Triumphs & Trials with Veoletta Pinson

We sit down with Violetta Pinson , Mrs. Vee, to unpack how she built TKK Logistics & Trucking, why safety and loyalty drive her strategy, and what new owners and dispatchers must learn to survive the market. From pandemic ports to a secure truck parking vision, this is a working playbook for sustainable growth and generational wealth.

• the origin of the Port Queen nickname and container surge
• path from post office to dispatch and entrepreneurship
• family-run operations across box trucks, hotshots and reefers
• building broker trust and dedicated lanes through reliability
• separating business from personal while protecting drivers
• safety-first planning, HOS respect and ELD discipline
• rate negotiation, cost per mile and maintenance reserves
• mistakes to avoid for new owners and dispatchers
• training, mentorship and “Earn While You Learn” program
• authority setup, compliance and a 90-day-friendly broker list
• community work, vision event and secure truck parking plan

Check her out: tkklogisticsandtrucking.com

Transcript

Meet The Port Queen

SPEAKER_01 0:35

This is trapping with Tammy Way Journey's heard and your voice is free. You're not alone. Come share your story with me.

SPEAKER_00 0:57

Good morning, truckers. Welcome back to Trucking with Tammy. Today on Triumph and Trials, we are shining the light on a woman who is on fire. She's the owner and CEO of TKK Logistics and Trucking, where she has made complicated logistics her specialty. So grab your coffee. Let's welcome the one, the only poor queen, Mrs. V Violetta Penson.

SPEAKER_03 1:26

Hey, hey, hey, y'all!

SPEAKER_00 1:30

How'd you like that? Welcoming.

SPEAKER_03 1:32

Listen, you you read all the accolades. There's nothing left for me to say. You put it all out there. I loved it. Thank you, Sammy.

SPEAKER_00 1:39

You're welcome. Welcome to the show. So, for those who don't know, how did you earn the nickname Port Queen? And what does it mean to you?

SPEAKER_03 1:49

So I was given that name by my drivers. Um, and so it kind of started off where you know, when they came in, they were like, Okay, you you killing the pork gay. Like, so they just started calling me the pork queen. At first, they used to call me the pit bull, which was funny to me because I was like, now come on now. That's just a little rude.

SPEAKER_00 2:12

But that's I would take being called the pit bull as a compliment.

SPEAKER_03 2:18

You know, I I eventually did because when they explained the meaning, I was like, Oh, okay, I get it, I get it, I get it. So they they call me that because I'm all about you know ensuring that what they're entitled to as a driver, whether it be detention, whether it be a right rate, whether it be, you know, a layover, whatever it is, hey, I'm coming for you, and I'm not gonna let go until you give it to me, okay?

SPEAKER_00 2:42

Yeah, and that's what they need. They need that.

Origin Story And Pandemic Ports

SPEAKER_03 2:45

And so then they begin to call me the poor queen because when we, you know, started back during the pandemic time, we got into doing containers at TKK. Now we don't do them as much now, but we were doing them. And when I say I used to call the pork, uh, I mean, yeah, I used to call containers, and I hope I can say this the new dope game. Okay. Because baby, it was what was popping. You hear me? Containers was paying, but again, it was during that time where everybody needed what they needed, so the rates were you know through the roof. So it was it was an awesome um industry to be in at the moment. That's awesome.

SPEAKER_00 3:27

So you you got the name program. How did you what was your journey into trucking and dispatch? I mean, how'd you get here?

SPEAKER_03 3:35

So I um at the time was a single mom uh working at a post office, and so if you know anything about the post office, you have no life. Um, and so I uh one of my at the time she was another regular that worked at the post office, and she had gotten some box trucks. And baby, when I tell you she was sticking and moving, I mean, she was showing us how she was making 10 grand plus a week. And I'm like, put me in, Coach, put me in. How can I be down? And so um she she told us, you know, what she had done, and um, she initially told us who she did her dispatch training through, and you know, hey, I'm I'm I'm all about you know building generational wealth while breaking generational curses. So I'm like, hey, I'm a single mom, I got boys and a daughter, and hey, we all know this world ain't getting no better and it ain't getting no easier, and prices are going up and not down. Okay, so what can I do to make some some some you know good generational wealth where I can pass it down my legacy? And so getting into the trucking industry, you know, at first I was supposed to be buying a uh a box truck with a friend of mine. We were supposed to go into um business together, but that didn't work out, and I had already invested in myself, um, and I wasn't going to waste my investment, and so then I went ahead and I just said, forget it, I'm gonna, you know, sink or swim. So I got out there and I swung. You know, there was moments where I felt like I was drowning, but hey, the life they threw a little life wrap out there, and you know, so that's how I initially got into it.

