Mitchell is a big proponent of elec-


tronic logging devices. “I started putting them in my trucks in 2011. With this technology, they can’t cheat anymore. You cheat, you’re caught. “I think they should have been


mandated a long time ago. The compa- nies that bought in and did the things they were supposed to do were at a severe disadvantage to the ones that hadn’t.”


He admits implementing electronic


logs was a struggle. “We lost a lot of drivers because there were a lot of com- panies out there that didn’t have them, didn’t force them and they could do whatever they wanted to do. We bit the bullet and stayed with it.” As Mitchell watched peers slowly


fall in line with the ELD regulations, he also witnessed some of their businesses fold. “This is my prediction: There’s going to be a lot of fallout in trucking next year. There’s been a couple that I know of already this year, here. It’s another one of those guys I talked to and told him, don’t do this. Now they want to know how much I’ll pay them for their trailers.” Mitchell embraces technology that


makes his trucks safer and his opera- tions more efficient. But says technol- ogy does have its pitfalls. “Technology is a great thing when it works, but the personality has left business. You can hear urgency in people’s voice. Emails are ugly.” A critique that makes sense coming from a guy who used a tele- phone to woo his wife for years. Like so many business owners,


another struggle Mitchell faces is the difficulty in relegating duties. “It’s really hard for me to sit in here and not be in there,” he said, pointing to the operations office, “making sure it’s going the way I want it to go. But you know, you’ve got to let them do what they do. That’s been the biggest hurdle for me, is to back out and let someone else do it.” To this day, Mitchell will still go to


the warehouse to unload freight with the forklift. “One time, I was out here moving freight and a tornado tore right


ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT | Issue 6 2016


through the lot—right there! Nobody even called to check on me.” Rolling her eyes, Tina corrected him, “We were all trying to call you.” But Mitchell has found the best


way to stay in the know is to track the money. “I’m an operations freak,” he admitted. “The way I keep up with everything that’s going on is I do the payroll—I do the settlements every Monday so I have an idea of who’s doing what. I can’t miss Mondays.” What about Tina’s duties? “I do all


the stuff he doesn’t do.”


Mitchell has successfully balanced


his love life and professional life for years and makes no plans to stop any- time soon. “Hopefully, I’ll retire some time. I really don’t want my kids in the business because it’s that tough. But I think Tanner is going to at some point in time, so I’ll have to stay around for guidance.” When thinking about the legacy


he’ll leave behind, his goal is simple: “I want everybody to know that I was fun, but honest.” It won’t take much con- vincing. ATR


BORN: July 12, 1965 in Memphis, Tenn.


FAMILY: Tina, wife of 22 years and four children, Tanner, 30; Doop, 20; Mason, 17 and Mackenzie, 16. The oldest is just the best big brother. There’s a 10-year age difference so he calls them the babies.


EDUCATION: Arkansas State University OTHER CAREER PATH: I was going to be an attorney.


TV SERIES YOU’RE CURRENTLY WATCHING: It’s kind of embarrassing… The Voice


BEST CONCERT YOU’VE EVER BEEN TO: Most memorable was The Eagles at Bush Stadium. AC/DC was awesome.


ANY HIDDEN TALENTS: I can play the trumpet. I used to be really good, but I haven’t played in 20 years.


DREAM VACATION: Wherever Tina wants to go. I told her she can leave me if she wants to, she just has to pack me a bag to go with her.


FIRST CAR: 1981 white Camaro


CURRENT CAR: The “Red Sled,” a 2015 ASU-red Corvette Z06. I don’t drive it much, but I like to drive fast. I drive like an old man until I get in that.


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