TRUE SUCCESS - Darrell Wright

TRUE SUCCESS

Legend Nominee: Darrell Wright

There is not a stretch of interstate from the east coast to the west that this Legend driver hasn’t traveled. Many long nights away from home after years of tears and sweat, Alabamian, Darrell Wright takes a brief break from his trucking business to reflect back on his 34-year career and share with us his definition of success.

Each person’s perspective of the term success varies in achievement, as well as their intention of the outcome. Most all professional truck drivers define their realization of true success as a life full of joy shared with their loved ones; quite the opposite of our society today where material gain is excessive, and an individual’s potential is only valuable if proven useful. From my experience interviewing truckers, the belief of a successful career is not measured in terms of money or power, but by providing a better life for their family while striving to continue creating new goals.

As co-owner of D & A Transportation out of Hollywood, Alabama, Darrell and his wife, Audrey established the trucking company in 2014 on the principles in which they raised their family: lots of hard work and honesty. As an owner operator, Darrell explains that it’s an entirely different ballfield running a trucking operation with 4 trucks and remain active as a driver too. Stating,

“When it’s your own business, you have to work harder and learn to manage your money better. Just because that piece of chrome may look good on your truck, doesn’t mean you have to buy it. You have to ask yourself, will I be okay if I have a blow out tomorrow? Could you afford both, the chrome and new tires? I just spent over $850 on two tires the other day, you have to plan for the unexpected. Making financially sound decisions can make or break a small business like mine. We’ve been very fortunate; our customers are as loyal to us as we are to them, so our work is steady, but any big chunk can easily put a business owner in a financial bind. Our customers know that I am reliable and trustworthy. Our company represents what we stand for as a family and the type of service we offer and I’m proud of that.”

A cancer-survivor, overcoming his biggest challenge, the deadly disease has helped Darrell keep a clear outlook on life with a permanently positive attitude. Adding, “Battling prostate cancer, I was told that I would never pull flatbed or drive a truck again, but here I am. I’m a lucky man, not just because I’m a survivor or because of my business, but for the simple fact that I have everything I need in life. You can have all the success money can offer, but if you don’t have loved ones to share it with, it means nothing.”

Darrell made his way into the trucking industry by following in his father’s footsteps. Growing up surrounded by 18-wheelers and understanding the mechanics of the business was normal. Actually operating a big rig and driving one for a living was unfamiliar territory when the time had arrived. Being self-taught, earning an education from the School of Hard Knocks, Darrell says provided a type of learning that ingrained experience to last a lifetime. “I knew trucks and everything about what makes them tick, but as far as living the lifestyle of a truck driver, that was a different story. Plus, I had never really left home before. I grew up knowing that my father was successful at it for many, many years but I didn’t have the opportunity to join him over the road. So, when I decided to go for it I had to learn how to read maps, road signs and everything in-between on my own. It was a very expensive way of learning and it cost me my share of mistakes. I definitely don’t recommend people jumping into the business blind like that!” Had he not, would he have worked as hard as he did to get to where he is today? When a person is left with nothing other than their pride, sheer determination can lead the way out of any situation.

Raised in New Hope, Alabama the oldest of 3 children, Darrell came from a line of hardworking business owners. His father, a veteran of the U.S. Army started driving trucks in 1961 and continued for 55 years, until the age of 75. They also owned a local grocery store, where Darrell spent many days with his mother helping out. At one point, his father’s fleet grew to 20 trucks, occupying the remainder of Darrell’s days. “As a kid, I spent my weekends changing oil in trucks or at the store sweeping and mopping. Back then we had chores to do, on top of helping our parents; work the garden and cut grass, a little bit of everything was expected. It taught us a work ethic and the distinct understanding that if you wanted something, nobody is going to give it to you. It’s completely up to you to earn it,” Darrell said.

Most Memorable Moment:

Darrell was 10 years old, it was 5 o’clock in the morning. His mother gathered all the kids together to bid their father farewell, as it was his first day in the truck as an owner operator and he wouldn’t return home for a number of days. Brylcreem held his dad’s hair perfectly in place with his comb folded in his wallet, as usual. He left with polished boots and an ironed shirt tucked neatly in his pressed jeans. Climbing into his blue and white cabover Transtar International, the Wright family watched as the man they all admired drove away.

