Posts Tagged “Britton”
“When I started trucking 30 years ago, I was making similar wages to what 
these guys are making today,” states Randy Boushey, who used to truck a lot and still owns three older Freightliners he uses when in a pinch.
Randy still has his CDL, still trucks on occasion, but focuses more on being president of A & L Potato Co., a 71-year-old company that packs and ships potatoes out of East Grand Forks, MN.
He recalls making “big money” by comparison to what drivers are receiving today.
“I wish I’d put some of it away. What’s the farmer’s prayer?” he asks himself. “Please God let me make lots of money this year, and I promise I won’t piss it away this time.”
Randy still has fond memories of the days when he spent more driving a big rig. In fact, he claims he would put another newer models on the road if getting and keeping good, qualified drivers wasn’t such a challenge.
He ships a lot of red potatoes out of the Red River of North Dakota and Minnesota.
Randy has seen scenario from both sides of the fence; as a produce trucker and as a produce shipper. He realizes how important trucking is to the equation.
“Customers don’t want to hear excuses because they didn’t receive their potatoes because you couldn’t get a truck,” Randy says. “Getting trucks to come into the valley has been a challenge early in the potato season, because there hasn’t been a lot of outbound loads here.”
Randy points out a number of changes in transportation are occurring in the Red River Valley. For example, Britton Transport of Grand Forks, ND recently acquired Scott’s Inc., a truck brokerage. Pardee Transportation of Brooks, MN has bought out Prairie Line, a small fleet based in Fargo, ND. Plus, there was another trucking that recently filed bankruptcy.
“It is not going to get any easier. As good as our freight rates are on our commodities leaving here, that is only half of the puzzle. We’ve got to be able to load the trucks back into here. With $4-plus per gallon diesel fuel, it is imperative there is a decent rate for the truck,” Randy concludes.
“They are all basically the same whore, just a different dress,” states veteran 
long haul driver Patrick Simmons, when describing some of the nation’s largest carriers for whom he has driven over the years. He’s now driven nearly three years for Britton Transport Inc. of Grand Forks, ND, and says it is great to be working with a company that treats it drivers right.
Patrick has never owned a truck in his 23 years on the road, but has leased a truck and does not recommend that route to anyone.
“I have leased a truck and think it is the worst thing you can ever do. You are pretty much under their control if you have got their truck,” he states.
As for Britton Transport, Patrick says the company, which has 80 to 85 trucks, is easy to work with. “They will pretty much bend over backwards for somebody. They treat you right.”
He notes unlike the larger carriers, Britton has a check waiting for him every week, and he has no concerns about being paid. He also receives full medical benefits.
“I’ve been there, done that (with the huge trucking companies), and it’s something I would not do again,” Patrick states. “I like Britton because they get me home when I want to get home.”
He drives a conventional Volvo with a D-13 engine and an automatic, 12-speed transmission. While the auto tranny “takes a lot off you” as far as shifting, etc., he would still prefer to have a 13-speed manual transmission.
“You have more power when climbing hills,” he states.
He also would prefer not to have a governor on the truck limiting the speed to 62 mph, which he feels is too slow for a road truck, noting that a lot of western states have speed limits of 70 and 75 mph, although he notes Oregon and California have stuck with the double nickel.
During his career, Patrick has hauled a little of everything, including fresh produce, which he describes as “whole different ballgame.” Produce hauling often involves more pick ups and drops than dry freight.
His least favorite aspect of trucking is it not being conducive to good health. He admits to not getting enough exercise. “Other than that you meet a lot of good people in trucking. You don’t have to worry about getting laid off, or losing your job. Plus, I like getting paid!”
The flip side of trucking is Patrick believes there are a lot trucks being driven by individuals with no business being behind the wheel.
“There is no respect out here anymore like there used to be. It is a different class of drivers now. Some of them can hardly drive a lawn mower, much less a big rig,” he observes. “You have got a lot of the younger generation coming into trucking who don’t have any respect for anybody. That is a downfall as far as the industry goes.”
Britton Transport Inc., a U.S. subsidiary of Bison Transport Inc., announced 
today the acquisition of Scott’s Express Inc. and Scott’s Transportation Services Inc. (collectively “Scott’s), located in Grand Forks, North Dakota. Scott’s was established in 1952 and is a nationwide trucking and truck brokerage company, specializing in Agribusiness throughout the United States and parts of Canada.
Brad Seymour
“The acquisition of Scott’s expands and builds upon Britton’s customer relationships and capabilities as a logistics service provider in the Red River Valley,” said Dave Britton, President of Britton. “Scott’s has a long tradition of service excellence among agricultural shippers within the valley and will continue to service its customers with Britton’s support. We are excited about the opportunity to serve Scott’s long-term customers with Britton’s asset-based capabilities.”
Brad Seymour, President of Scott’s, will continue with the company in the transition of ownership and servicing of Scott’s customers. He says, “I have known Dave Britton for over 25 years and have a high regard for the way Britton does business. We are very pleased to be joining forces with Britton and I feel it gives our employees and our customers a platform to grow in the years ahead.”
Founded in 1952, Scott’s was initially operated as a filling station but soon after Archie Scott identified a need for sourcing trucks on behalf of local potato farmers. What started as a sideline became the first truck brokerage in the Red River Valley. Today, Scott’s continues to service the potato and specialty crop sector with superior service and an unmatched reputation.
Financial details concerning this transaction have not been disclosed.
(This story appeared 8/28/12 in Potato Bytes, the online publication of the Northern Plains Potato Growers Association)