SPEAKER_00 5:23

And so um, you know, so did you when you said you invested in yourself and you got did you start with the dispatching then? Is that the dispatch course?

From Post Office To Dispatch

SPEAKER_03 5:33

I invested in myself, uh paying um, I paid a good dollar amount for the dispatching course, and you know,$400 is$400. I don't have$400 to just sit on the counter and say, all right, whatever. No, right? I took that and said, you know what, it doesn't matter who's gonna roll with me and who's not, I'm gonna roll with myself. I'm gonna bet on me in this this time, and so that's what we did. I I took the course, and when I first started, of course, anything that you first start is like being in a foreign country, you don't know what to what's going on or how to do it, but I had a lot of trial and error, which brings me to where I am today and why I offer the courses that I offer because yeah, it's a lot into it, it's a lot.

SPEAKER_00 6:21

So, where did the husband and the trucking part of it meet your dispatching?

SPEAKER_03 6:27

So the husband side of it, he was already driving trucks. So, um, to make a long story short, my husband and I actually grew up together. We are actually childhood friends, yeah. We've known each other since I was two, and so we dated, he was my first, you know, everything. And so we dated back when we were teenagers, and then you know, life was lifing, and and and we separated and when I separates, and 20-something years later, we're back together and now we're married. So, um, yeah, so he was already in trucking, and so it just kind of worked itself out, you know. I run the the the dispatching thing side of things, my sons and I we run the dispatching side of the company, and then my husband and I we have a separate entity, a separate company, uh where we're doing trucking.

SPEAKER_00 7:17

Okay, so since I met you, I'll I know you're all about vision. Yeah, so what was your vision when you started TKK? Especially this idea of creating generational wealth for you and your family.

Family Business And TKK Vision

SPEAKER_03 7:31

Yes, so the vision was actually an answer prayer because it is actually coming to pass now. Um, so the vision was to uh actually do something that my my kids could not have to work for anybody. Um, and so TKK is for Titus, Kaylee, and Keon, which are my three, my three biological kids. I have three bonus children, but um, the other three that I birthed it, and so um Titus actually is the the coo. Um he actually started working with me um in college, and he now he worked his way through college and now he he sits alongside of me day in and day out and runs the day-to-day operations. Um Keon, um, he also uh started working with me right out of high school. Um, he's in college now, and so he works alongside of us on the day-to-day operations. He's one of our top dispatchers uh when it comes to box trucks. Keon is a box truck man. I ain't never seen nobody put partials together until I met Keon. Okay, Keon can put them partials together. Titus, he's the hot shot guy, you know. He he's everything high shots, and then both of them move drive-ins. Um, and so me, I do it all. Um, I do the hot shots, the box trucks, the reefers, whatever we got, I do. And so I I was able to actually train them, and so that was the vision to be able to start a company that I can leave to them, and then not only that, that we can grow and help others to be able to grow as well. Because not everybody is cut out to be an entrepreneur, but they do want to have something where it's it's it's um a good stream of income. Let me say it like this. Um, and so being a dispatcher is because honestly and truly, if you do it right, you set your own tone, you set the beat of the drum, you know. Um so you know, we we have days where at 10 o'clock in the morning we're done for the day, you know, and the good thing about it, you're able to do it from anywhere. I didn't been in Jamaica, in Cancun, sitting on the beach, just like hey, yeah, that's how you hold without this. I need that good old wifey, and we good. I know it's Wi-Fi, but yeah, so yeah, that's the vision that my my my children because my daughter she does invoice inside of things, um, and so she's even in it, and so eventually the long run is to actually start a dispatching call center where you'll always have a dispatcher available to you at any given moment. Um, and that's I mean, you know, it and and really just to be able to go in eventually to the trucking schools and offer that as a part of their training when they're getting their CDL, they're acquiring their CDL so they can know what it looks like. Um, I tell a lot of my owners that don't have their CDL or or maybe don't even drive their trucks, take my course because you should know how to effectively run your business, right? And and and know what's BS and what's not BS when it comes to when you're booking these loads and understanding what all it entails, you know.

SPEAKER_00 10:51

Right, right. I totally agree. Um, that is something that um for me, in my experience, when I came out here, I am a type A personality. So I go out, I do the research, I dig it, I figure it all out on my own, and I I jump in head first. A lot of people need all that figured out for them and given the step-by-step directions. Absolutely. Um, so but when you come out here, the problem is there's not a lot of resources or or you know, nobody tells you, you know, there's no classes, there's no training, there's no curriculum uh for people looking to get into being a carrier or an owner operator, like there is getting your CDL. And there needs to be, there needs to be a curriculum and specified information passed down to these drivers, you know, how to calculate their cost per mile, you know, things that are going to set them up for success instead of seeing them set up to fail.

