About Straight Line Transport

How SLT got started. I had a friend that was in the business and he tried for years to get me to do this, he said, "I would be great at it." Finally one day I took him up on his offer and six months later I started SLT. (My friend died 9 yrs ago). I had no customers, no carriers; I started from nothing, except a computer, phone, fax and capital to get started and a lot of motivation. The capital was the most important because you pay your carriers before your customers pay you. My friend told me it would take six months for me to get my first customer. I was shocked, that long. Every day I would cold call so many companies all day long, that's all I did. I was determined it was going to be before six months to get a customer. I got my first customer in 3 days from starting SLT. I learned that your credit and capital was very important from the start. When I first started I just wanted enough business for myself so I could have time and have a flexible schedule for my two year old son that is now 12 years old. Little did I know, it's not a flexible job, it's a lot of hard work and a lot of hours you put into the business.

I was working until 10:30 at night, I then realized, I better hire someone, I needed help. I wished I would have seen that sooner. I now have five employees including myself. One which has been with me for 9 years. Three years ago we moved to a bigger office. I always have people ask me how did you get started? How do you still have customers? I think the most important thing is to give great customer service. We go the extra mile for our customers so they know they are important, without them we would not get a paycheck.

You also need great employees and as an employer you need to make sure they feel good about their job and coming to work. Employees are the heart of my business and the connection to our customers.

Thank you to my husband for all his help and support along the way.

In loving memory of my friend Rob Drummond, that died at the age of 33 (Nov. 11, 1968 to Sept. 5, 2002)