Page 26 - ATR 1 2012 web 2

Want to know which new food- because, “I love what I do.” plush, modern headquarters building
stuffs are coming down the pike or Keene manages a private carrier situated alongside Don Tyson Parkway,
what Tyson items sell big in Asia? Keene fleet of 2,500 trucks and 6,300 refrig- a wide thoroughfare in one of Arkansas’
can tell you. erator trailers with 200 owner/opera- fastest-growing areas.
Want to know about the feed tors based in 18 states handling 15,000 “All this was dirt roads,” Keene said
bushel-per-chicken ratios that help shipments a week through the fleet or as he motored past the headquarters, all
measure a Tyson farmer’s success or third-party operators. glass and curves connected with Tyson’s
what percent of Tyson sales are done “It’s just fundamental people doing discovery center, the test facility com-
overseas? Keene is the man. the right thing,” Keene said. “I work plete with kitchens and mockup assem-
Oh, and yes, Keene knows a little with a lot of people. I don’t view people bly lines for development and trials of
something about running the eighth working for me.” new products.
largest private trucking fleet in the U.S. Keene routinely arrives in the office But it isn’t quite time for the
“I tell people I’m in the original before 7 a.m. to check with the night “nickel tour” just yet. First there is the
business,” Keene said, noting Tyson’s shift and the head of road service main- issue of a late lunch, chicken of course,
genesis as a transporter of poultry, a tenance to see that there have been no at a local diner where Keene, and by his
venture that has grown into the world’s mishaps during the wee hours. account the Springdale Bulldogs football
largest processor of chicken, beef and He checks his e-mail for customer team, are fixtures.
pork. complaints or problems with anyone in A big sports fan that claims base-
Keene, 52, has been with Tyson for the far-flung Tyson network; he might ball as his favorite, Keene nonethe-
31 years and joined the company when drop in on safety or operations, put in less points out the long corner table
it acquired Tastee Bird, an Arkansas- time on some long-term developments where the football Bulldogs gather on
based frozen food distributor that or projects like new engines or technol- Saturdays after games to eat and ana-
employed Keene after he graduated from ogy and there may be some travel to lyze the previous night’s action.
Arkansas Tech University in Russellville. terminals and distribution centers. But it is soon clear Keene, sporting
Keene said he could have opted for Keene spends each week bouncing a jacket with the orange Tyson logo, also
a job in sales, production or plant man- between Tyson’s gritty, red brick trans- has a small following.
agement, but stayed in transportation portation office off Highway 71 and the “You still in transportation?”

GEt somEonE

on your sidE

A Legal Defense Plan
Designed by and for Truckers.

Jim C. Klepper, Esq.
800-417-3552 ®

www.driverslegalplan.com

Drivers Legal Plan

26 arkansas truCking rePort | issue 1 2012