SPEAKER_03 11:44

That part, and I I think um that's another uh avenue that my husband and I are doing is opening up a trucking school um as well, because a lot of things are not told, you know. We we're we're seeing it now, they're just pushing people through, and then you have mistakes made on the road, and that you know, it costs lives, it costs life. So we want to it the end game for TKK and J and B Transports and TKK Academy is to leave trucking in a better light because right now the limelight for trucking is not that great, you know.

SPEAKER_00 12:23

No, it's not educate it it they need educated. There's either a lack of education or there is a huge gap of misinformation. I mean, there is so much misinformation out there. I agree. Um so I I'm behind you 100% on what you plan to do with that. I congratulate that. So where you started business, what 2020?

SPEAKER_03 12:47

2020.

SPEAKER_00 12:48

About that 2020. So since 2020, what has been one of your not the companies, but you personally as a female in the transportation industry, one of your biggest triumphs?

SPEAKER_03 13:02

Not taking the business personal.

SPEAKER_00 13:05

So that's hard to do.

Training The Next Generation

SPEAKER_03 13:07

Yeah, it is because uh unfortunately, us as women, we're very emotional creatures, and so you know, me, I I try to build a solid team, um, because I build a lot of relationships with brokers based on you know the way my the drivers that I connect with that I partner up with, the way they move. And so ideally, um I'm always trying to build a team that's reliable. Um, so let's say, for instance, if you know, and I'm just gonna throw names out there, these are not real people, but if Justin can't do the load, I can call Rico to go and pick it up, and the broker never knew that we dropped the ball. You know what I mean? That's the type of team that I had built when I first started. And that's how you know the port queen came about. Because if one person dropped it, or you know, just just saying if you weren't able to get back in time enough to be able to go and pull your container, hey, I call somebody else, we get that container pulled and staged for you, and we're still able to be effective. And that's how you get those dedicated opportunities, that's how you get those relationships built. Well, the brokers will contact you before they put it on the loadboard to see if, hey, do you have anybody in the area? My phone rings daily with that. Hey, V, such and such in my office gave me your number because they like how you and your team move. Do you have anybody in this area? And that should be your end game is to always be able to build relationships, build good rapports in this industry so that you can consistently be able to keep those wheels turning and you earning. And so I had to learn not to take it personal because I did. I did. I looked at everybody as family, you know. And for me, family is something that I cared, you know, near and dear to my heart. So when things went a different direction, it it crushed me, it crushed me because I took it a lot more personal and I had to understand how to separate business from personal uh relationships.

SPEAKER_00 15:14

Yeah, because when you have somebody else's back, you expect them to have yours, and when they don't, it's pretty disappointing.

SPEAKER_03 15:19

And it's hurtful because in this trucking industry, loyalty is a word that is used but not honored.

SPEAKER_00 15:26

I agree with that one. So building those relationships, what other key strategies do you think has helped you with your success beside because that's very important what you've developed. Um, and being able to take care of those problems on the fly without having to alert, you know, the broker says a lot about you being able to um manage your business. So, what other key strategies do you think is important?

SPEAKER_03 15:53

So I move the businesses as if they're my personal businesses. When it when it when you sign up with TKK and you partner up with TKK, I'm going to watch out for your trucking company as if it's my own personal. And so a lot of times I'm I'm probably a little bit more um compassionate and a little bit more overprotective of your company than sometimes you may be, because I'm gonna look out for things that I've seen in the past. I'm gonna make sure that you don't fall late on your insurance and you risk uh having to pay to be reinstated with the with the FMCSA. I'm gonna make sure that hey, your medical card is due. Hey, have you have have you handled that yet? You know, I've even partnered up with you know DOT doctors that I can say, hey, go to this doctor in this area or whatever. I'm gonna make sure that when you're coming in this industry, you have your drug and alcohol set up. I'm gonna make sure that you have those things. I've partnered up with people, so I've I've I've in a sense became the plug.

SPEAKER_00 16:59

Do you know what I call that in my personal life when I do that? I tell somebody, I say, I'm getting ready to mom you. So prepare yourself because I'm getting ready to mom you.

