Stepping outside, Chris Aranda hears the dull roar of a distant combine. It’s a beautiful fall evening in central Illinois, the kind with dusky lavender clouds and the familiar smell of harvest. In the distance, Chris can see the terminal of Nussbaum Transportation, where he serves as Vice-President of Sales & Business Analytics. Living here is the best of both worlds: out in the country but still close to work.
As porch lights come on and fireflies begin their nightly dance, Chris is enjoying family time. Most evenings, it’s splashing in the pool with his daughters and riding dirtbikes with his boys. A cool evening breeze kicks up, so Chris puts an arm around his wife Brittney as they stroll through her flower garden. The flowers are asleep for the day but will unfurl
again tomorrow.
As the sun fades and stars begin to twinkle, Chris humbly thanks God for the privilege of being a husband and father. It’s his favorite position in the whole world and one he doesn’t take lightly.

THE TIES THAT BIND
Chris’s story begins in the quiet town of Cissna Park, Illinois (the occasional frog or a swarm of June bugs was about as noisy as it got). Born in Chicago, Chris and his mother moved several times before settling in Cissna when he was four. They moved in with Chris’s aunt and uncle, who adopted three boys soon after their arrival. For Chris, it was like gaining three new brothers!

ENTERING THE WORKFORCE

Like most teenagers in the corn belt, Chris spent his summers doing manual labor. After a few years of walking beans, he began pouring concrete slabs for silos at Illinois Grain & Seed (one of Todd’s ventures). This lasted through high school, after which Chris attended Parkland College and worked for KSI Conveyors, another Todd Kaeb enterprise. Traveling across the country to install equipment, Chris got his first taste of the trucking world, albeit in a slightly smaller truck. After eight months in this role, he transferred to the sales department.

A MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

As it turned out, Chris discovered a passion for selling. It was challenging, fast-paced, and people-focused. Four years in with KSI, he wasn’t even contemplating a switch, let alone the transportation industry. But God works in mysterious ways—in this case, through a conversation with Phil Sauder—a close friend and Nussbaum’s insurance rep. “You know,” Phil remarked one day, “if my kid was ready to enter the workforce and I had to give him two companies to choose from, Nussbaum would be number one.” Chris was intrigued. What was this Nussbaum he spoke of?

After a little digging, Chris decided to visit this “number one” company. As he pulled into the parking lot for the interview, he noticed a union group picketing out front (at the time, Nussbaum was using a non-union group to construct their new offices). “What am I getting myself into?” he wondered. But upon entering the office, Chris was greeted by childhood friend Nate Anderson, and it wasn’t long before the pieces clicked into place. Following a tour and some discussions with the executive team, Chris became Jeremy Stickling’s first official hire in 2013.

Though passionate about sales, Chris needed to learn the transportation industry first. His early roles included Driver Manager, Logistics Coordinator (now known as Fleet Planner), and pricing. Chris admits he wasn’t the most skilled DM, but his drivers taught him a lot, and he still keeps in touch with a few of them to this day. At any rate, learning the ins and outs of Nussbaum’s operation prepared him for the eventual transition to truckload sales.

SELLING AT NUSSBAUM: THEN AND NOW

Chris officially joined the sales team in 2015, which then consisted of CEO Brent Nussbaum, CFO Bill Wettstein, and Operations Director Doug Bradle. Over time, Chris took on more sales responsibilities and began growing a new team. Today, the Sales, Pricing, & Business Analytics department is a thriving center for Nussbaum’s strategy and business development. Its eight team members are passionate about excelling in their jobs, which energizes Chris as their leader and fuels Nussbaum’s continued growth.

Chris’s role has evolved significantly over the past nine years. At first, it covered everything—all aspects of the sales process, down to the nuts and bolts. Today, he spends his time on the people side, building and maintaining relationships with his employees, customers, and across departments at Nussbaum. This is key as the sales team works with external shippers and internal stakeholders to grow the business with profitable freight. Chris’s goal is that everyone be heard, share their buy-in and concerns, and ultimately conduct a smooth operation.

Nussbaum uses the term “three-legged stool” to describe the interdependent relationship between our sales, pricing, and operations teams. Each plays a critical role in supporting our customers and
our business:

• Sales: focused on customer relationships and developing new business.
• Pricing/Business Analytics: prices new freight based on customer bids, market conditions, etc. Focused on Nussbaum’s profitability.
• Operations: services customer freight on a daily basis. Focused on performance metrics, driver care, and building a strong freight network.

