DUSTIN & MEAGAN RUSSELL WITH MAINLINE TRANSPORTATION!
Do you ever get restless if you’re in the same place for too long? Some of us were born to roam, and when you can find a way to get paid to do that, you’re living the dream. Dustin spent his childhood dreaming of hitting the road, and now he’s doing just that, hauling freight of all kinds from coast to coast on his hotshot flatbed trailer. Here’s his story!
WHO ARE YOU AND WHERE ARE YOU FROM?
“Name’s Dustin Russell, and I was born and raised in Winnsboro, Louisiana.”
Because of his work, Dustin has actually traveled to every state except Hawaii!
WHAT DO YOU DO FOR A LIVING?
“I’m the owner-operator for Mainline Transportation, a hotshot trucking company.”
HOW DID YOU GET STARTED?
“As a kid, I always knew I wanted to go drive trucks. I knew I wanted to be an over-the-road driver and to cross interstate lines I had to be 21 years old. Right out of high school, I landed a job working on tug boats and worked two and a half years traveling the majority of America’s inland waterways. Those two-and-a-half years finally passed, and I was officially 21, so I signed up for truck driving school, took my test and received my CDL. The rest is history.
I started driving over the road for a trucking company for a few years, and then landed a job driving in the oil field exclusively in the Rock Springs, Wyoming region. After a small stint of driving for the oil field, all roads eventually lead home. I came home and worked a few odd jobs.
I ended up working for the pipeline as a welder’s helper. I joined Local Union 798 in 2008 and was a helper for years before breaking out as a welder in 2014.
In between pipeline jobs, I always had my CDL to fill in the gaps. Due to the present times at hand, we had to rely on my CDL even further. This last year, my wife and I chose to apply for my own authority and become an owner-operator. Instead of going the big truck route, we chose to jump into the hotshot side of business.
My wife, our friends and family have helped and supported me from day one. I’m truly blessed with one of the biggest and best families. My parents have always listened to my ideas and seen my growth from being a young CDL holder to now owning our own business.”
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE PART OF WHAT YOU DO?
“Trucking has been the most satisfying career that I’ve had. I feel like I’m contributing to society the most when I’m delivering these loads from point A to point B. It’s even more special when small businesses trust Mainline Transportation with their precious cargo.
My lifestyle of always being on the road has given me the opportunity to see so much of our country. From the majority of the inland waterways (rivers and canals) to seeing every state (with the exception of Hawaii) through the windshield of a truck, I’d consider myself to be pretty lucky.
Our country is beautiful and I wouldn’t trade these experiences for anything. With pipelining, we would settle into some of America’s towns and become a part of that population. It seems we have friends in every corner of the United States, which makes it seem like a not so big world after all.”
HOW DOES YOUR MAXX-D HOTSHOT FLATBED TRAILER HELP YOU GET WORK DONE?
“Choosing the right equipment and having good dependable equipment is hands down the most important thing as an owner-operator. Mainline Transportation upholds itself to a very high standard and we believe presentation is everything. I work hard at keeping the rig clean and organized.
When picking up and delivering loads, customers are always applauding the set up we have with our MAXX-D LDX Flatbed Trailer. We bought our hotshot trailer from Sancrest Trailer Sales in Springfield, MO. Devin Shickel was our sales rep and we were super pleased with our experience.”
HITTING THE ROAD AND LOVING IT!
Dustin, we’re proud of you for hitting the road and doing what you love. You are right, you’re serving the communities around you and making the world a better place one hotshot load at a time. We’re glad we get to be a part of what you guys are doing. Keep trucking, man!
Instagram - @mainlinetransportation
Facebook – @Mainline Transportation
The trailer Dustin uses is the MAXX-D LDX 30k Gooseneck Flatbed.
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QUICK HOTSHOT FLATBED TRAILER GUIDE: TRAILERS TO ROAM THE COUNTRY WITH!
If you’re like Dustin and want to get paid to roam across the country hauling freight, here are some trailers you could use, ranging from our GSX 14k Flatbed, all the way up to our LHX 40k Flatbed.
The GSX 14-17.5k GVWR Flatbed is a great entry-level hotshot trailer that you can haul with a 3/4 ton truck and stay under the CDL load limit. It’s also a lighter trailer to tow when you have to deadhead.
The The GSX 14-17.5k GVWR Flatbed is a good all around flatbed for a dually truck. This trailer can keep you under the excise tax GVWR limit of 25,990 lbs, or take you all the way up to 30k GVWR for some solid hauling.
The The GSX 14-17.5k GVWR Flatbed is a heavy hauler that is ready to max out what dually truck can handle. This trailer can haul almost 30,000 lbs, depending on the configuration.