Fixing The Knowledge Gap

SPEAKER_03 17:08

That that's a good way to look at it, Tammy. Honestly, it's like I'm getting ready to hold your hand, we're getting ready to walk this thing out because I want you to have all the tools and resources that you need to be successful in every area of your life. So, ideally, you know, when you deal with me, you're not dealing with an average dispatcher that by no means necessary. It was so funny this morning. I had a driver stuck out in Bishop, Texas, and so he took it up on himself to just say, you know what, it's the weekend, I'm just gonna head on back home. Well, I'm calling him at eight o'clock in the morning with a low paying almost four dollars a mile. And he like, wait a minute, you were looking for me something? Yeah, I was on a Saturday, absolutely, because if you're out in the streets, I'm working, I'm not gonna wait till Monday. No, if I can move you on Saturday, if I can move you on Sunday, baby, you best believe I'm moving you. There's been times people call me while I'm in church. Hold on, let me walk out because I'm in church. Give me one second, let's deal with whatever the situation is. Because at the end of the day, I take it serious and I take it as an honor that you trust me enough to keep your wheels turning. Because at the end of the day, as a dispatcher, I don't think that we realize that we are an important part of how these drivers provide for their families, and so I take it very personal when you entrust me to keep your wheels turning in you earnest. So he was like, Oh my god, V, I'm I'm sorry. I went ahead and I took off, and I'm like, dude, the last piece of this conversation that we had was this, this, and I mean, when I say I had to calm myself down, I want to say, turn it around and go. We like me. I'm already back home. I'm like, but who told you?

SPEAKER_00 19:10

You know, and and I gotta say, what's sad is it's all the dispatchers before you that left this man sitting on weekends, absolutely. That's it. And to come across a dispatcher who's more worried about moving them than they are. Yeah, he laughs a whole lot about you.

SPEAKER_03 19:28

I I can't do nothing but tell you thank you because I just assumed. He said, I assume it was Saturday. You weren't, you know, it probably wasn't gonna be anything. And I said, I wish you would have called me. I'm gonna go ahead and dare head home because at the end of the day, if you would have called me on a Saturday, what I would have told you was give me to nine o'clock. If after nine o'clock, okay, go ahead and go. It was 8 27. And when I tell you, I moved this broker from$650 all the way up to$800.

SPEAKER_00 20:12

Which doesn't seem like a lot, but sometimes it is. I mean, that was a lot. That was a lot.

Triumphs And Relationship Capital

SPEAKER_03 20:18

And not to mention, it was only$2K. It was the a light load. Light load. Empty totes. You just move in empty totes and you're going to be back home. You know, and so I never like, and and another thing that we get a lot that that kind of bothers me is when drivers say, If I take the load, are you sure you're gonna be able to get me out? I can't answer that. I can't. It's never my intent to bring you somewhere and leave you there. But sometimes it's nothing to come out. If I do take you out there, at least if it's a late delivery, give me to that morning at least about nine that morning. And let's see, because I start early, I'm at my computer at five o'clock in the morning. So it's Saturday morning, and my husband looking at me like, You really? Yeah, I gotta get in the office, and I need to see if I can find this man something. And I'm literally laughing because I'm beating myself up, like, oh my god, he's stuck. I gotta fix it. Not knowing that he didn't already love me. Husband's over there, like you could have stayed in bed a little bit longer. But you know what? Shout out to my husband because he has to be one of the most supportive when it comes to whatever I do, whether it be classes, mentorship, whether it be, hey, I need to go run the driver, some paperwork. He is just supportive. He even goes out and trains some of the drivers when they're new. He'll go out and show them how to tarp, he'll go out and show them how to secure their loads. He don't mind because he he understands that it's bigger than just you know, us. We're actually trying to build something here that we can leave.

SPEAKER_00 22:07

And when you are hooked to this like a ball and chain, you do have to have a spouse who understands and respects that and and understands that you're not putting them second, no, you know, that you are building a future for you and your family.

SPEAKER_03 22:20

Yeah, that's really important. We and and last night I jumped in the truck with him, like because I'm like, hey, listen, yeah, I'm like, listen, I understand that we don't get to you know date like we want to, because he's on the road Monday through Friday. That's what people don't know. My husband's not home throughout the week, he's on the road, so he comes home on Friday or early Saturday morning. So anytime that we can get time with each other, I'm like, hey, let me be the one to initiate interest in what you do because you always put interest in what I have. So although being a CDL driver, V will probably never be, but I like to understand what you do and support what you do. So if it's hey, you want to get a fleet of five trucks, okay. What they look like on your end. Let me understand so I can help you be successful in that journey as well. Keeping them rolling and not I'm ready to hire some guys, but I hope they're ready for me because I'm a different breed. I am right.

SPEAKER_00 23:29

But the industry needs that different breed, though, because drivers right now have been so mistreated with um making them sit that the type of dispatcher you are is a breath of fresh air for the industry.

SPEAKER_03 23:43

Thank you.

