A trucking owner driven by his love for learning, mentorship and family

Dr. DeAngelo Richardson, Platinum Group, CEO

DeAngelo served in the military from 2011 for about five years, starting at Fort Jackson and Fort Lee, where he worked with hazmat, drove fuel tankers, and worked with aircraft at Fort Campbell, KY before being deployed. He then worked for the state of Tennessee in many departments, particularly labor and workforce development. He also has experience in sales and security operations. He says that all occupational experience prepared him for his current role as a leader of a trucking company as well as other business ventures.

He founded Platinum Group in August 2020, a small trucking company based in Nashville servicing the southeast U.S. where he employs five people and now manages three trucks. He is also a member of the Independent Safety Carrier Association. After his time as a driver after his military service, he wanted to start his own business where he can create better conditions and a better working environment for truck drivers and to mentor young children.

DeAngelo is a student of life; he loves learning. He has his bachelor’s degree in economics. He was originally planning to join the DEA, so he received a Master’s in Forensics. But then he decided that business was his preferred career path and enrolled in a Doctorate program. He says his education in his biggest asset and investment in his life. His education helped to mold him into a leader to prepare people for the future. Business organization skills, cultural diversity, and exploring different leadership styles that he has learned, have suited him well in his current role.

A moment he is most proud of as a company owner is that when he learns that his company is a place his employees don’t want to leave. “It makes me feel like I have established something that really works. Retention can be a real issue for lot of companies and industries, but to create an environment where someone can say ‘this is where I want to be. I like working with this group and this company,’ to hear that, it’s reassuring … it’s a satisfying moment.”

DeAngelo also likes giving back to his community. His company has partnered with a trucking school in Clarksville, Tennessee to do some “lunch and learns,” inviting kids in elementary school to “touch a truck.” He recently started business mentors and coaching and would like to work with high schoolers in the future, and his goal is to be a source of leadership for aspiring workers.

“Find a mentor” is his advice to young aspiring trucking employees. He says it’s tough to come into this industry cold. “Read books, read articles, watch interviews, and start to immerse yourself into the industry. Give yourself an advantage. Find a mentor; someone who understands the industry and can show what you need to consider for the job, and then you can roadmap where you want to start. I am big on mentorship.”

When it comes to safety, DeAngelo agrees it is a critical part of the industry and can be a million-dollar responsibility to clean up. He says safety is important because its conducive to our lives, yet he believes it’s not as appreciated as it should be. He looks forward to knowing that everyone makes it home at the end of the week. He makes a point to acknowledge his drivers when they make it home safely.

And when it comes to seeing his own family at the end of the day — he has a wife, a son and two daughters — he says, “everything I do is for my family. It is my best and most favorable part of my life. When my kids see me work, they want to be involved. We bought two more trucks, and my oldest daughter wanted to see how the trucks worked. She took a ride and really liked it!”

DeAngelo is a well-rounded industry leader. He loves swimming, boxing, and traveling the world. He just got back from Europe, and says he enjoys seeing how others operate in this world.

DeAngelo’s parting advice during our interview for those seeking to join trucking was: “Go through the process; don’t cut corners. Learn about it; learn how to build a foundation. This is what we do to support our economy in the U.S. This is serious business. This is not something to be taken lightly. We are talking about providing for everyone in the U.S. day to day, from businesses to consumers. We are the last mile!”

He invites those interested in learning about trucking to contact him through his LinkedIn profile: linkedin.com/in/deangelo-r-481a77202