A FAMILY OF HIS OWN

Chris loves his job, but he isn’t all business—he’s a family man through and through. It all started when he met Brittney Wagenbach from California at a church function in 2011. Their interaction touched his heart—so much so that he prayed for her all that next year. They met again on a mission trip to Jamaica in 2012, and this time, the feelings were undeniable—and mutual. He found out later that she had been praying for him that year too! Over the next 17 months, their relationship continued to blossom as they spent time with mutual friend groups and sought advice from parents, pastors, and mentors. In November 2013 (just a few months after starting with Nussbaum), Chris proposed, and she said… yes!

RAISE THEM WELL

One decade later, Chris is still in awe of his wife. “I’m convinced Brittney can do anything,” he says. “The joke is, if something breaks around the house, I call Brittney. She has so many qualities that I love.” They are truly best friends, working together to raise their family well. Their four children—Jaden, Scarlett, Titus, and Zeke—are life’s greatest blessings. The Aranda family motto is “Love your brothers and sisters, treat people well, and make faith important to you.”

What does Chris hope to teach his kids? A lot, but three lessons in particular: be brave with your fears, focus on relationships, and come to know God’s love. Chris does his best to model these qualities, but he also muses that in the process of raising kids, they’ve taught him a thing or two.

“It’s one of the coolest things about the ups and downs of parenting,” he explains. “These memorable moments where I gain a deeper understanding of how God might view His children. Parenting brings many emotions, and it teaches us how many different emotions God has toward us. You picture Him sometimes—and it’s an unfair picture—as a stern dad, but He’s not. Because I’m not. We’re not. He is a joyful, loving Father. Parenting shows me how even in tough times, there is plenty to laugh about, and love covers a lot! I think we forget that sometimes.”

OUTSIDE THE OFFICE

If Chris isn’t wrangling sales or children, you’ll find him unwinding at the gym, playing basketball with coworkers, or riding a mountain bike. Granted, Illinois has no mountains, but simply going off-road is a thrill unto itself. Chris enjoys the adrenaline and feeling of complete focus—you can’t think about anything except where those wheels are going next. With a job that requires constant critical thinking, it’s nice to take a break.

Chris and Brittney love traveling, especially to tropical climates. They recently made it to Hawaii and enjoyed hiking through jungles and waterfalls. The pinnacle of the trip was a helicopter tour, which Chris says is one of the coolest things he’s ever done. They hope to visit Spain someday, but with four kids, they’re content to haul their camper around the Midwest for now.

Getting out into nature is a must, in some shape or form. The Arandas camp a few times per year or at least enjoy the hiking trails if they don’t want to stay overnight. At home, you’ll find them tending Brittney’s flower farm or splashing in the pool—a nightly activity in the summer. They also love hosting guests—between relatives and friends, the Aranda home can turn into a hotel through the spring, summer,
and fall months.

A PASSION FOR PEOPLE

If Chris isn’t wrangling sales or children, you’ll find him unwinding at the gym, playing basketball with coworkers, or riding a mountain bike. Granted, Illinois has no mountains, but simply going off-road is a thrill unto itself. Chris enjoys the adrenaline and feeling of complete focus—you can’t think about anything except where those wheels are going next. With a job that requires constant critical thinking, it’s nice to take a break.

Chris and Brittney love traveling, especially to tropical climates. They recently made it to Hawaii and enjoyed hiking through jungles and waterfalls. The pinnacle of the trip was a helicopter tour, which Chris says is one of the coolest things he’s ever done. They hope to visit Spain someday, but with four kids, they’re content to haul their camper around the Midwest for now.

Getting out into nature is a must, in some shape or form. The Arandas camp a few times per year or at least enjoy the hiking trails if they don’t want to stay overnight. At home, you’ll find them tending Brittney’s flower farm or splashing in the pool—a nightly activity in the summer. They also love hosting guests—between relatives and friends, the Aranda home can turn into a hotel through the spring, summer,
and fall months.

THE ADVENTURE AWAITS

As the last rays of sunlight disappear, Chris & Brittney attempt to get the kids out of the pool and ready for bed. Midwest evenings are hard to beat, but they’re ready to turn in and get some rest. Tomorrow is another workday—an opportunity to serve and pour into someone’s life. For Chris, ‘giving is the real joy of living’—leaving people better off than you found them.

“I started out really selfish in life,” reflects Chris. “But my family and working at Nussbaum have encouraged me to be giving. What a winding road it’s been, but I’m excited to be on the journey!”