SPEAKER_00 23:43

And this is why I always say you are on fire, you know, because you you are. I mean, it is it is so nice to see that.

SPEAKER_02 23:52

I love it.

SPEAKER_00 23:54

What what I mean, I I know there's a lot to choose from when I ask this question, but what is the most rewarding part of it for you when you teach these hands-on skills and you have these scenarios like this?

SPEAKER_03 24:08

When people come back to me and say, I took other trainings, but I didn't get nearly what I got with you, and I paid way more. I love to know that I'm number one affordable, but number two, I'm effective.

SPEAKER_00 24:30

Good, good, good. And you're worth every penny. Thank you. And I'll tell them too. Like, look at all watch this podcast, see all this that you're gonna get. She's gonna think about you when you're not even thinking about yourself.

SPEAKER_03 24:45

You hear me? Yeah, because I'm I'm I'm I'm real big. Like when when drivers book their own loads and they'll call me and say, Hey, can you get me out of here? Why did you go there?

SPEAKER_02 24:57

Why?

SPEAKER_03 24:58

Why? Well, it was paying good. So did I not explain to you that hey, if you go somewhere and it's paying good, expect to have to deadhead somewhere to get something better, or expect to take pennies to get to somewhere where you can get something better.

SPEAKER_00 25:15

Yeah, and you know, a lot of drivers don't think about it. When I was planning my trucks, um, there was a lot of the areas that we got really good rates going into, but I always knew that I was gonna have to dead a certain amount of miles out, and I always made sure I put that in my rate going in. So, and a lot of drivers they just see a number and they don't think past that number or what comes next, and so you have to for them.

Operating Like An Owner

SPEAKER_03 25:39

You know, one of the things that I ask my drivers, and they laugh at me because I ask this, I ask them, how much does it cost to fuel up your truck? How many miles do you get off of that? Because I'm gonna deduct every little I'm I'm gonna I'm gonna itemize it, okay. If it's$300 and you're getting 800 miles, okay, and this load is is 500 miles. Well, automatically I'ma take$300 off for your fuel. Okay, then I know what you pay me, so I'm gonna take that off too. So let me see if you're actually making a profit. It's rare, yeah. Like you said, most guys they just want to let me get a truck. I mean, let's be real. Everybody bought a truck during the pandemic because it was easy, good money, it was easy to get in at that time. You didn't need a CDL, you just needed to, you know, be able to know how to drive. You know, you didn't have to take the training rather for the CDL, you just needed to be able to drive, and then you was able to get your license as long as you was able to pass. Now they're making it uh uh a requirement that you take the the training, but at first you didn't have to have that, and even still now if you're under a certain weight, you don't have to have a CDL. You you can be a non-cdl box truck, hot shot driver with no issues. So yeah, it it it's it's it's it's sad that we don't take the time, like you said, to be a a uh type A person where you actually do the research, find out if it's worth it, and if this something that you can see yourself doing, or if you look, I tell people all the time if you're looking for a side hustle, this not it.

SPEAKER_00 27:23

No, no, this not it, or the people who get into it because they want to be home when they want and create their own schedule. Yes, well, you know, the more time you're home, the less those wheels are turning, the less you're earning, and the faster that you're gonna be bankrupting out of that truck. Wow, yeah, yeah. I mean that that's the reality of it. Because when you're home, you know, the bills aren't stopping. Like when you when you're a company driver and you go home, you don't have to worry about still paying those bills, right? The trucking company does. Yeah. But when you're an owner operator and you're running your own truck, the more home time you have, the less income is coming in, and the faster those bills are stacking up because all your yearly expenses don't change based on your home time.

SPEAKER_03 28:09

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. And that's what they don't think about. And so you'll have moments where you didn't went bankrupt because you didn't consider all that. And then another thing, understand that there are seasons in this that that you know, at certain times you're going to ball out of control, but don't, don't, don't put that money up, put it up, you know, and then even when you're making the money, put so much back up for maintenance, you know, like maintenance is no joke, and it's not it's not one of those things that you can put off.

SPEAKER_00 28:44

I mean, it's you have to do it, or you're gonna do it. Yeah, we gotta do it. It's the it's the devil, but you gotta do it. So having doing that and and having all that that joy and reward, every trucker knows, and everybody in the trucking industry knows that the road is not smooth sailing all the time. So, what's been one of your toughest trials? Ooh, hard one, huh?

