CARRIER SPOTLIGHT – STOUT TRANSPORTATION, LLC

STOUT TRANSPORTATION LLC

HOW DID IT ALL BEGIN? WHEN WAS IT FOUNDED? WHERE ARE YOUR HEADQUARTERS?

Stout Transportation LLC was founded June 15, 2007 in Guthrie, OK by Kenton Stout. After outgrowing the facility, the main terminal was moved to Oklahoma City, OK in 2013. Kenton followed the road behind his father and grandfather who were also truck drivers and owner operators. “It’s in your blood,” he said. Kenton Stout has been in trucking all his life as his father and grandfather were in the trucking and produce business before him. At the age of 16 years, Kenton first drove for his father driving a ten-wheeler hauling produce from south Texas. He also drove as an independent operator for years. If he had not founded his transportation company, he would be in the produce business which he was involved in for two decades.

“The trucking business is not for everyone, but it has been a good life for my family. I have had many learning experiences in the industry, some bad but mostly good. Because I have been out there on the road most of my life and experienced it first-hand, I believe I have a greater understanding and a better relationship with my drivers because of my experiences over the road. That knowledge gives me the tools to help my drivers whenever issues arise and allows me to be supportive of them out there on the road.”

WHO WAS YOUR COMPANY’S ORIGINAL FOUNDER? ARE THEY STILL INVOLVED WITH THE COMPANY, TO WHAT DEGREE?

Kenton is still heavily involved in daily decision making as the CEO and founder. He has a dedicated team of drivers and support staff that are critically important in the success of the company. He believes the priority for the company is to provide first class customer service while using the most up to date and best equipment available. “The equipment we use is a calling card that gets us noticed by customers and future drivers who call us because they’ve seen our trucks on the road.”

WHAT DO YOU THINK SETS YOU APART FROM OTHER CARRIERS?

The success of the company has come with continual growth since 2007 by fostering solid relationships with customers and drivers. The company provides quality focused customer service and utilizes the best equipment available. This fosters reliability and attracts both customers and drivers. “We learned we couldn’t cut corners with our equipment or driver pay, as well as other things,” he said. “One of the greatest challenges for the company is keeping customers happy in today’s environment and maintaining a quality group of drivers that want to stay long term.” The company’s driver turnover rate is significantly lower than the industry average.

HOW DO YOU MAKE AN IMPACT ON/IN YOUR COMMUNITY?

Kenton and Dana, his wife of 41 years, are members of Lakeview Baptist Church. They have supported their local community in different ways. The company has participated in Convoy of Hope, networked with area food banks, and used reefer trailers for food drives which helps to save good food from going to landfills. They have given generously to important causes over the years.

WHAT DO YOU THINK THE GREATEST BENEFIT FROM BEING AN OTA MEMBER IS?

Partnering with others in the industry to work with legislative bodies toward fewer and more reasonable regulations is important. OTA membership enhances the opportunities to provide and promote a career path for workers within the industry, and partner with others in the industry to help meet the needs of our local communities when called upon. Also, it is critical to work within the industry to meet the changing technological and regulatory challenges of the future. Stout Transportation joined to support the mission of the Oklahoma Trucking Association to work alongside other companies to enhance the Oklahoma transportation industry while fighting against over burdensome regulations and prepare for the quickly changing future of trucking. Kenton sees the owner operator and independent truck driver model as being under attack with the continually increasing government regulation and oversight making it difficult for independents and small trucking companies to survive. As well, he believes the types of vehicles on the road may change over the next 5-10 years with the upfront costs of such vehicles beyond the small operator’s ability to buy and remain competitive. Kenton expects the market share for large trucking companies and new technology companies such as Amazon and Uber to increase as the small guy is forced out of business. And that is why the Oklahoma Trucking Association is key to working to preserve the independents and small trucking companies that provide employment to so many Oklahomans.

WHAT ISSUE IS THE MOST IMPORTANT TO YOUR COMPANY RIGHT NOW?

The safety of our drivers during a pandemic and maintaining quality customer service through the challenges posed by COVID19 as well as the everchanging environment within the transportation sector.

WHAT SUCCESSES AND FAILURES HAVE YOU EXPERIENCED WITH YOUR COMPANY?

We celebrate our successes and learn from our mistakes and adjust as necessary over time. Our continued growth since 2007 with strong relationships with our customers is a success thanks to our dedicated team.

IF YOU DIDN’T GET INVOLVED IN THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD BE DOING?

Having worked in combination within the produce and trucking business, Kenton would be working in the produce business if he did not have his transportation company.

WHAT DO YOU ENVISION TRUCKING TO LOOK LIKE IN THE NEXT 5-10 YEARS?

What we hope to see is the detention issue resolved by shippers and receivers, so vehicle and driver utilization is optimized and quality of life for all drivers increased. We do see technology playing a much bigger role in the future within software and hardware applications, alternative vehicles and fuels, and tools that monitor and provide data on every aspect of the business.

NEW MEMBERS

Our diverse membership enables us to represent the interests of the trucking industry in Oklahoma. Together we are driving Oklahoma forward. Help welcome our new members today!

CARRIER MEMBERS

M WRIGHT SERVICES Tommy Low 2400 Industrial Blvd Weatherford, OK 73096 https://www.mwrightservices.com/ Services Provided: Our services are supported through a normal work force of 250-300 people depending on current projects and activity. MWS manages a healthy inventory of heavy equipment and fleet trucks. MWS also has relationships with equipment suppliers and rental companies that enable us to ensure customer demands are met. We are committed to timely completion of projects while ensuring work is being performed as safely as possible. MWS places the upmost regard on customer satisfaction and environmental preservation and takes pride in doing things “The Wright Way.»

2020 VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1

The OTA held their very first Virtual Annual Meeting on Thursday, October 1. In efforts to provide our members with valuable information that we would normally host at our Annual Convention, we were able to move some of that content online. Kicking our event off in the morning was our OTA Board meeting. Next up was a business meeting where we held the virtual Red Vest ceremony. OTA was able to honor outgoing Chairman, Jo-Don Clanton in an unconventional way. The OTA was also able to recognize David & LaVern McCorkle’s retirement from the OTA Board with an honorary slideshow. During the afternoon session, ATRI’s Dan Murray updated members on top trucking issues including nuclear verdicts. Eric Pearson with FMCSA was able to provide a presentation on regulatory issues, understanding the new Hours of Service regulations, and how to work through a checklist of documentation needed for a safety audit. The end of the day concluded with Conference and Council updates. Designated Allied rep, Houston Brittain spoke about the importance of planning for your business from a cybersecurity attack. Chris Pape, OSSC Chair, gave an update on the future of the safety council and trucking safety with local high schools. Bonne Karim, TMC Chair talked about a technician apprenticeship program that ATA has asked TMC members to help get started in home states, which Oklahoma has started working on.