070122_TT_AllPages

FEATURES
THETRUCKER.COM JULY 2022 • 19
Love changes things
CANDACE HUNTER LEFT CAREER IN FINANCE TO ENTER THE WORLD OF TRUCKING
CLIFF ABBOTT | SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT
Candace Hunter was running a successful
tax business in 2019 when love intervened. She
met Rickie Braden, who was interested in starting
a business of his own.
Working together to consider the type
of business that would provide the greatest
chance for success, the couple decided on
trucking. While Braden went to CDL school to
learn the ropes, Hunter immersed herself in researching
the trucking field. Then she climbed
into the cab and rode with Braden to gain firsthand
knowledge.
“I just went on the road with him,” she said.
“I was just teaching myself about everything,
on how to start a trucking company, what we
would need to do as far as budgeting, startup,
and so on. As we were going he was teaching
me about things, how his day is set up and what
he needs to do with the trucking job. We did
that for a whole year.”
During those early days, the couple saved as
much money as they could, preparing to buy a
truck and start a business of their own. A year
ago, they bought their truck, a 2016 Volvo VNL
670, and began running under their own authority
as Prolific Transport Corp.
“Everything has been going great since
then,” Hunter said.
Today, Braden still does the driving while
Hunter handles dispatching, broker relations,
accounting and more.
While managing her own business keeps
Hunter busy, she says she also wants to
help others start trucking their own businesses.
To that end, their company website,
prolifictransport.net, features the trucking
operation as well as Hunter’s educational materials.
She offers courses and consultation in
dispatching, understanding business credit,
building an email list and more.
She has also published an eBook, “Beginner’s
Guide to Successful Dispatching,” that
covers topics such as how to set up and market
your own dispatch company, negotiating rates,
bookkeeping and more.
While traveling, she has continued her college
studies and recently earned a Master of
Business Administration degree in business.
She plans to continue her studies.
“I’m going for my doctorate now,” she said.
“I plan to major in psychology and open a practice.”
The couple chose their Volvo tractor because
of its ride comfort and fuel efficiency.
“We have a refrigerator, TV and an air fryer,”
Hunter said. “I can cook ribs or anything.”
When they need to take a little time off,
Hunter works to books loads going near their
vacation destination.
“We went to Colorado last year for Valentine’s
Day,” she remarked. “It was my favorite
vacation.”
It’s not surprising that Hunter is concerned
about rising fuel prices, but she says they
haven’t suffered yet from some of the low spot
rates being offered.
“Honestly, we’ve been consistent on what
our target goal is,” she said. “Sometimes, it’s
Courtesy: Candace Hunter
Braden serves as the company’s driver, while Hunter handles dispatching, broker relations, accounting and other
aspects of the business.
Courtesy: Candace Hunter
In 2019, Candace Hunter left a successful tax business to enter the trucking industry with her significant other,
Rickie Braden. Today the couple own and operate Prolific Transport Corp.
how you book the load. Your negotiation skills
definitely play a part, and I teach that in my
book, on just using the things that are going on
in our economy to kind of navigate that price
index.”
One of her techniques is to book loads that
allow for early delivery, allowing the driver to
move on to another load and keep the cash
flowing. Another is to make sure the rates cover
the higher cost of fuel.
“Some of the brokers work with us giving us
fuel surcharge. If they don’t give us that, we try
to calculate it into our pricing and try to get it
on the back end,” she explained.
Hunter also considers the time frame of
each load, rejecting those that tie up the equipment
longer than necessary.
“Often, they’ll try to give us a load over the
weekend — they want us to pick up something
on Friday and hold on to it until Monday. So,
I’m going to ask for what I want for those three
days.”
She is meticulous about her bookkeeping.
“I do it on a weekly basis, what we’re making
cost per mile and what we’re spending on
fuel,” she explained. She and Braden go over the
numbers every month, evaluating what went
right and identifying areas for improvement.
The source of the loads Hunter books plays
a role as well. She prefers the DAT load boards,
if time permits.
“They give you more time for negotiating
back and forth,” she said. “If I need a load more
quickly, I go directly to one of the carriers we
deal with. If I have more time, I’ll go on a dashboard,
since I can be more successful there.”
Hunter credits the couples’ success to their
attitude and approach.
“We always try to keep a positive mind,” she
stressed. “I visualized this day, with us starting
this company, us going in and out of town, and I
kept speaking it into existence. And even when
we have hard times, we always try to stay positive
with it.”
She regularly engages in one-sided conversations
with the couple’s Volvo tractor, which
they’ve affectionately named M&M. Hunter
says the name stands for “More Millions.
“I tell it how much I appreciate her taking
us where we needed to go,” she said with a
laugh, adding that the practice has rubbed off
on Braden, who now also talks to the truck.
Hunter says she has plans to grow the company,
including buying a second truck soon.
“The next four years, if we do one truck a
year, we’ll be where we really want to be,” she
said.
The goal is for both her and Braden to come
out of the truck, taking on training and administrative
roles in the company and hiring drivers.
For now, they are content to travel together,
along with Yorkshire Terrier “Cocoa.”
In the meantime, Hunter wants to share her
experience with others.
“You can work together with a significant
other in harmony,” she said. “You can grow a
business from nothing, make money together
and just live a happy life.” 8