Cover Story

Noemi and Larry LeBlanc - Covenant Transport, Inc.

Larry and Noemi LeBlanc have found happiness and job satisfaction as an owner-operator team, and they attribute much of their success to the Expedited/Long-Haul Division at Covenant Transport. Like many owner-operators at the company, the LeBlancs started out as company drivers. Larry wasn’t sure about going back to OTR after doing some regional driving, but Noemi talked him into it. “It was always my dream to travel the United States on a horse. Now I drive a big truck all over the country,” she says. Larry trained Noemi as his team partner and they were ready to hit the road.

After spending six months as company drivers, the LeBlancs began to hear more and more about how drivers can make money and run a successful business as owner-operators. For six weeks, the team tracked all of their expenses using a company truck. They wanted assurance that they could make it as business owners.

Once Larry and Noemi crunched the numbers, they were confident they could succeed in the Team Expedited/Longhaul Division. The LeBlancs decided to buy a used company truck (very similar to the one they used to track expenses) and started running their business.

The couple continues to track all their expenses. “We run this as a business. We aren’t trying to be ‘super truckers,’” says Larry. “It is all about planning. We save money, save time and are rested drivers,” he adds.

Covenant’s Team Expedited/Longhaul Division delivers steady weekly miles and top compensation. The division is an excellent fit for drivers willing to run coast to coast. Drivers can benefit from the “small company feel” of this 900-truck division while still having big company benefits like miles, home time, freight, insurance and 401k.

In addition, the Team Expedited/Longhaul Division offers coast-to-coast lanes that allow drivers to average a length-of-haul of 1,600 miles. Loads are mainly drop-and-hook, with no-touch freight. Opportunities in the division are available for drivers in any of Covenant’s hiring areas. Students are welcome, as are family or buddy teams. A team match program is available for singles interested in forming a team. Owner-operators and lease purchase contractors are also welcome.

For Larry and Noemi, their favorite part about working for Covenant is the leave of absence they can take. This allows them to drive a majority of the year, then spend time overseas in Noemi’s hometown of Prague, Czech Republic. While there, the couple goes to the opera, dances at balls and sees the sights. They also find time to ride horses, a sport for which the region is renowned. “Our business has allowed us to achieve our dream of traveling. We live in Europe part of the year and get to take other vacations as well,” says Larry.

The staff of Over the Road and Pro Trucker magazines would like to wish Larry and Noemi continued success with Covenant Transport, Inc. For more information on owner-operator, lease purchase, company driver and opportunities available at Cove-nant, see their ad on the inside front cover of this issue or give their recruiting department a call at (866) 391-0141. Call 888-MORE PAY to learn about Covenant’s Dedicated Service, Temperature Control and Regional Service divisions.