Two bare feet waltz and twirl across the linoleum. Sunlight streams in, saturating the kitchen with light and warmth. A few more spins, and she reaches the counter. Flour, sugar, butter—they’re all there—ingredients stretched out in a haphazard maze, ready to be used. Her hands reach for measuring utensils and are soon forming a dough as the oven preheats.

For Johanna, Saturdays have a rhythm. At least, her favorite ones do. Snuggled beneath a colorful, hand-sewn quilt, she awakes to the sound of birds chirping out her window. Flowering trees sway in the breeze as Johanna spends time in the Bible, pondering the grace of God.

The oven sings, ‘Ready to bake!’ as Johanna twirls to the kitchen in her outfit of choice—a full, ankle-length skirt. (Flowy skirts make for the best dancing in the kitchen—the twirlier, the better!). On one of those favorite Saturdays, you’ll find Johanna humming in her kitchen with something baking in the oven. Anything sweet will do, like cookies, pies, or cakes. Scones are her go-to if she doesn’t have something specific in mind.

With the apartment smelling like a bakery, Johanna dials her sisters to see if they want to go out for coffee (Mad Mac’s in Germantown Hills is their current favorite). The smells of baking are quickly replaced by roasting coffee beans, while the quietness of the morning gives way to the thrum of connection. Coffee finished, the sisters head back to Johanna’s place for an afternoon of sewing (and more talking, of course!). Each sister brings her own machine, and the time passes quickly with a blur of patchwork and ‘purl twos.’

As the sun begins its downward climb, Johanna waves goodbye to her sisters. It’s time to prepare for the coming week, and that means laundry and food prep. She’s a professional driver for Nussbaum, and it’s always important to stock your truck with everything it needs before heading out for the week.

With eight children, the Auer household was always an exciting place. Johanna’s mother homeschooled, so the siblings enjoyed extra time together. Johanna joined the local 4-H club where she took cake decorating and any sewing projects she could get her hands on. During this time, she and her sister also got their very own horse, named Captain. They boarded him at a local horse barn, which eventually turned into Johanna’s first job: shoveling out stalls and laying fresh bedding. It wasn’t very glamorous, but it gave her an opportunity to ride!

The Auer family enjoyed numerous road trips during those growing up years, due in no small part to Johanna’s mother. Growing up on a farm, Mrs. Auer never got to travel much as a child. But she was determined to give her children what she never had. To this day, Johanna credits her love of interstate driving to the many miles traveled with her family. One of her favorite trips was visiting her brother at school in Denver, Colorado. It was the end of November, and the Auers went to celebrate Thanksgiving—complete with dinner ingredients, dishes, and the family dog! On the way home, it turned into quite an adventure when the car broke down!

In high school, Johanna signed up for a ballet class. Her performances included The Nutcracker and 3 Centuries of Dance (similar to Sleeping Beauty). She also worked part-time at a local grocery store, decorating cakes (thanks, 4-H!). Following graduation, she applied at Joann Fabrics and spent several years there, working her way up to Inventory Coordinator. She especially loved the employee discount on all the beautiful fabrics and sewing materials! As product came in on trucks, Johanna would unpack boxes and organize store displays.

Throughout all of this, Johanna’s dream of truck driving persisted. So eventually, she approached her parents about it. Her father raised several concerns, while her mother advised that she take her time and pray about it. Johanna took that advice and waited another two years before raising the subject again. This time, her parents gave their blessing, and she signed up for a CDL night course at Illinois
Central College.

TAKING THE WHEEL

The first time she hopped in a cab, Johanna felt the thrill of adventure. She started in a manual truck and remembers lots of grinding gears at first (she’s thankful Nussbaum has automatics!). She also faced winter and night driving conditions early on, but her go-getter attitude kept her on track. The dream was finally becoming a reality!

During her training, one of the instructors mentioned Nussbaum as a possible employer. Johanna investigated further and was immediately attracted by Nussbaum’s Christian values of “faith & family.” She considered several other companies too, but as she prayed over the decision, Nussbaum was the only choice she felt peaceful about pursuing. The rest is history!

ON THE JOB

At Nussbaum, Johanna trained with Maya, Darla, and Adrienne. (Fun fact—she was Maya’s first student!). The reality is, training puts you and a virtual stranger together in a tight space for several weeks—something most of us might shy away from. But for Johanna, it was just like taking a road trip with one of her sisters. She enjoyed her experiences with each trainer and to this day, still calls them for advice.

