A Navy veteran turned owner-operator says: “I have no complaints!”

Antony “Tony” Smith, Founder, Water Post Logistics

After 22 years with the water department as well as working in other industries, including dog catching and data technician work, Antony “Tony” Smith wanted to control his schedule and make good money. His father was in trucking for about 50 years and his uncle owned a trucking company, so he wanted to learn more about the industry. He did his research and talked to family and friends, and found a school that provided CDL training for free. He worked doubles on the weekend at his job at the water department while he earned his license. After he got his license, he left his job for the trucking industry. His wife said you have three months to make “this trucking thing work!” Fortunately, for Tony, his career has paid off.

Now managing three trucks and two drivers for Water Post Logistics, a name formed from his job at the water department and his wife’s job at the post office for 27 years, Tony reflects on his supportive wife and family and recommends that if one wants to join the trucking industry, having a supportive network as he did, was key. “My advice for others is that if you don’t have that support system, find a good company to work and learn all you can before you step out there on the job.”

Tony says he loves his job. “You get out of it what you put in.” if you put the work in and are willing to learn, it’s great. There are no shortcuts.” When discussing the skills that he learned from past jobs and what he brought to the job, he explains that he learned great people skills, how to be patient, to have thick skin and to adapt. Working swing shift for years helped him to be flexible, and after being a team leader at the water authority, he now knows both sides of his current role which helps him communicate better with his drivers. “When the drivers come to me with an issue, it’s not a boss talking to a driver, its two drivers talking to each other.”

Tony served in the Navy for five years, three years in Washington, D.C., and two years on a ship out of Norfolk, Va. The greatest thing he learned in the military was teamwork. You cannot do it by yourself, he says. He traveled the world with the Navy and was part of Hurricane Andrew and the cleanup committee, which was a special time as he describes it. “During the hurricane cleanup, I was able to volunteer. To see folks lose everything, it humbles you. The appreciation they were showing while we were there, made me look at my life and things I take for granted. I realized I cannot take anything for granted. You must respect everyone and everything.”

Tony mainly travels around the Midwest. When he describes safety on the road, he says one thing he does is uses his extra time during his allotted driving hours to make sure he is well rested and that he eats well to be more focused. He doesn’t use his phone while driving. He inspects his truck and prepares his route ahead of time. If you need to repair a truck part, he recommends not waiting to do so and not trying to save money. Sometimes you must sacrifice cost to ensure your safety, he noted.

He loves to network to learn and share his findings and tips. He is a member of the Independent Carrier Safety Association. He started a Microsoft Teams group to answer questions and discuss industry tips with fellow truckers regularly on topics such as rates, safety, repair locations and more. He connects with people on the road to help build that network. “It’s the best to way to do business: handshakes.”

When asked about what he would tell others entering the industry: “research, research and do some more research. Make sure this is what you want to do. If it is, work for a good company, stay a while and learn the business. Don’t learn on the fly.” His parting words for others are: “Adapt, listen and ask as many questions as possible.”

Tony has been married for ten years and has three children: 31, 22, and 10 years old. He has seven brothers and sisters. His beloved hobby is playing dominos. He once pulled a load to a dominos tournament in Dallas so he could incorporate some fun into his work. He stayed over and played in the tournament. The convenience of having his own business and being an owner-operator has certainly paid off.

“Everything is great. I have no complaints!” He says he’s not had a day where he wakes up and says that he doesn’t want to do this.