OTA Dispatch Issue 1 2020

18 Oregon Trucking Associations, Inc. Oregon Truck Dispatch Keeping Local and Bridging the Gap THE EVOLUTION OF A TRUCKING COMPANY A lot of Oregon trucking companies have a long history in the state and have survived and thrived because they’re willing to adapt, change and improve as the industry dictates. F.V. Martin Trucking Co. is no different. Floyd V. Martin began his trucking career in the 1960s. Together with his friend and colleague, Bill Stokes, he started Siletz Trucking (Bill was eventually bought out). Up for the next challenge, in 1975 Floyd brought his truck from Siletz in Independence, OR to White City and started F.V. Martin Trucking Co. to meet the demand from local mills. Floyd juggled a lot of balls for several years before selling Siletz to its employees through an employee stock ownership program in 1990. Around the same time, Floyd recognized the need to address an accumulation of safety issues at F.V. Martin. It was time for a change of pace. This led to the hiring of Troy Hutchens in 1991, who then helped F.V. Martin transition into the flatbed business that same year. A short four years later, Floyd promoted Troy and shop foreman Joe Fisher to vice presidents. While Floyd was delegating more, that didn’t mean he was ready to step back. Instead, he started yet another company that would help his new up- and-coming vice presidents learn more about the business. The three became equal partners in Martin Transportation, which initially started as a brokerage. Success and the purchase of additional equipment soon followed. The high insurance premiums involved in having a combined brokerage and trucking business was the catalyst for more change. In 2001, the brokerage division was separated to become American Freight Inc., owned by Floyd and Troy. The trucking division, which currently operates 14 trucks, remained Martin Transportation and is now owned by Troy and Joe, who eventually bought Floyd out.