Reflecting on those early days, Johanna has some words of wisdom for her past self: take it slower and get out and look more often! Two key lessons for any truck driver. She’s also learned that 60-61mph is her sweet spot, even though it’s slower than required (and people will definitely pass you). But, playing it safe is always better, plus it gives you a few miles per hour to pass someone else. Driving this way makes each trip more enjoyable, and we all want to get where we’re going!

LIFE ON THE ROAD

Johanna is an over-the-road driver, so she doesn’t take the same route twice. She wouldn’t call herself “spontaneous,” but she loves the variety that comes with trucking. And contrary to popular opinion, Johanna loves going east. You have to switch mental gears for sure, but the beauty and culture are phenomenal. Her favorite state is Ohio because it has little touches of all the rest of the country. In her opinion, it’s also one of the most beautiful states.

Thankfully, the day-to-day of trucking stays relatively the same. Everyone likes smiles, so Johanna tries to share joy wherever she goes. If she’s waiting at a shipper, you’ll find her happily knitting or sewing to pass the time. Her favorite truck stop is Loves because of its clean facilities and straight parking (though if you want good truck stop coffee, you’ll have to visit a Pilot or Flying J). For meals, Johanna likes to pack enough food for the entire week. Favorites include salad, pizzas, and gyros. And of course, she loves cooking and baking on the weekends.

Being a female driver has its challenges, but it can be sweet, too. Johanna says some men still open doors for women, though it happens more often in certain parts of the country. And she’s always thankful for her faith in God—knowing He is with her wherever she goes brings peace and comfort that you can’t buy.

Johanna recalls only one instance when she felt unsafe at a truck stop. She stayed vigilant and prayed the entire time she was there. Drivers don’t always have wiggle room with where to stop, and prayer is Johanna’s first go-to when those ‘inner warnings’ go off. But when there are choices, she relies on God to direct her steps. Listening to that inner prompting and simply being aware of her surroundings has never steered her wrong.

When she’s not driving for Nussbaum, you’ll find Johanna exploring the country in her car! And since trucking lets you “scout” your vacations ahead of time, she’s constantly adding to her list of “must come back here.” Having visited every Lower 48 state except Nevada, her next road trip is to the American Southwest! Unlike her professional driving, Johanna doesn’t like planning her personal trips. Her method for road-tripping is much more spontaneous and usually involves decisions like, ‘It’s only a few more hours to Arizona—might as well stop to see my sister while I’m out here!’

LOOKING UP

One of Johanna’s favorite parts about being a driver is the solitude. It’s a perfect time to think, reflect on life, pray… and sing! (You can sing as loud as you want, day or night, and nobody cares!). Johanna seeks God’s protection throughout the day, using a simple little prayer: “Lord, please protect me, the truck, and everyone around me.” She also thanks God for His many blessings and praises Him for the changing seasons and beautiful colors.

That’s another thing Johanna loves —seeing God’s creation everywhere, all the time. To her, every season is gorgeous (even winter!). Her favorite time to drive is early morning, just before sunrise—you get to watch the horizon turn pink, then gold as the sun greets the day!

ACTIVE HANDS, ACTIVE MIND

Unsurprisingly, Johanna’s truck is home to many creative projects. One of her favorite ways to unwind (besides falling into her bunk) is to work with her hands on a sewing or knitting project. Currently, she’s making a patchwork ‘Flower Garden’ quilt, using leftovers from another quilting project. On top of that, she’s crocheting a poncho and knitting legwarmers.

If she’s not sewing, she’s probably reading. Johanna is an avid bookworm and usually keeps a few on hand. She enjoys lighter fiction reads (Kristi Ann Hunter and Mary Connealy are her favorite authors) and believes the perfect book has adventure, a little suspense, and (of course) a sweet romantic element. In her opinion, everyone should keep Anne of Green Gables on their bookshelf. Her favorite ‘library’ on the road is Audible—they give personalized recommendations for books you might enjoy (her latest find was Boundaries). However, Johanna’s most important book is her Bible, which she still reads every day. She’ll also listen to radio preachers or a podcast to stay connected with God on the road.

KEEPING CONNECTED

With such a full childhood, family still plays a vital role in Johanna’s life. Today, they are spread throughout the US—one sister is stationed in Texas, serving in the military. Another lives in Idaho with her husband and young son, and her oldest brother lives in Colorado. The rest are all local. The benefit of having a big family is that there’s always someone around and never a dull moment. And for Johanna, having sisters means always having a friend and a listening ear. She keeps in touch with them through phone calls and coffee dates.

