121521_TT_AllPages

12 • DECEMBER 15-31, 2021 PERSPECTIVE
THETRUCKER.COM
POWER cont. from Page 10
“So, it was a big difference pulling into
different plants and securing the load,” she
explained. “As far as driving, you had to know
your distance, know you can’t be like other
drivers where you push up on cars. That load’s
not going to stop like you want it to stop. You
can stop, but the liquid’s going to keep going
(surging). It’s dangerous, but it was what I loved
to do.”
In the years to come, Temple became
one of the recognized authorities when
it came to hauling hazardous materials
along designated routes in Virginia, North
Carolina, Pennsylvania and South Carolina.
Some of the largest chemical companies
in America called, asking for her by name.
“I was dedicated to some accounts
(including) Philip Morris and DuPont,” she
said. “I was the only driver that the company
owner had that was ever self-dispatched. The
customers called me directly. That started from
the beginning.”
As Temple’s reputation grew stronger, so
did the demand for her driving skills.
“One day they put me on something else,
and they put another driver on — and the
customer called,” she said. “They said, ‘No,
we need Angie to come here. If we can’t work
with her directly, there’s going to be an issue.’
Drivers would call and say, ‘Hey, we can’t do
this load.’ Dispatch would call me and say,
‘What can you do?’ So, I’m fitting in their
loads and I’m fitting loads that got added on.”
Even though it meant extra work,
Temple knew it was important to build solid
relationships with customers.
“It was like a built-in relationship between
me and the customers, because if I said I was
going to bring it, they knew it was going to
happen, regardless of what I had to do to get it
there,” she said.
After nearly 20 years, Temple decided she
was ready to realize her ultimate dream of
business ownership and launched her own
company, Tornado Transport.
“It was good training because I had to be
more than a driver. I had to figure out how to
work from the driver’s standpoint, and being
self-dispatched I had to figure out how shippers
operate, how customers operate,” she said. “I
had to get all my information, all my ducks in a
row, because when I stepped away from being a
senior driver, I stepped away making $120,000. I
was the highest-paid driver there.
“So, I had to make sure when I’m stepping
out, that whatever I’m doing is successful from
the first day,” she added. “And it has really been
phenomenal.”
Temple doesn’t haul hazmat with her new
company.
Instead, she’s decided to pull 52-foot box
vans behind her 2018 International LT625, and
she hauls a little bit of everything. In addition,
she’s got two other businesses that are just
about ready to roll out — one in logistics and
one in real estate.
Years of success haven’t made Temple forget
the lean times she and her family endured.
Because of this, she’s constantly looking for
ways to help others.
“We do a lot of charity work,” she said. “Like
Thanksgiving, we gave to two charities to feed
the homeless. That’s something where my
husband and myself both had the same heart.
It was something that I always wanted to do,
being a mom of six — to try and find ways to
give back because I know how it feels.”
Temple is also in high demand through
the Women In Trucking Association, where
she mentors young women to help them build
the confidence and find the support that was
lacking when she started out. Even so, it “ain’t
all sugar coating,” she admits with a laugh.
“I have people come up to me even now,
through Women In Trucking, and say, “I wish
I could do what you do,’” Temple said. “Well,
you can do the pity party, but you just can’t
do it with me. I have an answer for you, for
everything, and how you can do it. You just
have to be willing to do it.” 8
Courtesy: Angelique Temple
Truck driver and company owner Angelique Temple says enjoys a close relationship with her six children. Shown,
from left, are Elijah, 19; Temple; Artisha, 28; Asha, 20; Kayla, 21; Sariah, 19 (twin to Elijah); and Gabriel, 26.
ATTORNEY cont. from Page 8
situation. Based on the oral arguments heard
Nov. 30, I’m going to go out on a limb and say
the court will likely rule against Trump in
this matter. Of course, it’s likely the matter
will then be passed to the U.S. Supreme
Court to decide what obviously could be a
far-reaching decision on executive privilege.
Brad Klepper is president of Interstate
Trucker Ltd. and is also president of Driver’s
Legal Plan, which allows member drivers access
to services at discounted rates. For more
information, contact him at 800-333-DRIVE
(3748) or interstatetrucker.com and
driverslegalplan.com. 8
NEW PROGRAM!
$6,000
Tuition Reimbursement
$6,000
EXPERIENCE Bonus. 3 years current coil experience
Note: Both are paid out over 2 years in monthly installments.
• Guaranteed weekly pay of $1,000*
• Paid training program
• Ask your recruiter about our bonus
program
• Local, Regional, OTR
• Great Home Time
• 100% company paid benefits
• Late model assigned units
• Health Insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Percentage paid weekly
• 7 paid holidays
• Paid vacation
*Guaranteed weekly pay includes driver requirements to qualify. Ask for details.
www.thetrucker.com/pii
855.894.5939
CD’S SCAN HERE!