Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/328668
"I'm the gas. He's the brake." Thus describes the partnership at the wheel of Trappers Transport, a Winnipeg-based refrigerated goods carrier. The words are those of Dan "Trapper" Omeniuk, the president and founder of the growing 23-year-old company. His partner — "the brake" — is CFO Pankaj Sharma, and the differences between the two go beyond their roles in leading the firm. The former grew up in northern Manitoba, was raised on moose his family hunted and walleyes they caught, and ended his formal education after the 10th grade. The latter grew up in Winnipeg, was an honors student at the University of Manitoba, is a vegetarian, and is a Professional Chartered Accountant, the Canadian equivalent of a U.S. CPA. Omeniuk is a constant fountain of new ideas. Sharma is a con- stant block on any of them that don't make financial sense. And both readily admit that their frequently divergent view- points are exactly what make their partnership a success. But the partners have long been in agreement regarding one tenet of the trucking business — their commitment to building their fleet with premium Peterbilt trucks. They're now integrating Peterbilt Model 386s into the fleet, which has been all Peterbilt since Omeniuk started the company with a single new Peterbilt in 1986. "Back when I started, you got into a Peterbilt long-nose for pride, and as much to impress other truckers as you would to impress your customers," says Omeniuk. "Now you've got to keep an eye on fuel efficiency, resale value, driver appeal, reli- ability — that's why we run Peterbilts today." New partner Sharma wasn't there in the beginning, but he has a long connection to the industry, either in direct employ or in his service as a public accountant. In fact, Trappers Transport was once one of his clients. He joined Trappers Transport in 2001 when Omeniuk recognized he needed management help to take his company "to the next level," Omeniuk says. The move freed Omeniuk, who had already given up driv- ing, to focus on sales and customer service for their growing customer base, which included major grocery chains and food suppliers throughout North America. "It's always evolved around food for us," says Omeniuk. "Fresh, frozen, time-sensitive — these customers are looking for an honest carrier that offers reliability, and we've always been able to provide that." Trappers Transport also provides that reliable service using technologically advanced premium equipment — including sat- ellite-monitored tractors and trailers — which means plenty to their customers. "The industry knows who we are," says Sharma, citing the bright-yellow design scheme of a Trappers Transport rig. "You got 'em in the new Model 386 and it didn't take long..." Winning Pair Winning Pair Winning Pair Partners have diverse opinions, but agree on Peterbilt fleet