Johanna admires and respects the way her parents raised the family. She and her siblings enjoyed a childhood full of the outdoors, imagination, and the freedom to play (her parents never worried too much if they wandered off). Mr. & Mrs. Auer encouraged their children to follow the path God had for them—even if it looked vastly different from their own. This enabled Johanna to chase her dream of becoming a professional driver. She is forever grateful for the legacy of faith and love her parents passed down (and continue to pass down). Wherever the road may take her, Johanna hopes to shine that same light into the future.

The town of Manito, Illinois, is nestled among a patchwork quilt of corn and beans, tied with ribbons of waterways and back roads. In other words, it’s in the middle of nowhere. With a population hovering at just over 1,500, the town doesn’t boast of much. The only notable thing about Manito is their annual popcorn festival, a novelty borne on the whim of two local women in 1972.

Gene Tisdale Jr. was born in this rural farm community. His father woke with the sun each morning to deliver gas around the Manito area—mostly to farmers who didn’t want to interrupt their day by going to town. In the afternoons, he’d leave for his second-shift job at the Keystone foundry. Meanwhile, Gene’s mother made the house a home for Gene and his
four siblings.

Those were simpler times, growing up in Manito. Gene recalls a childhood free of worry and full of adventure—sometimes, maybe a little too much for his mother. At three years old, Gene learned to operate the front gate latch. After that, it was anyone’s guess where he was off to.

Living in a small town had its advantages—Gene could run around and do as he pleased without the trepidations of big-city living. Bicycles were the trusty vehicles of choice, and Gene’s mother rarely knew where he was (nor did she worry). He recalls meandering around town, stopping occasionally to visit friends or a neighbor weeding their flower bed. When summer temperatures reached their afternoon peak, the community pool was the place to be. On rainy days, the pool hall was the hangout. But if the weather was really nice, Gene headed out of town for an afternoon at the fishing hole. Life was good.

During his teen years, Gene’s mother took a job with The Pekin Daily Times, where she spent the next 33 years as the Community Editor. Her dedication and faithfulness are something Gene looks up to and greatly respects. She was a praying woman who walked with the Lord and sought His guidance in raising her family. She disciplined, nurtured, and put up with many shenanigans raising five children.

Gene served during peacetime. While he didn’t see any combat, he did see lots of trees. Chuckling, Gene recalls a “tree incident” at Fort Bragg that he’ll never forget. Around the fort, drop zones are named after WW2 locations. On this particular night, Gene’s group was slated to hit the Normandy drop zone. As the plane approached the target, Gene’s jumpmaster nervously scanned the surroundings. Command gave the green light to jump, and though the jumpmaster disagreed, he instructed the men to go (orders are orders).

Out into the night they went, about thirty men in total. Of those thirty, one man (not Gene) made it to the drop zone unfettered. Gene and the rest of the crew landed in the trees! After untangling themselves, they scrambled to a nearby road where the general was searching for his missing troops — not exactly a flattering outcome! They loaded up, chutes and all, and returned to the base.

Upon leaving the army in 1987, Gene came home to begin a new chapter in his career: trucking! Or so he thought. This was before CDL licenses, and (in Gene’s words) he was young, dumb, and stupid. He joined a company that provided little to no training—they’d stick two inexperienced guys in a truck and send you on your way. Needless to say, this method did not work for Gene.

The Walmart Years

After the trucking debacle, Gene worked several jobs before landing at Walmart, where he spent the next 17 years. After four years as a hardware associate, he accepted a managerial role as Assistant Manager in the meats department. His best shopping advice? Buy the meat with yellow tags that say, “we’re about to expire” and save a few bucks! Over the course of his employment, Gene worked at the Lincoln, Galesburg, Pekin, and Peoria Walmarts.

His turning point was when the atmosphere began shifting away from customer service. Walmart started using self-checkouts, and that was Gene’s signal to check himself out. To this day, if given the option, Gene uses the old-style checkout because he enjoys talking with the cashier. In his words, “They don’t pay me to check myself out.”

Over the Road – In A Camper

After Walmart, Gene and his wife discussed their options. Where to next? As it turned out, the answer came from a little Scamp camper they had fixed up. Gene’s wife wondered if they could make a living off it, so she did her research and shared the findings with Gene. Before long, they were off on their next adventure: “workamping.”

