Al & Wendy Clark
Free spirited owner operator team find a perfect fit at Mercer.
Mercer owner operator team, Al and Wendy Clark have everything they need: eighteen wheels, a positive outlook and each other. These fun-loving rock n' rollers face the open road with child-like enthusiasm and a laid-back attitude that seems to communicate, "If we're not dead, then we're good!"
Call Al Clark on any ordinary morning and you won't likely get a word in before you're greeted with an exuberant Tasmanian Devil-style yowl. His good mood and natural silliness is infectious. Al, a born showman, takes pleasure in not "fitting the mold" - He can often be found rocking the mic at a Karaoke bar, dressed in a cowboy hat and a Led Zeppelin tee shirt. His personality is complimented by Wendy's sweet, adventurous demeanor. When they are together, she usually plays it straight while surrendering a few loving eye-rolls in Al's direction.
After raising four children in Branson, Missouri, the couple traded in their nine-to-five routines for a log book. Al is a former veteran and government employee and Wendy has spent her career as an Licensed Practical Nurse in home health care. To save for their retirement, they turned to trucking for the romantic ambition of traveling the country that they love.
Their freight coordinator, Jason Schaftlein, explains, "They love what they do. These are two people who've had successful careers in other fields but they enjoy being with each other and they've chosen to drive a truck."
So far, the trucking lifestyle is everything they've hoped it would be. The Clarks have been married for 13 years, and they feel privileged to spend their days together while enjoying America's scenery and making new friends along the way.
The Clarks have been with Mercer for less than a year, but it didn't take long before they made themselves at home. "Trucking is trucking, but the people at Mercer keep us here. Our relationship with our coordinator is just awesome. Other companies are not personal- you feel like an object ... a tool. At Mercer, you are a team member," Al explains.
It is no question that the couple understands the meaning the teamwork. They've are partners in crime, full-time adventurers and business partners. Schaftlein says, "They trust me, they trust Mercer and they really do work as a team. They will do anything for Mercer or to help someone out."
Al and Wendy are thrilled that the family atmosphere and open door policy at Mercer has allowed them to foster a strong bond with the company. Al adds, "Any time you can sit down with a general manager of a company and talk about guitars, that's awesome. It really does feel like a family here."
Call Al Clark on any ordinary morning and you won't likely get a word in before you're greeted with an exuberant Tasmanian Devil-style yowl. His good mood and natural silliness is infectious. Al, a born showman, takes pleasure in not "fitting the mold" - He can often be found rocking the mic at a Karaoke bar, dressed in a cowboy hat and a Led Zeppelin tee shirt. His personality is complimented by Wendy's sweet, adventurous demeanor. When they are together, she usually plays it straight while surrendering a few loving eye-rolls in Al's direction.
After raising four children in Branson, Missouri, the couple traded in their nine-to-five routines for a log book. Al is a former veteran and government employee and Wendy has spent her career as an Licensed Practical Nurse in home health care. To save for their retirement, they turned to trucking for the romantic ambition of traveling the country that they love.
Their freight coordinator, Jason Schaftlein, explains, "They love what they do. These are two people who've had successful careers in other fields but they enjoy being with each other and they've chosen to drive a truck."
So far, the trucking lifestyle is everything they've hoped it would be. The Clarks have been married for 13 years, and they feel privileged to spend their days together while enjoying America's scenery and making new friends along the way.
The Clarks have been with Mercer for less than a year, but it didn't take long before they made themselves at home. "Trucking is trucking, but the people at Mercer keep us here. Our relationship with our coordinator is just awesome. Other companies are not personal- you feel like an object ... a tool. At Mercer, you are a team member," Al explains.
It is no question that the couple understands the meaning the teamwork. They've are partners in crime, full-time adventurers and business partners. Schaftlein says, "They trust me, they trust Mercer and they really do work as a team. They will do anything for Mercer or to help someone out."
Al and Wendy are thrilled that the family atmosphere and open door policy at Mercer has allowed them to foster a strong bond with the company. Al adds, "Any time you can sit down with a general manager of a company and talk about guitars, that's awesome. It really does feel like a family here."