Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/93143
OWNER-OPERATOR OF THE MONTH The team's '99 International 9400 has more than 1.5 million miles on it. They call the truck Butkus, named for former football player Dick Butkus. Fit for business T Bakersfield, Calif.-based team Tom and Karen Moore tackle maintenance and personal health with the same resolute temperament. By Elizabeth Manning he husband-wife team of Tom and Karen Moore stumbled upon trucking via the couple's side business about 10 years ago. Karen was a legal secretary and Tom a com- mercial photographer. The couple also had a love for drag racing and owned their own racing business, which demanded the need for a truck to pull a transporter for their dragster. "I wanted to get out and see the country, and get into some good hard work," Karen recalls. "So I told Tom, 'Why don't we get into trucking?' " The two got CDLs in 2001 and found out quickly starting as owner-operators would be more difficult than expected. 28 | Overdrive | December 2012 "No one wanted to insure us because we didn't have any experience," Tom says. They finally were able to piece together policies from different companies to make it work. Business services company Interstate Registration Agency took care of the set- up and management and, to this day, still does the team's reporting and accounting. Almost 11 years later, doing the job right is the Bakersfield, Calif.-based team's ultimate goal. They still drive the black 1999 International 9400 they bought as rookies. Their primary loads have consisted of military goods. Their secret to success as owner- operators is simple – keep the truck and The driving team stands with their truck shortly after starting over-the-road in 2001. Soon after the team began dating, Tom surprised Karen by showing up at a fund- raising event where she was working as the company mascot, Maybear. Before leaving, Tom picked up a stuffed replica of her costume. The bear has accompanied the team on the road ever since. themselves in top working order. Here are a few tips from the Moores: Keep an eye on health The Moores, who met each other in a gym, stay active on the job and off. They do exercises near the truck while on the road and, when at home, spend hours cycling with a group and work- ing out in their exercise room. "We are Felix Adamo