The Tisdales sold their Scamp, purchased a fifth wheel, and took off for Santa Cruz, California. When they reached the golden state, they “set up camp” at the campground where they were employed and toured the surrounding area in their off-hours. After four months in Santa Cruz, they traveled to Mission Bell Resort in Mission, Texas. Mission Bell was a far south snowbird resort and grew busy during the winter. Next, they moved to Cotulla, Texas, working as security guards in the oil fields.

In this stint, Gene and his wife worked opposite shifts at a 24-hour security gate. This assignment was challenging—not a simple life like they were used to. When the oil field started fracking, trucks came and went every two minutes, and their job was to check them in and out. In the busy season, they could check up to 75 trucks per night! After four months, they decided it was time to go home.

Back in the Truck

Back in Illinois, Gene landed at a small company that offered paid CDL training in exchange for a year’s commitment. But during a trip to Washington State partway through his training, the company shut down! His almost-employer had leased their trucks from a larger carrier, so Gene and the other drivers found themselves under a new company. Three months later, Gene left for Bertis-Carlson, a smaller carrier in Galesburg. While there, he discovered his two loves in trucking: flat-bedding and training! He especially enjoyed the camaraderie with his students and found that teaching actually provided more learning opportunities. It was here that Gene trained Mike Zimmerman, who eventually moved on to Nussbaum. Mike started telling Gene about Nussbaum’s culture and how it was a great workplace, but Gene wasn’t ready to give up flatbed. But then, he heard that Nussbaum was starting a flatbed division!

Shortly after Christmas in 2020, then-recruiter Saige Anderson was searching for qualified flatbed candidates to fill the new division. She asked Mike Zimmerman if he had any leads, and soon after, she was on the phone with Gene. Because of his prior experiences at other companies, Gene was hesitant to make a hasty decision. But after some serious soul-searching and discussions with his wife, Gene felt it was the right move. The rest is history! Gene officially joined the Nussbaum Family in February 2021.

Paying it Forward

Gene is a tremendous asset to Nussbaum, running flatbed and jumping headfirst into our training program. Gene enjoys sharing his knowledge and lessons learned with the next generation of drivers—it’s his way of paying it forward. And as always, he enjoys meeting
new people.

Close-knit Family

Today, Gene and his wife live in Canton, Illinois. His three sons are grown with families of their own, and Gene has fifteen wonderful grandchildren to spoil. Gene loves the grandpa side of parenting—with your own children, you have to discipline, but with grandkids, you get to spoil them and send them home.
When he’s not driving, Gene enjoys being outside and working with his hands. Woodworking is a favorite pastime, and he’s made a few furniture pieces over the years. Gene also enjoys motorcycle rides when the weather is nice. When he’s sick of wheels, he’ll take the kayak for a spin and relax on the water.

Don’t Take Anything for Granted

Since joining Nussbaum, Gene has achieved Certified RED status. For him, the program is worth it simply because it makes him a better driver. Gene likes to achieve, and Certified RED is structured to help people achieve their goals and better themselves.

If Gene could give advice to the world, it would be this: don’t take anything for granted! Enjoy the time you’re in, no matter how difficult, because you’ll learn something that will get you through life later. Someday, you’ll look back and say, “Well, that wasn’t as tough as it seemed.”

Life is full of lessons, so keep going forward! Looking back doesn’t get you anywhere, but looking forward gets you anywhere you need to go.

If you were to look at a map of Mexico and place your index finger directly in the center of it, you’d be touching the small town of Rancho El Cerro, Guanajuato—the birthplace of Nussbaum driver Gerardo Lopez. Guanajuato is a rural Mexican state known for its livestock production and, more recently, contributions to the automotive industry. Mountains frame the territory, and the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt crosses the state’s southern portion. Some of Mexico’s most productive farmland is found near Gerardo’s hometown in south Guanajuato, likely due to the volcanic nature of the soil. Wildlife includes rattlesnakes,
coyotes, and eagles.

Growing Up

Gerardo was born into a family of hard workers, but with a population of fewer than 500, Rancho El Cerro had few job opportunities. Each year, his father traveled to the U.S. to work in the Chicago railyards, earning a decent living to support his family. Back home, Gerardo’s mother ran a dairy farm with a herd of 45 cattle. Some of Gerardo’s earliest memories are working on the farm—milking cows and neighbors coming over to buy milk. His mother used the leftover milk to make cheese, being careful not to waste anything.

