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“teN years from Now, i’m hopiNg we’ll be lookiNg baCk aNd sayiNg, ‘how
did we operate our busiNess that way? we’re so muCh more effiCieNt!”

side of the trade. was like before the ease of cell phones. has always been active in supporting
Once upon a time, the profits were Dad would leave mom by herself in our Arkansas association and sponsor-
easier to come by and the business Memphis, a big city, and he couldn’t ing events and attending our meetings,
methods were sometimes a little flashy. call her and say he was okay. I just essentially investing in the markets
For example, Tri-State used to own a can’t imagine. It’s a freedom we have where they operate. Many companies
King Air plane (“My grandfather was today; it’s nice to know everybody’s don’t do that – they take the money and
an unbelievable pilot,” Maddox notes) okay.” run. Not Tri-State, they stick by their
and they’d fly out to pick up custom- trucking company owners and that’s
ers, making their deals in the air. But rEpUTaTioN the big reason why they’re successful.”
Maddox acknowledges that as cool as Arkansas Trucking Association Maddox’s own take on the business
that might have been, it was a much President Lane Kidd said the Maddox echoes Kidd’s assessment.
different era. The King Air was sold a family has shown through their gen- “Our job is to sell trucks,” he said.
long time ago. erations of business ownership that it “We’re going to do everything we can to
Plus, technology now makes it understands how important business is do that. You’ve got to put a deal togeth-
easier for seller and buyer to reach tied to the personal relationships that er. We trust our equipment; it’s not easy
agreements and especially to contact are required in the trucking industry. to sell something you don’t have faith
the entire customer base so much more “Selling heavy trucks to the truck- in.’”
quickly. “Everybody knows the world’s ing industry takes skill,” explains Kidd. And the key to all of that success is
smaller,” said Maddox. “Everybody “You must have a great product, obvi- built upon family.
knows everybody. Cell phones brought a ously, but more than anything else you “Because we truly are a team,” he
lot of things into play.” have to have the ability to build trust as said. “It’s important for all of us, we all
And if he ever wonders whether you build a relationship with the truck- want to be here, we all work hard. Dad
he’s got it easier, he can always turn ing company owner,” he said. and Rod could easily sail off into the
to the stories his father has told him, “This industry still very much sunset and leave us with great people
like how the elder Maddox used to functions on a code of trust and and say, ‘Here you go boys, they’re going
sell trucks to the drivers who hauled a handshake,” said Kidd. “And the to run it for 10 years or 15 or 20 and
logs for the timber industry down in Maddox family is known and has the then you’ll take over.’ They’re not going
Mississippi. reputation of providing service and liv- to do that. They want to be here and
“You would find those drivers out ing up to what they promise. That is the they’re going to stick around, and that’s
on the road and follow them back to key to success, I think.” awesome. I get to work with my family
their house,” said Maddox. “They’d be Kidd also lauded the corporate and it’s wonderful.”
more than happy to see you, and half culture the Maddox family has fos- And because of that, he’s optimistic
the time they’d ask you into their home tered at Tri-State because it invests in that only better days lie ahead.
and the wife would fix you dinner the industry from which they derive a “Ten years from now, I’m hop-
and you’d talk about trucks and see if living. “Our organization tends to pri- ing we’ll be looking back and saying,
you could make a sale on a truck. Dad marily focus on providing services to ‘How did we operate our business that
would always leave late and find a pay our trucking companies and we depend way? We’re so much more efficient!”
phone and call Mom and let her know on businesses like Tri-State to help us said Maddox with that wide, easy grin.
he was alive.” underwrite the expenses of the meet- “That’s what you want so badly – you
As a husband and the father of a ings where we bring these trucking want to wake up ten years from now
10-month-old daughter, the younger companies together. and be better. The only way we’ll do
Maddox shakes his head in disbelief. “And even though they are techni- that is to come in every day and do
“You know we forget what business cally a Tennessee business, the family everything we can to get better.”

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