HOWARD SHEPPARD SR. and his wife Barbara started the trucking company that still carries his name in 1943. His son Cliff now serves as president of the company, which is headquartered in Sandersville, Georgia. The company runs more than 500 trucks and has operations in Sandersville, Savannah, Augusta and Andersonville, Georgia, in Charleston, South Carolina and in Jacksonville, Florida. Cliff’s son Trey runs their Kaolin Mining Operation and his other son Mitch runs their Container Services Operation. Howard Sheppard Inc. also has a bulk and warehousing division.
HOW DID YOU GET INVOLVED IN THE TRUCKING BUSINESS?
TREY: Mitch and I both grew up around the business and spent our summers working in the wash rack. After college, we moved back to Sandersville and began working in the company. I don’t think either of us really considered anything else. At the time we started, our grandfather, Howard Sheppard Sr., and our grandmother were both still working here. To have three generations working in a company at one time is pretty unique. It was and still is today a true family business.
WHAT ARE YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES AS LEADERS?
MITCH: Trey and I each oversee the daily operations of our divisions. Trey handles our Kaolin Mining Operations and I oversee our Container Services Division and warehousing. One of the most important responsibilities we have as leaders is surrounding ourselves with good people and giving them the tools they need to do their jobs. This business is too complex for any one person to know and do it all. Our family has been very fortunate over the years to have so many great people throughout our organization.
HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE YOUR MANAGEMENT STYLES?
TREY: Our employees are very important, so hiring good people and letting them do their jobs is a priority. Our employees know our expectations and we let them do their jobs. We are very fortunate to have high-caliber people throughout our organization, and we don’t try and micromanage them. We have an open-door policy with all of our employees and drivers. The majority of our employees have our cell phone numbers and can call or text us any time they have an issue.
HOW HAVE YOU ADAPTED TO CHANGING TRUCK DRIVER DEMOGRAPHICS?
MITCH: The demographics in the trucking industry are definitely changing as we see more females and younger drivers enter the industry. Most of our drivers want to be home every night and most weekends, so it has made us re- evaluate our business and what lanes and customers we want to pursue. We now have an entire department that focuses on recruiting, getting drivers on board and retaining them.
HOW DO YOU APPROACH STRATEGIC PLANNING?
TREY: We have a management team that meets weekly. Strategic planning is not something we discuss weekly, but we are always looking ahead at how we can improve our processes. This industry is constantly changing and we must be ready to adapt to those changes in order to survive. COVID and the supply chain disruptions really changed our business and the way we do things. It was not something we could have ever planned for, but our employees stepped up and we were able to adapt quickly.
WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE YOUR COMPANY GOING IN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS OR SO?
MITCH: If you look at our growth over the last 78 years, it is a gradual trend upwards. We want to continue to grow, but we don’t want to lose sight of what we do best. We want to grow in a controlled manner that allows us to continue to take good care of our customers and employees. Howard Sheppard has always been known for great service and getting the job done right. We will continue to grow, but we will not lose sight of what got us here.
LEADERSHIP CAN BE VERY STRESSFUL. WHAT KEEPS YOU UP AT NIGHT? HOW DO YOU COPE WITH IT?
TREY: This is a stressful business — with the liability issues, number of employees and customer expectations. Mitch and I both exercise a lot and I think that helps with the stress level. We also have large families and enjoy spending time with them. This business never stops and the stress never goes away, but I think it is important that you turn it off sometimes and enjoy time with your family and friends.
WHAT’S THE LAST GOOD LEADERSHIP BOOK YOU READ?
MITCH: Trey and I both read a lot and listen to podcasts. We are constantly sharing what we have read or listened to recently. We are both big fans of John Maxwell and the idea of servant leadership. I am rereading the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People right now. It’s a classic. In this business it is easy to get in a rut of the day-today, so it is important to constantly be striving to improve yourself and the organization.