Gerardo was the oldest child, with a sister two years behind and two younger brothers. Gerardo says his grandfather taught him the value of hard work and how to be a man. With their dad away, the four siblings looked to their grandfather and uncles as father figures. With tears in his eyes, he recalls how one of his uncles helped with “everything”—the farm, money, and raising four kids. The family needed someone to look up to, and his uncle graciously filled the role.

Moving to the U.S.

When Gerardo was fourteen, his father passed away while in Chicago. His grandparents decided it was time for the family to move to the U.S., and in 1987, they settled in Joliet, Illinois—just in time for Gerardo to start high school. He worked his way through by bussing tables at Earl’s Café in Joliet. The Cafe is no longer open (Earl passed away a few years ago), but Gerardo fondly remembers his first job in the U.S., especially Earl’s kindness and generosity.

The Winding Road to Nussbaum

The truck-driving bug first bit Gerardo in high school. He remembers seeing big trucks and thinking, ‘One day, I will be a truck driver.’ Following his high school graduation in 1991, Gerardo took a job at Pepsi-Cola, where they offered a CDL training program. He passed his CDL exam in 1993 but had a change of heart and didn’t want to drive. He decided to work five more years at Pepsi, and then worked seven more as a crew leader in a local warehouse. At this point, Gerardo’s old dream began resurfacing. It had been twelve years since Gerardo took and passed his CDL exam in that Pepsi-Cola program. He thought to himself: ‘I have a CDL—I should try truck driving! I’ve always wanted to do that, and I’m not doing it!’

Gerardo returned to Pepsi—this time to drive. The pay was good, but the job required too many hours and hard physical labor. In time, Gerardo started developing back problems and decided to take a spotting job at the railyard. But this proved too monotonous; he would move a chassis, a crane would drop a box onto it, and he would park it—all day, every day.

During this time, one of Gerardo’s coworkers at the railyard left to drive flatbed trucks for Nussbaum (or NTS as it was then known). He enjoyed it so much that he told Gerardo that he should try Nussbaum. Eventually, Gerardo made the call and spoke with Recruiter Josh Carr. Josh explained what Nussbaum offered, but Gerardo said he wouldn’t do it—he wasn’t interested in going over the road because he wanted to be home every night with his family. Unless Nussbaum had a local job, he wasn’t interested.

Two months later, Josh called back with some exciting news: Nussbaum was hiring city drivers in Chicago! On August 6, 2007, Gerardo joined Nussbaum, bringing his cheerful attitude and strong work ethic.

The Job Nobody Wanted

Few drivers would willingly take a city driving job—it means many short runs and an ever-changing routine. For example, if an OTR driver is bringing a load to Chicago but is too early/late, he can drop the load at our Channahon yard and Gerardo will finish the delivery. If an OTR driver can’t pick up the load on time, Gerardo will bring it to the Channahon yard. If any Nussbaum equipment in Chicago breaks down / has red flags, Gerardo will bring it to the Channahon shop for repairs.

As if the job wasn’t complicated enough, Gerardo deals with all the common frustrations of truck driving—but on a whole different level. City driving requires you to always be on high alert. You never know if your route is blocked or under construction or if you’ll pass under a low structure and damage the truck (bridges and overpasses often lack height markers, so you must go very slowly or get out and look for a sign). And, of course, Chicago is famous for its crazy traffic. Cars are constantly honking, speeding, cutting you off, and driving recklessly.

When Gerardo first started at Nussbaum, he was calling Peg or Josh almost every month to report a motorist hitting his truck. Thankfully, he was never seriously injured!

The Thrill of the Job

With fifteen years of city driving under his belt, Gerardo has dealt with a lot. You might be wondering why anyone would stick with it! In Gerardo’s words, “I still get nervous [about driving in the city]! But I’m the city driver! That’s what I get paid for—to do the job. It’s very risky, it’s not an easy job, and it’s a lot of stress.” He chuckles and adds, “that’s probably why I lost my hair. But I like it. I don’t do the same thing every day—every day is different. That’s what I like about my job. Time flies. Before you know it, it’s already time to go home.”

In his fifteen years at Nussbaum, Gerardo only remembers one instance where he called in to take the day off (not counting scheduled PTO). He can’t even remember what it was for. Needless to say, no one at Nussbaum ever complains about Gerardo not showing up to work!

Gerardo’s incredible work ethic stems from his values: being responsible, being on time, and doing your job well. Ask anyone at Nussbaum, and that’s how they would describe Gerardo, including his former Driver Manager, Steve Mallory. “Gerardo was always a joy to work with! I miss not talking with him every day,” says Steve. “I always said we need twenty more Gerardo’s around here—he always wanted to keep moving—hated sitting still. The more work we had in Chicago, the better he liked it, and he was always willing to do whatever was asked of him!”

