Lamar Buckwalter knew from an early age that he wanted to be a truckdriver. His dad, Mark, started to take him on the truck at 18 months old, or as he puts it “Knee high to a toad”. It all started with his Grandfather who at one time not only raised poultry but also delivered it. Lamar’s uncle was the first to follow his Grandfather into trucking and was soon followed by Lamar’s father. Lamar always loved trucks and during his school years when asked what he wanted to be when he grew up would always proudly say a truck driver. He was pretty much considered an odd ball because when most kids prayed for snow days, Lamar would not, as that meant he would not be able to go with his Dad on the truck. He recalls the teacher telling him he wouldn’t amount to anything if he always was looking out the window at trucks instead of paying attention in class. But Lamar was always looking for his Dad to drive by.

Surprisingly enough at 18, Lamar began working as an equipment operator, not a truck driver. He was also a fire fighter and thought that the job would keep him local, so he could also be involved with the fire station. As things sometimes happen, a series of events led him to his life long love…trucking. 

His Dad became an owner-operator that was leased through a carrier and Lamar once again was drawn to the possibility of becoming a truck driver. Lamar began to move his father’s truck around in the parking lot and every Saturday, instead of going out with friends, he would wash, polish and clean his father’s truck. While on the road his father suffered a heart attack and Lamar decided it was time to give up his job as an equipment operator and get on the road. He was able to get his CDL but securing employment as an unexperienced driver was difficult. Through the help of his father, he began his lifelong dream when his father’s employer agreed to offer him a job. His first trip took him to Boston Massachusetts, taking him 13 hours to complete. Lamar called this a success even though his father politely informed him it should have only taken 9 or 10 hours. After a few weeks behind the wheel he eased in and improved and driving the truck became second nature. He began to realize that there were other elements to the job such as filling out his log book. He had gone on several trips and had never filled one out. Once again, his father stepped in to assist and guided him through the process. One afternoon his boss approached him about running reefer dedicated.  Lamar really had no interest in those “noisy” things but agreed to try it. After two weeks of what he calls an adventure, Lamar found his love and place in the industry.

Lamar later went on from a company driver to an owner/operator like his father and leased on with the same carrier. Eventually deciding that leasing and working for someone else was not his thing, he began to research how to get his authority, proper insurances, the perfect truck and the perfect trailer for operating as an LTL carrier so he could start his own business. He decided on buying his first Kenworth T660 and Utility reefer trailer. With his business being less than two months old, the brokerage firm insisted that he buy a second truck and trailer. He turned to his Dad and ask if he would consider driving it and this began the family business. His brother joined as the mechanic and his 12-year-old son cannot wait until the day he can also drive. Right now, his son and daughter help keep both trucks clean, and ride with Lamar whenever they can. He now owns a very successful trucking company, and often recalls the teacher’s words and how his mother would warn him of following in his father’s footsteps -  but he really can’t imagine doing anything else. He finds great pleasure in taking trips to California or Texas, and loves working beside his dad. He is also very excited to see what the future holds as he watches the same passion that he had for trucking all those years ago in his own son.