Cover Story

Marc Wilder—Central Refrigerated Service, Inc.

“Trucking was a family kind of thing for me,” remembers Marc Wilder. “My stepfather drove professionally, as did my brother-in-law and several aunts and uncles.” In 1978, Marc followed in their footsteps when he and his brother, both teenagers, began hauling hay from Idaho to Washington.

Eager to serve his country, Marc switched gears and enlisted in the Marine Corps., where he remained on active duty for two years, followed by another eight years in the reserves. After processing out of the military, he drove a truck briefly before leaving the road again to work in construction. During this period he operated heavy machinery, laid pipe and helped build commercial structures in Oregon and Washington.

In early 2000, however, Marc heard the siren song of the open road and hit the road again as a company driver with Dick Simon Trucking. “My brother-in-law reignited my interest in driving, and I was excited about getting back behind the wheel.” Ready for the challenges of running his own business, he entered the company’s lease option program in May of 2001. “I was interested in the higher compensation I’d receive, and I knew there would be important tax write-offs, too.”

On New Year’s Eve, nearly six months later, Marc married Linda, and the couple began running as a lease driver team. Soon after, Dick Simon was bought out by Salt Lake City-
based Central Refrigerated Service, Inc.

What do the Wilders like about running with Central Refrigerated? “I enjoy the dedicated route I run from Salt Lake City to locations in the Northwest,” says Marc. “We average 3,500 to 4,000 miles a week and still get by the house regularly. Plus, the folks at Central are great. The company is full of friendly people who always do what they can to work with you and get you what you need. Central has all kinds of regional, dedicated and 48-state runs available, so you can pretty much pick the routes that work best for you.”

Marc and Linda have worked out a team arrangement that suits them best. “Linda doesn’t like to drive during the winter months because of the dangerous road conditions,” says Marc. “She also likes to take care of things at home, so she’ll run for two or three weeks, then takes two or three weeks off.”

And is the secret of success for a married couple running together as a team? “I believe that it comes down to having plenty of patience,” says Marc. “Fortunately, Linda and I get
along well, so we don’t run into problems.”

When they’re not rolling down the highway and getting the job done for Central Refrigerated, the Wilders enjoy relaxing at their home in Battleground, WA, located just north of Portland, OR. “I love to hunt and fish, and Linda and I enjoy watching movies together when we get the chance,” says Marc. “Some day, we hope to buy a larger piece of property and raise horses.”

The staff of Over the Road and Pro Trucker magazines would like to wish Marc and Linda continued success with Central Refrigerated Service. To learn more about lease operator, owner operator and company driver positions available now at