Liking what you do and where you work is essential for Gerardo—to him, all the money in the world is not worth sacrificing happiness. “If you don’t like what you’re doing, my advice is to follow what you like,” he reflects. “Don’t just stay because they pay you well. Money is not everything. You gotta be happy.”

And happy he is.

Faith and Family

One of Gerardo’s greatest joys is his family. He and his wife Sonia have been married for twenty-six years. They grew up in Guanajuato, in towns five minutes apart. Gerardo was friends with her brother growing up, but Sonia was a few years younger, so he didn’t want to overstep boundaries by asking her out too soon. Years later, they found themselves attending the same party, and Gerardo asked her to dance. The rest is history! They married in Joliet, Illinois, in April 1997. Years later, Gerardo’s life changed again when he found faith in God. Gerardo and Sonia wanted His blessing on their marriage, so they decided to have a church wedding in September 2021.

The Lopezs have two children (one son and one daughter) who both live less than a mile away. When the kids were younger, the family would travel to a lake in Plainfield, Illinois, almost every weekend. For $8, you could fish, cook out, camp, relax, and spend time together. These days, the family gets together on Saturdays when they can, even if it’s just ordering in dinner and watching TV. Time with family is important to Gerardo, and as they don’t get to do it as often these days, the memories are extra special.

The Golden Rule

Looking back over his life, Gerardo has learned lessons and met challenges head-on. If he could give one piece of life advice, it would be this: be responsible—in work, in how you live your life, in how you treat people. “Treat everybody the way you want to be treated, and be respectful. That’s everything,” he says firmly.

We appreciate how Gerardo applies these principles in his work at Nussbaum, positively impacting everyone he interacts with.

Thank you, Gerardo!

If someone had told Maya Hodel as a young adult that she would one day have a growing career in the trucking industry, she would have laughed.

That’s because she always thought she would follow in her mom Amie’s footsteps and become a nurse.  

“I wanted to be just like my mom,” shares Maya. “Right out of high school, I got my certified nursing assistant license, started working part-time at OSF in Peoria, and enrolled in ICC’s nursing program.” 

By the time she was 20, she was going to school full-time, working third-shift in Postpartum at the hospital, and helping her mom birth-assist with her home-birth midwifery business. And while she loved nursing, she started asking herself if this was something she was really committed to. 

“I thought if I pursue this,” shares Maya, “can I see myself doing this for the rest of my life? Nursing is amazing, and we will always need nurses. It’s also a lot of schooling. So, I prayed about it and felt convicted that healthcare wasn’t the path the Lord had for me.”  

What she didn’t know was that she was about to take on a job that would change her life forever.

Changing Direction

After deciding healthcare wasn’t for her, Maya went through what she describes as an early 20s crisis. She stopped going to school, started working 40 to 50 hours a week as a full-time nanny, and floated around for a bit trying to figure out what she was supposed to do. 

During this time, her uncle, who is a Nussbaum driver, mentioned to her mom, “Why doesn’t Maya become a truck driver?” 

Maya doesn’t know what her mom’s exact reaction to that was, but it must have stuck with Amie because she soon mentioned the idea to Maya. 

“She kind of brought it up in passing. I thought she was insane!” laughs Maya. I told her “there was no way I was going to be a truck driver!”

Something her mom said planted a seed, though. Maya began thinking seriously about what life as a truck driver would look like. She also started doing some research of her own.

“I found out that it was lots of driving, obviously, but the pay was very enticing. I could make a lot of money driving to other states and across the country! Within a week, I’d made up my mind that I was going to go for it.” 

Right away, Maya called Nussbaum and talked to Tianne Overmeyer, the Student Program Coordinator, about getting pre-hired. Maya didn’t have her CDL yet, but had enrolled in classes at ICC and knew her graduation date. 

Of course, the first words out of Tianne’s mouth were, “Don’t worry, we’ll get you hired!” 

Tianne set up an interview with Maya while they were on the phone. But when Maya walked into Nussbaum, she didn’t exactly look like the traditional driver candidate.

“So, I went to Nussbaum for my pre-interview. My hair was curled. I had on makeup, and I was wearing a ruffly shirt. I talked with Mitch Davis who is in safety and Gary Atkins. Both of them told me I had to get dirty as a driver. I was fine with that!”

And that’s how Maya’s journey with Nussbaum began.