March's Contractors of the Month
Mike & Debbie Harned
When a couple is married, they are in it together for the long haul- for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer. But for good freight and heavy haul, in truck stops and weigh stations? In the case of Mike and Debbie Harned, trucking is just another part of it. As a husband and wife owner operator team, their over-the-road lifestyle has only strengthened their marital bond. Mike met Debbie 28 years ago when she worked as a dispatcher and he as a truck driver for Mercer Transportation. Four years later they married, and Debbie became Mike’s life-long companion and co-driver.
The Harned’s “team” approach applies to both their business and their marriage. As a unit working together with a sense of mission, they’ve become one of the longest standing owner-operator teams to consecutively rank in Mercer’s list of top ten producers. Their hard work as a team has benefitted every area of their relationship. “In the time we’ve been trucking together, I have hardly ever been away from Debbie and I’m not willing to start now,” says Mike.
The couple estimates that they spend 200-235 days on the road each year. Despite spending most of their time in the truck, the Harneds make sure that they do not miss the comforts of home. Recently, they upgraded their mobile living space by adding a 174” custom ICT sleeper to their yellow and orange ‘96 Peterbilt. The new sleeper, which will be showcased in this year’s ICT booth at the Mid America Trucking Show, features a modern kitchenette, separate bathroom, flat screen television and substantial storage space. Of course, no cozy cab would feel like home without a pet. The Harneds don’t leave home without their parrot, Alvin. The sleeper was specially designed to house Alvin’s cage.
Despite their hard work and long trips over the road, the couple knows how to let loose. They spend their off days on their 40’ cruiser boat, which they keep docked at Kentucky’s Dale Hollow Lake. Occasionally they’ll haul their boat to Florida for a beach get-away, or take to the open road on their Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
Since 1987, Mike and Debbie’s big yellow rig has been a fixture at Mercer. As owner-operators who have seen Mercer grow from both an employee and contractor perspective, they are proud to belong to the Mercer family.
Mike says, “Mercer has always treated us fairly and they’ve kept us busy over the years. They will pay you what they say they are going to pay you, and they’re always honest and straight forward.”
Debbie adds, “Mercer really cares about us and our needs. There’s no other place we’d rather be.”
Visit ICT's booth (#36340) at the Mid-America Trucking Show to see Mike & Debbie and their awesome rig!
The Harned’s “team” approach applies to both their business and their marriage. As a unit working together with a sense of mission, they’ve become one of the longest standing owner-operator teams to consecutively rank in Mercer’s list of top ten producers. Their hard work as a team has benefitted every area of their relationship. “In the time we’ve been trucking together, I have hardly ever been away from Debbie and I’m not willing to start now,” says Mike.
The couple estimates that they spend 200-235 days on the road each year. Despite spending most of their time in the truck, the Harneds make sure that they do not miss the comforts of home. Recently, they upgraded their mobile living space by adding a 174” custom ICT sleeper to their yellow and orange ‘96 Peterbilt. The new sleeper, which will be showcased in this year’s ICT booth at the Mid America Trucking Show, features a modern kitchenette, separate bathroom, flat screen television and substantial storage space. Of course, no cozy cab would feel like home without a pet. The Harneds don’t leave home without their parrot, Alvin. The sleeper was specially designed to house Alvin’s cage.
Despite their hard work and long trips over the road, the couple knows how to let loose. They spend their off days on their 40’ cruiser boat, which they keep docked at Kentucky’s Dale Hollow Lake. Occasionally they’ll haul their boat to Florida for a beach get-away, or take to the open road on their Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
Since 1987, Mike and Debbie’s big yellow rig has been a fixture at Mercer. As owner-operators who have seen Mercer grow from both an employee and contractor perspective, they are proud to belong to the Mercer family.
Mike says, “Mercer has always treated us fairly and they’ve kept us busy over the years. They will pay you what they say they are going to pay you, and they’re always honest and straight forward.”
Debbie adds, “Mercer really cares about us and our needs. There’s no other place we’d rather be.”
Visit ICT's booth (#36340) at the Mid-America Trucking Show to see Mike & Debbie and their awesome rig!