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mean by that is, you used to do more
favors for customers; now it just cost so
much to do those favors. The relation-
ships with customers have changed so
“the [ata] Board is somethiNg i have had a dramatically.”
Rice stands by his loyalty, account-
passioN for aNd take it persoNally, But it’s ability and relationships to his customer
Not just my owN issues. i doN’t go with my base, however. Another word in the
owN ageNdas.” company motto is passion, which he
lives.
“I’m all about passion. When I have
a passion for something, gosh, don’t get
in my way.”
support the Special Olympics. When we “God has blessed us so well that His children are already getting
started the convoy, our drivers hit that we’ve been able to be fortunate enough a taste of all aspects of the business.
like a ton of bricks. It’s huge here in our to help people. We are very close knit Garland IV, who is 29, has worked in
office. You have to qualify to drive in it. here. When we can step up for each every department of the company for
Rice’s drivers wanted more than other, we do.” at least six months, Butch said, and
just to compete and populate the con- is now vice president of operations.
voy with bright yellow Stallion trucks, envisioning The fuTuRe Robert “Colt” Rice, the youngest son
too. Each year as part of the event, a Stallion’s customers have been who turns 24 in April, will do the same
huge flag with signatures of Special steady for many years. The company before he takes over an office. Daughter
Olympics children and drivers is auc- ships conveyors for a Jonesboro line, Katelyn Walburn, 25, works in Classic
tioned off, but Stallion hadn’t been High Truck Conveyors; it moves rolled with Robin and also spends time on the
able to purchase one. One year, the paper for Memphis-based Evergreen charitable giving side.
drivers were willing to pony up their Packaging; and Stallion also ships truck Butch Rice laughs heartily once
safety bonus checks to obtain a Special parts for a Peterbilt subsidiary, among more, saying he just wants to have
Olympics flag. Rice was so moved, he some of its regular business. Stallion’s everything at Stallion paid off for his
personally made sure the company won lanes are in the Midwest, the Southeast children.
the bidding over Walmart to place two and Texas. Garland IV’s view of the future? “I
flags on its walls where the company “Our top five customers have been would hope we are at about 125 trucks
drivers can see them. here for 20 years,” Rice said. “We’re so and in about two or three different
“We have a drivers council, and fortunate for that. You can call my cus- locations with brokers.”
they help choose what charities we’re tomers, and they’ll tell you how loyal I Butch chimes in, “See there! That’s
going to support,” Rice said. am.” the vision.”
“Giving back is our flagship here, The driver pool is a constant worry Immediately, Stallion plans to have
and you can see it through our office,” for Stallion, as it is for all trucking com- an office in Jonesboro opened soon to
Rice said. “When drivers go through panies. In Beebe, the natural gas busi- serve expanding lanes. Next would be
their orientation, they see that’s what ness grabbed several drivers and shop an office in Dallas, then Cincinnati,
our company is about.” workers during its run-up in the past both Rices say.
This past Christmas, the drivers decade-plus. Butch Rice says he’s never envi-
council decided to give back to veterans, Also, the shift to electronic logging sioned having a huge company, just a
in particular because Rice’s late father in the past few years was something growing one, and his son echoes that.
had been a veteran and belonged to the Rice admits he fought at first, and it “We are going to have to step out
local Veterans of Foreign Wars chapter cost a number of drivers who didn’t of Arkansas both for brokerage growth
in Beebe. want ELDs in their trucks. Now, Rice as well as driver retention,” Garland
“My dad was my hero, he was says, he’d put an ELD unit in a truck IV said. “Everybody on the truck
everything to me,” Rice said. Nine before he’d place a steering wheel in the side wants to be where they can get
photos of Garland Jr. adorning Butch’s vehicle. home more … We have to take care of
office attest to that. “Trucking has changed so dra- Arkansas first right now, get Arkansas
Rice met with the VFW about their matically,” Rice said. “It’s an accounting where it needs to be.”
Christmas program and helped present game now. The way it’s changed is, you One area that son won’t bother dad
bicycles to underprivileged children in have to think smarter. Things you used is in the horse pasture, however. That’s
Garland Jr.’s honor. to let slide you can’t let slide. What I all Butch’s. ATR

36 aRkansas TRuCking RepoRT | issue 2 2015