Cover Story

Mike Wallace - Marten Transport, Ltd.

Mike Wallace is enjoying the satisfaction of driving his own truck, thanks to the popular lease purchase program at Mon-dovi, WI-based Marten Transport, Ltd.

Mike first began driving professionally back in 1974 after processing out of the Air Force. He had served as a crew chief in Thailand, supervising the refueling of combat aircraft that flew missions over Vietnam.

“I hoped to find work in the aircraft industry, but a lot of other guys were leaving the military, just like me, and those jobs were nearly impossible to come by,” says Mike. “I eventually hired on with a construction company, expecting to set up scaffolding and mix concrete. My boss asked me if I could drive a truck, which I could, so I was on my way.”

Comfortable behind the wheel, Mike soon sought employment as an over-the-road driver. During the years that followed, he hauled a variety of flatbed, dry van and refrigerated loads. The young man worked hard at refining his skills, and he racked up an impressive safety record, with no chargeable accidents.

In 1988, Mike heard through the grapevine that his current carrier was in financial trouble, so he began looking for a com-

pany that would deliver higher pay and offer better, more driver-friendly equipment. “I had seen Marten’s trucks out on the road, and I always liked the way they looked,” remembers Mike. “I called their recruiting department, learned more about their driver package and signed on.”

Mike enjoyed running with Marten as a company driver, and he planned to work with them in that capacity until he retired. In 2001, however, management approached him about entering the company’s lease purchase program. “I enjoyed driving a truck, but I was always concerned about my retirement,” says Mike. “I didn’t want to work until I was 70, so the prospect of earning more money by operating my own business appealed to me. I decided to give it a try for five years.”

Mike got into Marten’s lease purchase program for minimal money down and affordable payments. He wanted a truck that he could count on for years to come, so he bought a brand-new Peterbilt 379. “I had driven Petes before, and they always came through for me,” he says.

Marten works hard to support the participants in its purchase program. One important benefit is the Marten Business Academy, or MBA. The program is supported by Marten’s Contractor Services department, which helps guide new or experienced contractors through the process of managing and maintaining a profitable business. A 100% fuel surcharge, weekly pay and financial incentives round out the competitive compensation package.

Mike lives in Potsboro, TX. He chooses to stay out for two-to-three months at a time, then spends a week to 10 days relaxing at home. When he’s not getting the job done for Marten, Mike maintains a collection of street rods and muscle cars that in-cludes a ’38 Plymouth sedan, a ’76 Eldorado convertible and an ’87 Mustang that boasts a hot ASC/McLaren conversion.

The staff of Over the Road and Pro Trucker magazines would like to wish Mike continued success with Marten Transport. To learn more about company driver and lease purchase oppor-tunities at Marten, see their ad on pages 30–31 of this issue.