, earning your position the right way, sacrificing so much to prove to yourself that you did something special with your life is the whole purpose to being alive. Showing others that good things can be obtained and by physically being that representation is a quality to be proud of.
I’m sure Robert will make the right decision on when to hang up his trucking keys. In the meantime, he will continue lending a helping hand every chance he gets and mentoring other drivers, while staying involved at Sammons Trucking as one of their leading Owner Operators.