Cover Story

Rod Anderson
Marten Transport, Ltd.

In 1994, Rod Anderson was working one construction job after another, and he wasn’t satisfied with the trajectory of his career. Rod wanted to travel, and he asked himself, “How can I see the country, and ultimately, the world?” The answer was found in the role of a professional, over-the-road driver.

“I went to driving school in nearby Portland and got out on the open road right away,” remembers Rod. “I drove dry van freight for a few years, and then I decided to stay put and drive locally. I delivered oxygen tanks to elderly members of my community—and it was important work—but over-the-road driving was in my blood.”

Rod heard good things about Mondovi, WI-based Marten Transport, Ltd., and he got on board in 2003. The driving pro enjoyed running with Marten, but he learned that he was getting custody of his 13-year-old daughter, Kristina, and he was determined to spend time with her at home.

“Marten always treated me well and got me home on time, but I didn’t see how I could continue my career and be the dad to Kristina that I wanted to be,” says Rod.

“I thought I might have to quit, but I learned that a driver recruiter position was opening up in Wilsonville, OR, just outside of Portland. I applied for the job and got it.”

During the interview process, Rod shared that he’d been maintaining a Web site documenting his experiences in hauling freight for Marten, and he believes that the site was instrumental in securing the new position. The audio posts of his journals were inspirational to those who were considering a career with Marten.

Rod cherishes his time at home with Kristina, and he enjoys the challenges of his new position. “It’s a big help that Marten is such a great company,” says Rod. “They treat people well…just like family, and they care enough to get you home when you need to be there.

“One big selling point is that Marten will get drivers home on the day promised or they will pay $50 per day for every day they are late. When I was out on the road with Marten, I only got home late a couple of times, but it was nice that the company backed up their promises.” In addition, though Marten is primarily a hauler of refrigerated freight, they also have customers with dry van loads. This helps the company keep drivers rolling and minimizes down time.

Though Rod has what it takes to succeed as a driver recruiter, he admits that he misses the open road from time to time. “I liked to feel the chill in the air and watch the sun come up early in the morning. That feeling always stays with me.”

Rod enjoys working with and building computers. A lover of the outdoors, Rod also enjoys heading for the Oregon coast, only 50 miles away, and he looks forward to snow skiing and hunting in the months ahead.

The staff of Over the Road and Pro Trucker magazines would like to wish Rod continued success with Marten Transport, Ltd. If you are a solo or team driver interested in running with the best, call one of their recruiters today, visit www.marten.com or see their ad on pages 30-31 of this issue.