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Bozeman’s part of JMB, but he still con-
siders it “our” company.
“James is still a close advisor to
JMB,” Barr said. “I still meet with him
regularly, and he’s very much involved.
His name is still on it, and as long as WE’RE ALL COMPETITORS, BUT THERE’S NO
I’m here, that won’t change. We have a
lot of pride in the JMB name.” COMPETITION WHEN IT COMES TO SAFETY. SO
Barr and Bozeman formed a part- ANYTHING THAT CAN HELP IN THE AREA OF SAFETY
nership in 2012, after Barr found IS SOMETHING WE SHARE WITH EACH OTHER.
himself at the end of the line with the
company he had been leading when ANYTHING WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE SAFETY IS A
it was purchased by another carrier. NOBLE ACT FOR TRUCKING.
Having always dreamed of owning a
trucking company, Barr considered —MICHAEL BARR, JM BOZEMAN ENTERPRISES PRESIDENT
starting his own from scratch. But
getting a new business off the ground
takes time, and Barr knew his custom-
ers couldn’t wait. Meanwhile, Bozeman
was in the tough position of having to
make changes at JMB, a Malvern-based do it and it was just a matter of trusting Although he’s improved at this over
company he had meticulously built each other.” the past ten years, Barr admits to hav-
from the ground up. The mid-sized car- Barr and Bozeman knew their ing a history of putting a lot of pressure
rier had outgrown the size of its small strengths and assumed responsibili- on himself.
management team, but it still wasn’t ties accordingly: Bozeman focused on “Before I come up with the good
big enough to effectively negotiate with day-to-day operations while Barr took scenarios, my mind comes up with the
suppliers, and for Bozeman to diversify on business development. Their plan bad scenarios first,” he said. “I do love
his customer base, he needed more worked. Starting with 55 trucks in the business, and I love being with the
trucks. They seemed stuck. 2012, JMB grew to a fleet of more than people and the drivers. I need to learn
So the two men began to talk. 200 by 2022. And the competitors that to enjoy the day more—the whole day
They had initially been competitors, had become acquaintances had now and not just parts of it.”
but through the Arkansas Trucking become business partners—and friends. Barr keeps a quote in mind that
Association, they had become acquain- After leading the company together for improves his perspective: “Worrying
tances over time. ten years, Barr and Bozeman transi- is like paying on a debt that will never
“We wouldn’t have gotten to know tioned into what had always been part come due.”
each other if it hadn’t been for the ATA of their long-term plan: for Bozeman “It’s a cowboy quote,” he said.
meetings,” Barr said. to move out of the partnership while Barr has always identified with the
Both at a crossroad in their own continuing to work closely with Barr as cowboy persona. He’s a successful cattle
careers, they began to discover what an advisor. Having originally worked in farmer, and the fact that Bozeman is
they had in common and what each the excavation and construction sector also a cattleman—as well as an avid
of them could potentially bring to the of the trucking industry, Bozeman has wearer of cowboy hats—helped bring the
table were they to join forces. Even returned to his roots by starting his two together as business partners. In
though Barr had always envisioned own dump truck company. fact, as Barr was agonizing over whether
owning his own company, becoming he should join Bozeman at JMB in 2012,
partners with Bozeman at JMB felt WORRYING AND OLD WEST he was hauling cattle one day when he
right. After some conversations, a lot WISDOM pulled up behind a JMB truck bearing
of thought, a handshake and a toast of Looking back at his choice to join the company’s iconic logo: a cowboy on
Maker’s Mark bourbon, Barr bought JMB, Barr thinks about what he could the back of a reared-up horse. That’s
into JMB as a full partner. tell himself a decade ago when he was when Barr made his decision.
“When we first got together, James making that decision. “I took it as a sign,” he said.
laid out a plan,” Barr said. “The goal “I would say, ‘Don’t be so ner- Naturally, the cowboy logo remains
was for both of us, and we committed vous,’” he said. “You should have had part of the company, and Barr has even
to the plan. It was pretty much a hand- more confidence and enjoyed yourself added more.
shake deal, too — how we were going to more.” 

ARKANSAS TRUCKING REPORT | Issue 3 2022 33