Weekend Hustle And Driver Care

SPEAKER_03 29:13

Yeah, because there are so many. Well, you tell them all of me too. I will tell you one of my toughest moments is when one of my carrier's trucks lift. Oh yeah, that would probably have to be one of my toughest moments. Um, because it was like that. It was bad, but he survived. Um, and he had to start all the way over, of course, because insurance and the claims and uh man, it was a lot, but that scared me so much, and that was probably one of the worst moments, besides the second worst would be when my driver thought he was having a heart attack. And when I say I dropped everything and I ran out there, I got in my car and I went to where he was, and it was so scary, it was so scary. Like the broker even came on the scene, like everybody, his wife, me, the broker, we were able to recover. I called one of my other drivers, they came out and got the load and still took the load, but that's what I say. I'm a different type of dispatcher, like I take it personally when you sign up with me, and so moments like that is scary. Like, literally, right now, I just declined to call, but I looked at her message, she said the driver had an accident. So I told her as soon as I come out of this interview, I'm calling you to see what's going on. How can I help? Um, but it it is scary um because people lose their lives every day with accidents with 18 wheelers. So I try to make sure that my drivers have everything they need. Like, I don't I don't need you looking on your phone for anything. I don't need you like I I I dissect it to the T. If you need to have a BOL printed out, I'm gonna tell you hey, don't don't before you leave your house, print this out. Or hey, let me find the closest truck stop that you can go and get this printed out. I'll send it there, and all you have to do is go and print it, you know, pay for it to be printed out. You know, um, let me make sure you have all your proper gear and things like that. So it's it's it's a lot entailed to it. That's why I say it's not a side hustle, it's not because lives be at stake if these drivers are not focused. One moment of them taking their eye off the road, it could cause lives.

SPEAKER_00 31:57

So going through that, did that change how you do business at all? I mean, did you make adjustments after that happened?

SPEAKER_03 32:06

Absolutely, absolutely, yes, indeed. So, being that he that particular well, those two particular drivers were one of my top were you know, on my my my cream of the crane drivers, they were my top drivers. It made me realize that you know maybe you have to kind of slow down a little bit because you have a lot of drivers that when they've been doing it for so long, it's just it's it's it's routine and it's habit, and it's easy to make a mistake, but they don't think that they're they they they think that they're what's the word indestructible because they're veteran. So for me, it was like, okay, let me slow you down a little bit. Hey, hey, I need you because this this this particular driver, his saying is, let me go get it and come back with it. That's one of his favorite things to say. Yeah, let me go get it and come back with it. In other words, let me go get this low and come back with that money. But I had to tell him, hey, you can't do that, you gotta slow it down because that's how mistakes are made. And he was just burning himself, burning himself to where that day he had to take a break. His and these drivers, I'm grateful, and a lot of them complain about it. Even me and my husband, we've gone back and forth about it. I'm grateful that they govern their trucks, number one, and I'm grateful that they have to take these breaks. I'm grateful for that ELD system because you have these veterans that's used to them paper logs, baby, and they would they would eat that road up, they would eat it up, and and and they would make that good money, but was it worth your health? Was it worth putting your life in danger? Was it worth you falling asleep behind the wheel or accidentally, you know? So it's a good thing, but it's bad at the same time because sometimes they can't meet deadlines, but it is good, it's it's it's good. So it just allowed me to just take a step back and reorganize how I was booking their loads because I don't move until you tell me to. You can't do that, you can't unplug it and and and just plug your ELD back later. No, I will just have to turn down the load, and so things like that is is where I'm at. You know, I want us to be successful. Of course, the more money I you make, the more money I make in this, but it's not worth your life, it's not worth me having to make a phone call to your wife or your husband for that matter, because we we have female drivers too, and and saying, I'm sorry to tell you this, but no, no, and I don't think there's anything wrong with that.

SPEAKER_00 34:57

I I think that's a great way to operate your business. You know, there's too many dispatchers out there that that they don't they don't do, they don't, they don't.

SPEAKER_03 35:06

I I I have people that will call me and say, I love the way you dispatch because you understand our hours of service, you understand the breaks that we have to take, you understand the resets, you understand all of that, and you move us according to that. And I'm like, Yeah, because at the end of the day, if it's a couple of things that could happen, you could either get into an accident or dot pull you over and you get shut down. Who wants to pay them fines? Who wants to be shut down? Like, we're in this to make money, not lose money.

SPEAKER_00 35:40

Yeah, and I never you know calculated dot fines into my rate per mile, y'all. So that's easy to profit there.

SPEAKER_03 35:48

Yeah, I mean, because especially when you're taking them overweight loads, you know. You uh when we would do the port, I would tell them brokers point blank, hey, listen, are you going to pay this um this overweight ticket if we get it? You know, because if not, then you need to pay for this permit. It's that simple.

