Why I Started Aces and Eights Trucking Company
- Zach Olson
- Jan 15
- 3 min read
Starting a trucking company isn’t something most people do on a whim. It’s capital-intensive, regulated, and unforgiving of mistakes. So when people ask why I started Aces and Eights Trucking Company, the short answer is: because I believed there was room to do this the right way.
The longer answer is worth explaining.
Seeing the Gap Between How Trucking Works and How It Should Work
Like many people who end up starting a trucking company, my decision came from firsthand exposure to how the industry actually operates day to day.
Trucking is the backbone of the economy, but too often the people doing the work—drivers, dispatchers, small carriers—are forced to operate in reactive mode. Poor communication, rushed decisions, short-term thinking, and misaligned incentives create problems that ripple through the entire supply chain.
What stood out to me most wasn’t that trucking is hard. It’s that many of the problems are preventable with preparation, transparency, and respect for the work.
That realization planted the seed.
Why Flatbed Freight
When it came time to choose a lane, flatbed stood out immediately.
Flatbed trucking demands more:
More planning
More attention to safety
More accountability
There are no doors to close and no freight hidden behind walls. Every load is visible, every mistake is obvious, and shortcuts show up fast.
That appealed to me.
Flatbed rewards preparation and discipline, and it punishes carelessness. If you’re going to build a company around doing things right, flatbed is honest freight—it forces you to live by your standards.
Building Something Sustainable, Not Flashy
Aces and Eights Trucking Company wasn’t started to chase trends or hype. It was started with a long-term mindset.
The goal from day one has been:
Consistency over quick wins
Relationships over transactions
Stability over rapid, uncontrolled growth
That applies to customers, drivers, and internal operations alike. We’re not trying to be the biggest carrier on the road—we’re focused on being dependable, communicative, and professional every single day.
In trucking, boring is often a compliment. When freight moves without drama, everyone wins.
Respect for Drivers and the Reality of the Job
No trucking company works without drivers, and no driver deserves to be treated as an afterthought.
I started Aces and Eights with the belief that drivers deserve:
Clear expectations
Honest communication
Equipment that’s maintained
Support when things don’t go as planned
Trucking will always have tough days. Weather, breakdowns, delays, and regulations don’t disappear just because a company has good intentions. But how a company responds to those challenges makes all the difference.
Why This Blog Exists
This blog is an extension of the same mindset behind the company.
Here, I plan to write honestly about:
The trucking industry as a whole
Flatbed operations specifically
The realities of starting and running a trucking company
Lessons learned—both successes and mistakes
Some posts will be educational. Others will be practical. All of them will be grounded in real experience, not theory or hype.
If you’re a shipper, this blog will show how we think about freight.If you’re a driver, it will show how we think about the people doing the work.If you’re thinking about starting your own company, it will give you a clear-eyed look at what that actually involves.
Looking Ahead
Aces and Eights Trucking Company is still building—intentionally and carefully. The work doesn’t stop after authority is granted or the first load is hauled. In many ways, that’s when the real work begins.
This blog will document that process and share what we learn along the way.
Because in an industry built on movement, progress comes from doing the fundamentals well—day after day.
— Aces and Eights Trucking Company (MC#1061712)
Work With Aces and Eights
Whether you’re a driver looking for a company that respects the work, or a shipper looking for a dependable flatbed carrier, Aces and Eights Trucking Company is built on consistency, communication, and long-term thinking.
If that’s what you value, we’d welcome the opportunity to connect.
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