Woody Chambers retired from the board in April 2018.
Number of years trucking: 45 years
Make, model and year of truck: I had a 1989 Kenworth T600A and 1996 Reitnouer step deck. I have since retired from active trucking, but I sure miss that old truck.
What type of load do you typically haul: I hauled HHG in the beginning of my career. I then went to steel, oversize structural and re-bar. I wrapped up my career in the OOIDA Spirit truck. I miss all that, too.
Family information: Married to Paula, 48 years; children – Kristen, Daniel, Janet, Mathew and five grandchildren.
Favorite trucking story or moment: Hauling HHG and electronics, any time I had a high-paying load out of Chicago to the west coast running old roads back in the 60’s and 70’s.
What do you like about the industry?: The freedom of going anywhere in the country when I wanted. Big trucks and the smell of diesel fuel. I am a ‘truck junkie’.
What do you dislike about the industry?: No one wants to pay a fair rate for a good job anymore. Economic de-regulation and more and more irrelevant, ridiculous, and unconstitutional social regulation.
What makes you successful as an owner-operator?: Basic business and mechanical knowledge, running lower cost, but mechanically sound, older used equipment, pulling only the loads that generate ‘profit’.
Why are you a member of OOIDA?: No other association has ever done as much for the independent operator and the industry as a whole.