Safety, ELDs, And Hard Lessons

SPEAKER_00 36:09

Exactly. So if you could give yourself one piece of advice from now to when you were starting TKK, right? What advice would you give yourself when you at the beginning?

SPEAKER_03 36:23

Wow, that is a good question.

SPEAKER_00 36:25

It is, isn't it?

SPEAKER_03 36:27

My god, you know that reminds me of that that you know, if you could tell your little self something for your ground self. So one piece of advice that I would give myself is man, wow, I wow, you caught me off guard, tell me what the hell wow.

SPEAKER_00 36:47

Um, you know, because who we are today is different from who you were the day that you started, right? Your knowledge is different, your perspective is different.

SPEAKER_03 36:58

You know, I would definitely probably tell myself to get more educated.

SPEAKER_00 37:04

Learn more before you dive in.

SPEAKER_03 37:06

Before I dive in, because when I dove in, I was faking it till I made it.

SPEAKER_00 37:12

But hey, but and here I'm gonna I'm gonna pitch it here now, but the next line doesn't have to do that because you are gonna educate them, right?

SPEAKER_03 37:21

Absolutely, absolutely. You listen, we're gonna educate you on on dispatching, like no, not one, okay. We're gonna we're gonna teach you A to Z. And not only that, um Tammy, when I teach my classes, I'm different. So when you come to one of my classes, you're gonna have people that's going to come in and help you properly structure your business, okay? So I bring in people that show you how to get your LLC, I bring in people that show you how to properly file your taxes, I bring in people that show you how to properly market your business. Those are the things that I do, you know. So it's is again, it's nothing average about anything, TKK.

SPEAKER_00 38:03

No, I've learned that since I've met you. I I have not found anything average about you yet. So, can you tell the listeners exactly what products you offer and what training you do provide?

SPEAKER_03 38:15

Absolutely. So we have this program called Earn Why You Learn that we will be kicking back off in 2026. Um, have to set a date, but I want to say it's going to come probably maybe the kickoff for my birthday. That may be our June thing. That just may be. I think you just helped me decide when. But Earn Why You Learn is a program that you can come in where I teach you day-to-day operations. Um, you're able to actually work with me. Um, it does come with a tag, you know, it does have a price. Um, but at the end of that, you're gonna know how to effectively run your dispatching company because I've taught you everything that I do. Like there's no gatekeeping. I'm I'm putting it all out there on the table for you. Um, we do offer one-on-one dispatch training. If you just want to know how to dispatch, how to get in the industry, you're able to do that. Um, we do have mentorship if you're already in dispatching or trucking for that matter, and you just want someone to hold your hand a little bit, or you just want someone to kind of look over how you're already doing business. You know, maybe you're like, I'm not getting the most out of this.

SPEAKER_00 39:24

I don't feel like I'm somebody who's maybe struggling with succeeding, hasn't really got it down yet.

SPEAKER_03 39:30

Absolutely, absolutely. I'm I'm I'm I'm I'm stuck. How do I get out of this rut? Um, we offer that mentorship. Um, we also um offer just anything business. I have people that just come to me for just business advice. So I do business consulting um as well. Um, and then we have up and coming on January 24th, a vision board. Party, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 40:01

Well, I'm gonna get to that in just a minute.

SPEAKER_03 40:03

I hope that's good.

SPEAKER_00 40:04

I hope that because this lady, she doesn't just kill it in the trucking industry, she literally clocks out and she continues in her personal life, and we're gonna get to that in a minute. But other than dispatch, you also offer some trucking, yes.

SPEAKER_03 40:20

So we also um offer um if you want to get into the trucking industry and you need to get your authority started, um, we do that as well. So I set you up with everything from um getting your MC and your DOT to getting the insurance to getting your um drug and alcohol set up to getting um you know your plates and getting everything that you need, everything that you need, we make sure that we do that. So um we do have that, and all that can be found on our website, tkk logisticsandtrucking um dot com. Um, we also even have an entrepreneur journal. Um, for those that like to be encouraged every day, I have that on there as well.

SPEAKER_00 41:07

I mean, that's who I am, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 41:11

Yes, yes. So it's it's endless. It's in we were we are pretty much all things trucking.

SPEAKER_00 41:18

So awesome, awesome. Okay, so as she was saying, she has something coming up the 24th. So Ms.

Rates, Risks, And Profit Math

SPEAKER_03 41:28

V, can you explain the wonderful things that you do for women in your oh, as far as what we have going on in the community, we are bringing together entrepreneurs as a whole. Um, and we're doing a manifesting my millions vision board party, and I'm excited about it because it's gonna be one of the first, and I love doing the first with many people. Like, I I'm big on the first, like being the first in my family to be a millionaire, being the first in my family to do this and do that, right? So we're doing this uh manifest in my millions, and it's gonna be held January 24th in the Houston area. So, you know, you still got time to drive in, fly in, whatever.

