June's Contractors of the Month
Chuck Morgan & Dawn Beck
Ever since Dawn Beck rode in her Dad's truck as a little girl, she has wanted to be a truck driver. "I watched my Dad drive a truck for most of his life. I listened to him talk about the places he's seen, and I thought that trucking would allow me to be out and about but still make money," says Dawn.
Her father, Chuck Morgan, recalls, "I have 7 girls and they all rode in the truck with me when they were little. It's a wonderful one-on-one experience to have with your kids." When asked if he ever thought his little girl would grow up to be a trucker, he nods, "No, I thought she'd be a cop ... she doesn't take much flack and she's meaner than a snake! " he grins.
Today Dawn teams with her husband Chris at Mercer. They leased on to the company in 2006 and a month later, Dawn had convinced her father to follow suit. "At the time, I was thinking of going somewhere else, but Dawn talked me into Mercer," Chuck says. "I know I made the right decision. Mercer is very family oriented and everybody knows you. We've found a home here."
It is clear that there are advantages of having family in the same profession. Chuck explains, "Over the years, I've given her advice about the truck, who to call or where to get repairs." When they are out on the road, Dawn and Chuck try to keep track of each other. If they cross paths, they are sure to stop and have a bite together and catch up. "Our favorite place to stop is the Taco Cabana in Texas. Other times, we may meet in Louisville and have lunch together with our coordinators."
With Father's Day approaching, it is hard to schedule time together, given the nature of the trucking industry. Although Dawn and Chuck will be in different cities on June 15th, they plan to celebrate during next time they meet. "Every year, we have a family reunion on the 4th of July at our home in Florida. Since we are out on the road a lot, we also celebrate my husband's and father's birthdays and Father's Day too!"
Her father, Chuck Morgan, recalls, "I have 7 girls and they all rode in the truck with me when they were little. It's a wonderful one-on-one experience to have with your kids." When asked if he ever thought his little girl would grow up to be a trucker, he nods, "No, I thought she'd be a cop ... she doesn't take much flack and she's meaner than a snake! " he grins.
Today Dawn teams with her husband Chris at Mercer. They leased on to the company in 2006 and a month later, Dawn had convinced her father to follow suit. "At the time, I was thinking of going somewhere else, but Dawn talked me into Mercer," Chuck says. "I know I made the right decision. Mercer is very family oriented and everybody knows you. We've found a home here."
It is clear that there are advantages of having family in the same profession. Chuck explains, "Over the years, I've given her advice about the truck, who to call or where to get repairs." When they are out on the road, Dawn and Chuck try to keep track of each other. If they cross paths, they are sure to stop and have a bite together and catch up. "Our favorite place to stop is the Taco Cabana in Texas. Other times, we may meet in Louisville and have lunch together with our coordinators."
With Father's Day approaching, it is hard to schedule time together, given the nature of the trucking industry. Although Dawn and Chuck will be in different cities on June 15th, they plan to celebrate during next time they meet. "Every year, we have a family reunion on the 4th of July at our home in Florida. Since we are out on the road a lot, we also celebrate my husband's and father's birthdays and Father's Day too!"