Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/328710
T racy Thomas likes to tell stories. For example, there's the one about how she became CEO and majority owner of Bulk or Liquid Transport, LLC, the Grover Beach, Calif.-based food-grade liquid hauler that she operates with her partner, COO and hus- band, Mike. That one starts in the 1970s with Mike going to work for Tracy's father's truck- ing firm, starting as a yardman. Tracy, who as a youngster had watched her father's career in trucking grow, eventually took on account- ing, safety and customer relations tasks for the firm, as Mike learned operational aspects of trucking. Over the years, the couple developed a deep appreciation for the trucking industry as well as a knack for satisfying high-profile, demanding cus- tomers. Tracy's dad eventually retired and another party assumed ownership of the company, and by 2006, the Thomases made the decision to operate their own business. That leads to the story about the couple walking into a Peterbilt dealer- ship. Their years of experience with various truck manufacturers had convinced them a superior quality fleet was essential. But their equity to obtain one consisted largely of a love of trucking, a hard-earned reputa- tion from years in the industry, a business plan and — perhaps — the destiny that Tracy follow in her dad's footsteps to own- ership of her own firm. At the end of the day – July 15, 2006 – the Thomases had 16 Peterbilt Model 386s at their disposal, leased through PACLease. "I remember it well," says Tracy. "The guy shook our hand and said 'I believe in you. Let's do it.'" "Since then, it's been an awesome ride." Fleet growth Today, the BOLT (an acronym for Bulk or Liquid Transport) fleet has grown to 21 power units and 22 food- grade liquid trailers that operate out of terminals in Ogden, Utah; Lynwood, Calif.; and Phoenix, Ariz. Their average length of haul tops out at 150 miles as they deliver liquid sweeteners for some of the nation's largest food processors, whom they convinced early on to take a chance on the fledgling company. Today, their truck of choice is the Peterbilt Model 384 day cab, which is well-suited for the type of regional haul in which BOLT specializes, particularly with its light chassis weight. "Payload is so important to us," says Mike, noting that the density of the liq- uids (more than 11 lbs./gal) they haul means they can deliver up to 55,000 lbs. of product in a 5,100-gallon tank. "The chassis weight of these Peterbilts as well as the efficient size and design of the PACCAR MX engine allow us to maximize our payloads." BOLT Transport followed destiny 14 l FIRST CLASS Success Stories BOLT TRANSPORT LIKING WHAT THEY DO Clearly, Mike and Tracy Thomas enjoy being in the trucking business. But the stylish, all- Peterbilt fleet of the bulk food-grade liquid hauler signifies a deeper appreciation for the industry than one might expect. "Trucking is a very exciting industry to be part of," says Tracy. "It's just so important. It's the industry that feeds America. "We're just very proud of what we contrib- ute, and what this fleet of trucks represents."