The Voice of Southwest Louisiana

Real People Real Lives
Gary
Gobert
Q&A
by Basha Celestaine
Located at 5700 B J Cement Road in Lake Charles, LA, is Lake City Trucking. A self made business owned by Gary Gobert, a
humble, hardworking, and busy man. It's been servicing companies since 1988, working with the oil, petro-chemical, steel,
timber and construction industries. Their mission “is to provide safe, efficient, and reliable transportation services to meet the
specific needs of [their] customers.” Here is what Mr. Gobert had to say about starting his own business.
QHow did you start Lake City
Trucking?
AGobert: “I had a dream and a
vision. To fulfil that vision, for 3
years, I started in the industry with a
Kansas based company. This allowed
me to purchase my first truck. After
the 3 years, I leased on with Melton
Truck Lines in Shreveport, driving
cross country for them for another 6
years which allowed me to purchase
my second truck. After literally living
in a truck for approximately 9 years I
returned to Lake Charles in 1988 and
started Lake City Trucking with 2 trucks
and 2 drivers. One of those drivers
was me. I worked many long days and
nights to make Lake City Trucking the
company it is today. But that journey is
one that I wouldn't trade for anything.
The journey taught me and refined me
into the person I am today.”
QHow did you get your first truck?
AGobert: “I was able to purchase my
first truck from a company that I was
working for. I purchased that truck with
a dollar down, and a lot of hard work.
Times have changed a lot since then,
but some things have not changed. It
still takes hard work, perseverance and
faith in God to endure.”
QWhat were the obstacles you faced
starting Lake City Trucking?
AGobert: “Just like any other business,
I struggled with getting business
in the beginning. Finding customers
and getting them to take a chance on
a new business was probably the most
challenging. You must get your foot in
the door, and once you are in, you must
perform. I knew I would have to overdeliver
and that is what I did, and I still do.”
QWhy do you think it's important to give
back and support your community?
AGobert: “Supporting your community
is the right thing to do. I'm a firm
believer in not forgetting where you came
from. I believe in the principle of "sowing
and reaping". I learned early on, that to
receive you must give. If you live by that
principle and exercise your faith, things
will work out for you.”
QWhy is it important to support small
and minority owned businesses?
AGobert: “First and foremost, I do
not like to label businesses. I
consider Lake City Trucking a business
just like any other business. I prefer
to compete for business based on my
ability to perform and the track record
of my company.”
QWhat made you want to start your
own trucking company?
AGobert: “My father owned a trucking
company and I had relatives in the
trucking industry as well. Just growing up
I knew one day I would be in business for
myself, and the trucking industry was a
natural fit for me. I enjoyed driving and
being on the road. It allowed me to set my
own hours and schedule. If I wanted to
work twenty hours a day, I could.”
QWhat was your best and worst
business decision?
AGobert: “The best decision I ever made
was "not giving up when things got
tough.” As for my worst decision, it was
not being a better risk taker. I remember
years ago, thinking to purchase 10 brand
new trucks at once. It was one of my best
decisions ever. As it turned out, that was
also part of my worst decisions because I
should have purchased 20.”
QWho was your best business counselor
and what advice was given?
AGobert: “My best business advice came
from my father. I started my business
buying used trucks and the advice he gave
me was, "If you can buy new, buy new.” That's
when I decided to purchase 10 brand new
trucks and I've been buying new ever since.”
24
January 2017 WWW.THEVOICEOFSOUTHWESTLA.COM Volume 4 • Number 4