Say What?

Question: How has the recession impacted you?

Tom McCullough, 59, Shepherdsville, KY  
Professional driving experience: 30 years  
“Well, it really hasn’t impacted me or the company I drive for because we subcontract with an expedited freight company. That stuff is still going out. It has impacted a lot of the customers, however, so it will eventually impact us.”

Gary Baldwin, 49, Clearfield, PA   
Professional driving experience: 50 years  
“I’m an owner-operator so you know we’ve been struggling. Our business has dropped off significantly. People are hurting. Last year was pretty good, but since the start of this year, it’s been really tough.”

Kevin Fletcher, 52, Mount Vernon, KY
Professional driving experience: 5 years    
“I don’t think the economy has impacted us with what we’re running. We run dedicated subcontracted freight for UPS. In fact, we’ve had some freight put on us because of the misfortune of others. We don’t know that for sure, but we feel that way. Like some other drivers, we thought about retiring, but we’re going to hang around because our 401k has taken a hit.”

Lorinda Fletcher, 38, Mount Vernon, KY  
Professional driving experience: 5 years  
“We’re grateful to have a job right now. We’re also fortunate to run in an area that has a contract with the government. We carry a lot of military stuff through UPS. We feel very fortunate because we know other drivers are suffering. We know their freight is down. They’re not moving. I think a lot of people are getting out or retiring.”

Robert Pitman, 39, Newland, NC  
Professional driving experience: 17 years  “The economy is obviously hurting and the freight has gotten really slow, especially if you’re hauling flatbed. We haul steel, and no one is producing or hauling steel right now. In order to survive, you have to cut back any way you can. You have to watch where you buy your fuel. Since my family owns the business, we watch the spending and cut every corner we can cut. It’s tough.”