FIXTITLE Robert Parrish.docx

OVER HALF A CENTURY

The Story

Of

Robert Parrish

To have secured a successful career spanning over 50 years is an accomplishment of its own. The amount of changes one will endure during five decades of work in one specific industry, come in volumes. Levels of development, innovation, and advancement: all transitions to better adapt to the current time. People react to modifications differently. Some changes are welcomed; embraced. Understanding that conforming allows you, as well as your environment to improve. Those that choose stagnation will grow tiresome and be replaced. To stick with a course and make it work for your best interests proves rewarding, yet requires patience, an open-mind, and many years of dedication.

This past year marked a very important period for veteran truck driver, Robert Parrish. Also known to many as, Pete. He was announced by NASTC (The National Association of Small Trucking Companies) during their 25th annual event, held this past October as one of the selected drivers on Team 2015. Of the elite named were 11 professional drivers with a combined total of 403 years of trucking experience providing well over 43,890,000 million miles, all accident free.

In addition, Pete was recognized and honored in celebration for reaching his 50th anniversary. A semi centennial is an achievement worthy of praise. While also being awarded by NASTC as one of their Drivers of the Year, Pete describes this moment in his career as humbling and an honor to be a part of. A realization that he will remember forever. He is currently a company driver with Barnes Transportation Services, Inc. based out of Wilson, North Carolina. Pete has devoted 32 years all together at Barnes Transportation, and has earned a life-time of 6,240,000 million safe miles of his own.

A strong will and determination was a necessity growing up in Pete’s shoes as a child. Being the oldest of seven children, came obvious responsibilities. What would be described by today’s youth as difficult labor, was an average day at home for Pete. His mother had her hands full tending to his three brothers and three sisters. His father, who also came from a large family of twelve siblings, manned the family’s tobacco farm. With nine acres, all available hands were needed. Back in the 1940’s no machines were present. Everything was done by hand. Therefore, Pete was cutting wood for fire at eight years old. Then, picking cotton and corn by ten. Being able to physically attribute to the land and his family gave Pete a sense of pride that is indescribable and permanent. He enjoyed working and loved the entire farming process. Feeding the farm animals, the hogs and mules two to three times a day was only a small part of his daily routine. The tobacco trucks he drove consisted of four wheels led by a mule. His family owned two mules at the time. As young as seven, he operated one while his father ran the other.

At age thirteen, Pete took up a new interest. A close family friend that drove a truck hauling produce often stopped by for visits, always in his blue 10-wheeler. “I knew the first time I saw his truck that I was hooked! It was the prettiest thing I had ever seen,” Pete says as he explains his reaction and first memory involving trucks. It wasn’t until his mid-20’s that he was able to live out that dream of driving a truck too.

Pete married his childhood friend, Christine. He was 19 and Christine was 16. After 56 years together, they still enjoy each other’s company. Call it opposites attract, or as it may, their relationship was formed back when the only thing they had to offer one another was themselves. Everything else was built together on the foundation of their unconditional love and respect for the other. Christine laughs as she recalls how the two began dating. “We were married in October of 1959. I knew his family and would go out with his oldest sister. When I first met Pete he told his sister that he wanted to date me, but he was so bashful I wasn’t sure how we would work out. It was while we were on our third date at the drive-in when he told me we were going to get married.” Christine’s voice is soft and genuine, as if she is smiling while sharing her flashback. She continues, “Pete is extremely shy, while I’m outgoing and outspoken. I thought, maybe this is meant to be… look at us now. We have had a good marriage.” Together they raised four kids; one girl and three boys. Their family has grown to seven grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren.

Once married, Pete persisted on working as many hours as possible on the farm, to provide as a husband. Like his mother before him, Christine stayed home full-time with the children. In 1967 at 26, with six to his household Pete knew that he couldn’t make the living he needed to support his growing family by working on the farm. He decided it was time to part from the only means of work that he knew. The other option was to pursue his ideal job; trucking. He found an opening at a local bakery. It was one step closer. The first year he remained inside the bakery, until he couldn’t handle it any longer. Pete states, “I was accustomed to working outside, not inside surrounded by walls.” He moved over to delivery, hauling baked goods six nights a week. Pete had finally landed a driving position in an 18-wheeler and he couldn’t have been any happier with life. His route was within a 200 mile radius. The perfect fit for his initial introduction to trucking.

Pete later found a job with a plywood company delivering doors and windows throughout the state of North Carolina. He was still able to be home every night. For two years he stayed onboard before switching to running over the road. He originally joined Barnes Transportation Services in 1959, pulling flatbed and dry van. Mostly covering the Northeast region one week at a time. After 13 years and change of ownership, Pete left Barnes Transportation and went to work for a trucking company located in Raleigh, North Carolina hauling appliances locally. After 16 years and numerous safety accolades, Pete put in for his retirement at 63 years old.

Almost a year later he returned to the open road. He jokes, “I didn’t make it. I jumped back into it full-time.” Back at Barnes Transportation Services, Pete started as a team driver, running with his son out to California and back. A few months passed and his son came off the road. Pete stayed on that same run alone for another two years. Eventually making his way to all 48 states. Now an all dry van operation with eight drop yards throughout the country, Pete is still running as hard as he did back fifty years ago. Barnes Transportation is a third generation company, founded in 1939. With a large number of major customers and broker freight, Barnes Transportation Services provides full and partial truckload service throughout the Eastern US, along with selected locations in the West.

Pete has no intention in stepping away from trucking any time soon. With Barnes Transportation he is known by name. The family owned company always maintains good equipment with over 200 trucks. Also the fact that he is treated well provides Pete with the opportunity to continue living out his dream. “I will keep trucking as long as I am able. I make good money with Barnes Transportation. I am good at what I do. I’m sure some may be better, but I try to do a good job. The best I can,” he said. When I inquired to his secret behind his success, he responded with, “Don’t be late and do things the right way the first time. Plus, I like the logging system. It works well.”

His love of trucks keeps his attention every time he climbs into his. He is constantly reminded why he enjoys his job. “How big they are and the sound of the wheels; I enjoy everything about them! Always have.” His proudest moment as a professional trucker came during the NASTC presentation last year. He explains, “All I ever want is to make my children proud of me. My whole family. And when I received my plaque that day, I saw it. They were proud of me.”

Christine elaborated a bit more for me, being Pete is far from boastful. They both agree that he is a workaholic and honest to a fault. She says, “Pete has such a good discipline about him. He has taken good care of his family and worked very hard to put food on our table. I will always appreciate what he does for us. I know that he loves his job. And as long as he is happy, I’m happy.” Another testament to their success.

When Pete is away working, he tends to favor the bright lights of the Las Vegas towns at night. Looking down onto the city that never sleeps, brings beauty in a way of dancing flashes and moving candles. The open country lands of Texas in the Houston and Dallas areas are his preferred treasures, as well. Fortunately for him and Christine, all of their family are within five miles of them. Including his brothers and sisters. When home, he enjoys taking his wife out on the town or spending time with the kids.

Just about every holiday is spent with everyone at their house also located in Wilson, North Carolina. During Thanksgiving and Christmas, Christine did the cooking with help from a few loved ones. From what started as two teenagers trying to figure out what life is about, together they discovered the true power of faith and loyalty. Pete’s remarkable track record is only the icing on their cake.