Business Spotlight: Cross Creek Trucking

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Since April 2002, Jason W. Bates and his four business partners have worked to cultivate a strong business by treating their clients and drivers as they would like to be treated.|ret||ret||tab|

Cross Creek Trucking has grown in that short time from a one-truck operation to a 13-truck operation with shipping contracts throughout the United States. Growth in the company is greater than Bates had anticipated. |ret||ret||tab|

"Going into this, and having been in business in the past, I wanted to be very realistic about our projections. We figured everything fairly low, and our revenues have been higher than we expected," Bates said.|ret||ret||tab|

Bates brought 11 years of business experience to his new company. He had previously operated a construction business by himself. Operating a business with partners has brought challenges and advantages to Bates. |ret||ret||tab|

"There have been difficult times where we disagreed, but we are able to talk those differences out and work with everyone's ideas. It has also been easier to grow because there have been more people who can back up the financing," said Bates. |ret||ret||tab|

Another success strategy Cross Creek Trucking employs is specialization. Co-owner David Tuck believes that specialization is key to a company such as theirs. |ret||ret||tab|

"That way you don't get too spread out. Keep it basic and grow with that," said Tuck. |ret||ret||tab|

The company uses primarily flatbed trucks and vans, which are unrefrigerated 18-wheelers used for hauling dry goods. The company primarily hauls construction materials on the flatbeds.|ret||ret||tab|

"We started out just using the flatbeds because that was primarily what I knew, then we got a van and wound up getting some really decent contracts. Those contracts have allowed us to grow in our van division," Bates said.|ret||ret||tab|

Bates reported that half of the company's equipment is devoted to performing dedicated runs, delivering the same goods to the same companies on a daily basis. The remainder is used to transport large machinery and building materials. |ret||ret||tab|

"From spring to late fall, we haul a lot of building materials. In the wintertime that slows down and we haul a lot of machinery for contractors who have been working out of town. Our biggest flatbed commodity is the construction industry," he said. |ret||ret||tab|

The Springfield-based trucks travel well beyond southwest Missouri. |ret||ret||tab|

"Ninety percent of our freight moves between Kansas City, Chicago, Atlanta, Houston and then back into" southwest Missouri, Bates said. Bates reported that his trucks occasionally travel to the West Coast.|ret||ret||tab|

With such a large range of operation, Bates and his partners must work diligently to mitigate rising fuel costs. "As we have grown we have been very aggressive in getting contracts with fuel surcharges," Bates said.|ret||ret||tab|

Cross Creek Trucking has both company and independent-contract drivers. All of these drivers are non-union, according to Bates. |ret||ret||tab|

"Using union drivers was not really an option for us as they are not very strong in long-haul trucking," said Bates. Ten of his 13 drivers are company drivers, the remaining three are owner/operators.|ret||ret||tab|

In terms of future growth, Bates hopes his company can attract more owner/operators.|ret||ret||tab|

"The advantage of employing an owner/operator is that it is one more truck that I can provide a service to my customers with that I don't have to go out and find the financing for. That frees the financing up so I can grow in other areas," said Bates. |ret||ret||tab|

While the owners of Cross Creek would like to continue to expand their business to some degree, they plan to top out at 30 to 40 trucks.|ret||ret||tab|

"We do see some potential growth in the future, but we're not going to ever try to be a major trucking company in the United States," Bates said.|ret||ret||tab|

Regardless of how much they grow, the management of Cross Creek Trucking hopes to build a reputation on its ethics. |ret||ret||tab|

"We have a lot of driver referrals which I think is a sign that we treat our people right. I think that is a reflection on the management and the people we have here," Tuck said. |ret||ret||tab|

Bates believes that much of the company's success to date is due to its commitment to treating customers with the utmost respect. |ret||ret||tab|

"I firmly believe that if you treat people the way you would want to be treated, you will only be blessed by that," Bates said.|ret||ret||tab|

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