How to Make 2 Million Miles? Attitude, Patience and Good Equipment.
Birmingham, AL Harry Brodhead believes his generation is the last that will be able to say that driving is in their blood. Today, drivers come to the profession through many different circumstances, but Mr. Brodhead is one of those drivers who inherited the driving bug. "My grandfather was in the trucking business," Brodhead says. "And my dad and his four brothers. Then my grandmother took it over and passed it to my uncle. I grew up crawling on the floor with toy trucks, making noises as I shifted gears and all that."
Fast-forward to 2005, where Brodhead has been driving for over 30 years, has been an Owner Operator for 22 and with CRST Malone for nearly 10. His experience and dedication were recently recognized with a 2 Million Safe Mile plaque.
When asked what it takes to achieve 2 Million Mile status, Harry Brodhead has a thoughtful reply. He explains that his success is based upon three things:
- "Number one, you have to be able to want to do this job. If you don't really want to do a job, you won't do it well."
- "The next thing is you have to have patience and be a mind reader. Know what this guy is going to do, what that guy is going to do out on the road. If you lose your patience, you are going to get in a wreck."
- "Third, you have to take care of your equipment. Running with shabby equipment, like low break lining, is going to get you in trouble.
"Attitude, patience and good equipment will get you there, " Brodhead explains. "Anybody can do it. You just have to want to."
Harry Brodhead is accustomed to running between 13,000 and 14,000 miles a month and prefers to run in the Southwest. "I try to do anything I can do to get to Texas," he says.
Another thing about Harry, he doesn't like change. "Once I get settled into something, I stick with it. Jumping around with a truck is very expensive. I wouldn't want to buy new fuel authority or new plates." Like most senior drivers, he has learned changing companies doesn't get you ahead. It puts you behind.
As a business owner, Mr. Brodhead enjoys being in charge of his destiny. "I'm doing what I want to do, the way I want to do it. They have to realize, the financial responsibility is mine. I know what I have to make every month. I have to know that I'm putting myself in a good spot for another load. You have to take care of you first. I'm a straight talker. I'm not gonna sugarcoat it."
"I've been out here 30 years, I love it," Brodhead says. And to think he hesitated for so long before buying his first truck. "I wish I would have become an Owner Operator a whole lot sooner. I was always afraid. But then I was working for a guy who had several trucks and it go to be where he wasn't taking care of his equipment so I made up my mind to do it myself. I bought a truck."
Brodhead is quite satisfied with driving for CRST Malone. "I would tell anyone to try and work here," he says. "When they call you up for a load, you can turn it down. You can take what you want to take and go where you want to go. These last two years, have been the best two years I've had, even with the price of fuel. I really got going. Call them up and see what you think."
If you are ready to make a change, CRST Malone is as committed to your success as you are. CRST Malone is 100% Owner Operator, which means steady freight and no competition with company trucks. Since you are paid a percentage of gross there is no waiting for a pay raise; we have them all year long! Headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, CRST Malone currently operates 1500 trucks running throughout the contiguous United States. To learn more information about becoming a CRST Malone Owner Operator call 1-800-366-6361.
