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14 • OCTOBER 1-14, 2021 THETRUCKER.COM at the TRUCK STOP PRESENTED BY CAT SCALE. VISIT WEIGHMYTRUCK.COM Courtesy: Jeron Whittmore Arkansas trucker Jeron Whittmore found and restored the 1991 Peterbilt his father, Jerry Whittmore, purchased and leased to National Carriers three decades ago. At 21, Jerry was the company’s youngest driver. Hard workin’ man Family is at heart of success for Arkansas driver CLIFF ABBOTT | SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT Jeron Whittmore is a hard workin’ man, and he’s got the trophy to prove it. In the 2020 Shell Rotella Super- Rigs competition, held virtually last summer because of COVID-19 restrictions, Whittmore was recognized as the Hardest Working Trucker. Despite his young age of 22, Whittmore has been working in the family business for much of his life. The Whittmores currently run 16 trucks from their base in Huntsville, Arkansas. Most of those trucks support the family’s hardwood logging operation — the family buys and cuts standing timber to supply the mill. “We produce lumber, crossties and six-by-eights (specialized sizes used for pallet construction),” Whittmore said. “It might be 90% oak; there ain’t a whole lot of pine.” After the lumber is cut, the sawdust, bark and byproducts are used, too. “We ship mostly around Arkansas — Arkansas City, Springfield, Hatfield,” Whittmore said. “They just got everything jumped around.” Working around trucks so often, it was only a matter of time until Whittmore earned his CDL and started driving. His father and grandfather both helped teach him to drive, and he was moving trucks around the woods long before he was able to legally drive within state lines at 18. When Whittmore turned 21, he was allowed to drive interstate. “I used to go and help my dad and grandpa in the woods,” he related. “I’d pull the truck up to the loader. I’d have to let the seat down to reach the gas. Once I got it in gear and got moving, I’d let the seat back up so I could see over the dash,” he said with a laugh. “I’d have to let it back down if I needed to stop.” The family maintained their own equipment, and Whittmore gained experience in working on and rebuilding trucks. His love of both trucks and the family business led to one very special project. In 2014, while still in his early teens, Whittmore found some tax paperwork with information about a 1991 SEE WHITTMORE ON PAGE 16
CATTheTrucker081821 fullpage.qxp_Layout 1 8/18/21 7:35 AM Page 1 THETRUCKER.COM OCTOBER 1-14, 2021 • 15 Fast. Easy. Accurate. Get guaranteed, accurate weights on your mobile device without leaving the cab. You know you can trust CAT Scale for guaranteed accurate weights. You can get those same guaranteed weights even faster by using the Weigh My Truck app. Spend less time weighing, so you can spend more time on the road. 1-877-CAT-SCALE (228-7225) catscale.com | weighmytruck.com
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