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“My brother and I are,” he has been unbelievably good for our fam- a customer, and command the respect
describes, “well, I hate to say old-school, ilies and for a lot of families. It’s some- and knowledge that everybody expects
but with this new generation there’s thing you take pride in. You must be but they will in time. The good news is
just so much new information avail- good to your customers and also to the that Rod and I are right here and we’ve
able and they are used to using all that. communities you operate in; to whom surrounded ourselves with a great man-
Will is bringing all the computer skills much is given, much is expected.” agement team, so our children don’t
and things my brother and I don’t know Neither Jim nor Rod, approaching have to worry about that yet.”
how to do and basically don’t want to their 60s, thinks about stepping out of
learn how to do. It’s neat to see, even if their roles at Tri-State anytime soon. Today’S approacH
it’s just as small as all the information Their business has a solid foundation If you own a business, particularly
they can access on their cell phones.” and revenues are about $160 million per in one as sensitive to the economy
But that’s not to say the elder gen- year, yet they have an eye on growing as Tri-State, the economic collapse of
eration doesn’t have anything to pass the business even further. Their worst 2008 and 2009 still lingers on peoples’
along to the up-and-comers. “The thing enemy – complacency. minds. Businesses like Tri-State survived
I try to instill in all the younger genera- Each generation brings change and but Will Maddox observes that every-
tion, especially the Maddox family, is new ideas, but Jim believes you merge body seems to be doing business a little
you can’t take any of this for granted,” the proven experiences with them to differently. Profit margins up and down
he said. “My dad always said our busi- increase your chances of continued suc- the chain are still not where they could
ness is the sacred cow, so don’t screw cess. He expects that Will and the other be, and for this and other reasons, cus-
with the dang business! It’s very impor- members of the fourth generation of tomers are demanding less-expensive
tant – and we have this conversation Maddoxes will leave their unique stamp products, a tough challenge when fed-
every week – that we’ve put a great busi- on the company. eral regulatory standards on trucks keep
ness together, with great employees, but “They have an entirely different coming, as do the associated expenses
the business is sacred. perspective on it,” he said. “They’re not necessary to meet those standards.
“There are a lot of sacrifices, many at the place in their careers yet where “My brother and I are working on
long hours,” he said. “But the business they can go sit down with a banker, or 

lEss frustration hErE. morE produCtivity hErE.

DefenD your company anD your
Drivers with a legal Defense plan Call Jim C. Klepper, Esq.
DesigneD By anD for truckers. 8 0 0 - 4 1 7 - 3 5 5 2
Drivers Legal Plan @DriversLegal www.driverslegalplan.com

arkansas Trucking reporT | issue 4 2013 27