The professionalism displayed by his father represented more than a job. For Darrell, he made trucking a way of life. His father exemplified respect and integrity.

When his father wasn’t driving a truck, he could be found in his tire and mechanic shop working on trucks. Darrell began studying his every move from an early age, absorbing knowledge like a sponge. He worked for his father until the age of 22, then moved away from home and landed a driving position hauling logs. Darrell explains, “You can’t wait on someone else to make decisions for you. Nobody has better intentions for you other than yourself. If you want to do something, you have to go after it” In 1991, Darrell returned home and purchased his first truck. Or as he put it, “…bought myself some security.” Advising, that any truck driver that owns a truck should never go without a job.

With a trucking career spanning well-over three decades, Darrell has pulled every type of trailer, with the exception of tanker. As an owner operator he hit the ground running, quickly expanding his business with Kenworth, Freightliner, International and Peterbilt trucks. In 2002, at just the peak of his career with a total of 5 trucks on the road, Darrell was at a truck stop in Connecticut when he met a woman shopping for an antenna for her pickup. The two struck up a conversation, less than a year later they tied the knot.

Audrey respected her husband’s commitment to his business and joined him over the road for 3 years working as his team partner, assisting with paperwork and dispatching. She adds,

“By the time I came along, Darrell had already been trucking for so many years. He’s very knowledgeable, I have learned so much from him. Throughout the first few years, he helped me build confidence in myself to be the other half he needed for our business to keep thriving. He taught me how to tarp a load properly, along with daily operations. Every day without fail, I watched him continue to work just as hard as the day before. Trucking is a demanding job and he does it well.”

The trucking industry is constantly evolving implementing new regulations and up-to-date technology. With all the changes coming down the line, Darrell and Audrey opted to downsize their fleet of six, hoping to free up time to focus on their family. Though Audrey is no longer on the road, she remains busy with office work, driving a school bus full-time, and also raises two of their grandchildren, Damien (9) and Alyssa (8). With a total of 11 grandchildren all between the ages of 18 to newborn, keeping their growing family a priority is extremely important to both Audrey and Darrell. So much so, D & A Transportation is a completely family-owned and operated company with one son in the office, another in a truck and future plans to increase business. The third driver, Will Atchley is the other grandfather to their grandchildren and a longtime friend, since 1997. Darrell explains,

“I’m in the process of wanting to rebuild the company again. Now that our family is all onboard, I want to leave behind something they can all be proud to be a part of. I want them to not only take away the business aspect, but the morals that led us to this point. I want to leave them with something bigger than a business, something they can take and apply to any part of their lives. Something my family left me with… if you work to your fullest ability, always stay truthful in your words and actions, and treat people with kindness, life can be good. Isn’t that all we’re after? A good life for your family? If they can take that with them years after I’m gone, then I’ve succeeded as a father, husband and business owner.”

Currently in a white 2012 Peterbilt 386, Darrell runs regional work pulling a flatbed hauling steel for manufactures. D & A Transportation is up to 4 trucks, and Audrey sees to it that each driver gets home every weekend to spend their off days with family. Looking back on his time running over the road, Darrell’s most favored places to visit were the scenic routes of Minnesota, particularly the Minneapolis-St Paul area. Claiming, “The stretches of mountains and lakes during the changing of the seasons is breathtaking. We live in such a beautiful country, you just need to get out and see it for yourself. I don’t regret a single step I’ve made along the way. Getting into the trucking industry has offered me a way of life that allows me to support my family and still enjoy what I do.”

His background as a mechanic plays a huge role, as he is responsible for 90% of the mechanical work for all the trucks in his fleet. Darrell’s message for our reading audience comes from a place of encouragement and humble heart.

Just because you start with nothing doesn’t mean you can’t have something. What I’ve learned about myself is that I have accomplished things that I never thought I could do. For instance, starting my own business. I figured I would be working for somebody else, doing things their way all my life. I now have more in my life to be thankful for than I could’ve ever imagined! But at the same time, just because I had the opportunity to get where I am today doesn’t make me any better than the next guy. The struggle is only half the battle. Bank accounts or truck status doesn’t have to define us, that’s not what builds character. It’s what a person does with the opportunity life offers that allows us to create the type of life we want to live. It’s how you feel about your work and yourself as a person that people notice and remember. When you discover that happiness then you’ve reached true success.

-Darrell Wright