Trucking is a lot like the family farm—the whole family works together to make it successful. My dad started trucking in 1946, and my mother joined him in 1953 when they married. Since 1946, more than 30 Ottos—my 9 siblings and their spouses, their children, my nephews and nieces and now my children—contributed to Otto Transfer’s success, whether they were driving, dispatching, swinging wrenches in the shop or pulling guard duty to catch a thief.

We take great pride in our work and plant seeds when we can. It must be working. My 7-year-old said that when she becomes a truck driver, she will use the air horn way more often. My 18-year-old is considering getting his CDL and is looking forward to working in the shop. Our middle two children enjoy helping in the office and washing trucks.