Kyle Kottke, general manager for Kottke Trucking, joined Jeremy Reymer on a recent episode of Taking the Hire Road. The pair discussed the origins and values of the third-generation company as it approaches 90 years in business.
Kottke’s grandfather, Elmer, started hauling milk, fertilizer and feed with one truck in 1938. Today, the company boasts over 100 trucks and has established itself as a reliable name in refrigerated movements. The years in between saw a plethora of triumphs — and a fair share of hardships.
Being born into the industry, Kottke started greasing trailers in the backyard when he was about 10 years old. He jokes that this is the only job he has ever been fired from, admitting that maintenance has never been his strong suit.
After spending his childhood surrounded by trucks, Kottke decided to leave the industry and strike out on his own. He decided to study finance. That lasted about 18 months.
“I figured out I was a blue-collar guy and that the suit and tie were not exactly in my future,” Kotkke said.
To this day, he owns only one suit. He pulls it out of the closet for weddings and funerals.
Kottke returned to the trucking company, and he has stayed ever since. Spending his entire life immersed in Kottke Trucking has meant that the organization’s mission — including family values and a customer-focused approach — are often a mirror of his own priorities.
In recent years, the company has adopted the term “bleeding blue” to encompass the expression of those values and priorities. The phrase – which pays homage to the color of the company’s trucks – came about as a way to succinctly summarize and communicate Kottke’s mission in the midst of a couple of acquisitions. It has stuck, allowing managers to recognize employees for “bleeding blue.”
Kottke Trucking’s strong focus on its values is also an intrinsic part of the company’s hiring process. Kottke aims to hire drivers who share its mission from the start, leading to turnover rates that hover around half of the industry average.
Beyond creating a value-driven work environment, Kottke attributes much of the company’s success to its deep appreciation for drivers as individuals. Showing that appreciation doesn’t have to be elaborate or expensive. It can be as simple as grilling burgers or sharing cell numbers.
“It doesn’t matter how much money you spend. If you don’t care, they know,” Kottke said.
Click here to learn more about Kottke Trucking.
Other highlights from this episode of Taking the Hire Road
Book recommendations: “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team” by Patrick Lencioni
Sponsors: Career Now Brands, Carrier Intelligence, Infinit-I, Workhound, Asurint, Transportation Marketing Group, Seiza, Drive My Way, DriverReach, F|Staff, Trucksafe
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