From C-130 crew chief to trucker, he’s seen the world by plane and the U.S. by truck
David Riegle's time in the Air Force took him all over the world, and he’s also a Vietnam Veteran and a Veteran of Desert Storm. (The Trucker/Barb Kampbell)
By BARB KAMPBELL
The Trucker Staff
9/29/2008
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Prime Inc. lease-operator David Riegle, of Little Rock, has been driving trucks for 14 years and has seen almost all of the 48 states. But before that he spent 20 years in the Air Force where he was a C-130 crew chief doing inspections, repairs, and basically making sure the aircraft was ready to fly.
His time in the Air Force took him all over the world, and he’s also a Vietnam Veteran and a Veteran of Desert Storm.
While the Air Force tour was good for him, Riegle isn’t looking back.
“I don’t miss it,” he said. “It was a good life to me. I traveled all over the world. I like being my own boss out here. It’s the only job I’ve done where you can do what you want if you have a good dispatcher.”
There is just one other person Riegle reports to, and that is his wife.
“I’ve been married 15 years,” he explained. “My wife is my navigator; she’s been riding with me the whole time. We’re together 7/24/365 and it works great.”
Between them the Riegles have three grown children and four grandchildren.
Riegle said his favorite places to see include Utah, which he said is beautiful. He also likes Colorado, and pretty much anything with mountains and trees.
“We have not had time to sightsee,” Riegle said. “We pretty much keep on the go. It’s a good life for us. We enjoy it. Otherwise we wouldn’t do it. We would like to go to Vegas one day.”
Riegle is a huge fan of Prime Inc. and he could not say enough great things about the company and the people who run it.
“I like Prime because they, well, Don Lacy [director of safety at Prime] says the driver is the captain of the ship,” Riegle said. “If the driver feels it’s unsafe because of the weather, fatigue or for any other reason, you just let them know, they want you to stop and not take chances.
“They stand behind the drivers. They trust them and work with them. Prime is the best company I ever drove for.”
As a lease-operator, Riegle might be bothered more than a company driver by the high price for diesel this summer, but he has an answer for it that works for him.
“The fuel prices hit us, but we get a surcharge that helps us,” he said. “And if you drive slow enough your fuel mileage goes up, it works out for the better. Just be fuel conscious and it works out.
“I’m making money — not as much if fuel was lower — but keeping my head above water. We’ve cut back on truck stop meals and down time. We eat out some, but we have everything we need on the truck. “
His opinion of the latest Hours of Service regulations is that he’d like to see them remain in place.
“I’d like to see them keep the 11/14 service,” Riegle said. “Because I think that’s one of the best things to come up. I think you can get more done than the 10/8 rule. I like the 34-hour restart too. We stay out six to eight weeks and our home time varies from two to four days depending on what’s going on.”
After talking business for a bit, Riegle quickly returned his thoughts and words to Prime.
“This company treats the drivers with respect,” he said. “That means a lot to me. They actually listen to what you say.
“Their facilities [headquarters in Springfield, Mo.] are great — daycare, basketball court, beauty salon, weight room, and barber shop — and they have this full-service 24-hour café with full course meals. We try to get there about every month or so to go through for a day or two.
“The company truly has an open-door policy. Some say they have it, but you have to go through a screening process to get to someone. I can walk in there and talk to anyone I want to face to face. No problem. We made the company picnic last year, but won’t be able to get there this year.”
Times have changed out on the road and he’s witnessed the difference.
“New kids think they know it all,” Riegle said. “Nobody stops anymore when someone breaks down. There’s no respect from the younger drivers. I still stop to help if I can or at least holler to offer help.”
And there’s always the problem of four-wheelers.
“I think road range happens mostly between four-wheelers and truckers,” Riegle said. “Truckers know about the road. Four-wheelers don’t understand our stop time. They cut us off. Tailgating is another bad one. We [truckers] signal when it’s clear to come over, we also signal to thank other drivers for letting us back in. Nobody’s a road hog; not that I’ve seen in trucking.
“There are trucks that will run fast, that’s their choice though. I run 60 mph unless I’m in Ohio or Illinois where the limit is 55 mph. I always drive only 60 even if speed limit is 65 or 70. I get 7.2 mpg — that’s pretty good.”
In closing what Riegle wants out on the road is simple.
“I’d like to have other drivers and four-wheelers to just be safe, courteous, and conscientious about what they’re doing,” he said. “After all the life you save may be your own.”