SPEAKER_00 42:12

I would too, let me tell you. Yeah, when you told me the other day that you were having this man, this vision board party, I was thinking, you know, five or six women sitting around a scrapbooking table, you know, making these boards, but that's not what you're doing.

SPEAKER_03 42:28

It's definitely not. It's it's a lot more to it than just that. So how this came about was I posted that I'm going to a vision board party in Atlanta, so I'm actually flying out to one. All the way to Atlanta, yes, all the way to Atlanta, yes. Um, so it's my my business mentor um who's hosting it, and so I'm like, well, this will be cool because I like to network, you never know who's in the room, right? So um when they saw it, they said, Oh, I need you to send me the link to your vision board party. I was like, I'm not having a vision board party, that's somebody else's. And so she said, Well, this is your sign to do it.

SPEAKER_00 43:14

And I was like, That is, that is, that's the universe saying so hey, literally in less than a month, we put it together, we put it together.

SPEAKER_03 43:28

Like, I was like, Okay, God, if this is what you want me to do, this is how I am. When I do anything, I say, God, if this is what you want me to do, you're gonna make it effortless. It's gonna be easy, it's gonna all come together with no hiccups. And when I say this has come together with no hiccups, I'm so excited about it. Like, so I have ladies coming in that are gonna talk all things business. So we're gonna have strategy that's gonna come out of that room, we're gonna have goal mapping that's gonna come out of that room, we're gonna have financial uh business credit that's gonna come out of that room, we're gonna have commercial real estate, like you name it, we're gonna have it.

SPEAKER_00 44:08

Are you really making vision boards though?

SPEAKER_03 44:10

I'm gonna say on top of on top of, okay. So the vision board, and it's not even gonna be a vision board. I can't even put it out there because it's a surprise. So anything I do, always expect the unexpected, okay? And there's food, there's food, yeah. Oh, yes, oh, absolutely. You you can't have an event without having food, okay. I your girl loves to eat, okay.

SPEAKER_00 44:38

So look, I don't I don't stay this way from dining from dining.

SPEAKER_03 44:44

So we're we are gonna have food and it is very affordable, it's just a$35 investment into yourself, into your you know, your business, and this is something you could definitely write off because it's a business expense. Hello, yeah. So um we're it's gonna be in Houston, right? In Houston, January 24th, January 24th from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. And so I have a lot of twists and turns. A lot. I'm so excited. Like I am just wow. Um, and then we have opportunities for businesses that want to be more in the spotlight. So we have VIP tickets, we have premium VIP. So it just kind of depends on where you want to be. If you're just someone that says, Hey, I just want to see what's gonna go on, get your general admission ticket, it's$35. If you're someone like, hey, I want to talk about who I am and what I do, go VIP. That's$65.

SPEAKER_00 45:38

And then vendors, vendors, right?

What She’d Tell Her Younger Self

SPEAKER_03 45:41

Vendors there is gonna be some shopping ladies. Listen, and I ain't getting yeah. Oh, one vendor. I'm I'm excited about because when she called me, she was like, Do you have room for one more? I was like, I don't, I'm sold out, I have no more vendor spots. She said, I don't need a table, I just need a chair. I'm like, a chair, what are you doing? She said, I give massages. Oh, we can fit you in. We can fit you in. So, ladies, yeah, she's gonna be in there. Yeah, she's gonna be in there giving us a little rub down to make us feel hey, relaxed. That's awesome, that's awesome. Yeah, and I have a group of ladies that are going to encourage you, they're gonna pour into you, so it won't be your average visual board party where you just come and scrap and whatever, whatever. We're gonna do that too. I'm not putting down that portion, but I also want you to leave, you know, encouraged, it ignited.

SPEAKER_00 46:47

You're gonna get yeah, you're gonna give them some motivation, you're gonna give them some, you know, some financial and all that thing is gonna spark their vision for 2026. Yeah, so how many how many women do you have lined up so far?

SPEAKER_03 47:02

So we are capping out at 40. Um, and right now we only have five seats left. So the ladies have not been playing, they have been getting those tickets, and I'm I'm excited. Um, we have um some VIPs that are gonna come in and actually get the opportunity to talk about their business too. Um, one of the things that I really love is how you're gonna enter in, and I can't give it away.

SPEAKER_00 47:32

Oh when we get when we get off this live, I need to hear. I'll give you all of these now.

SPEAKER_03 47:40

I can give you all of these, but I cannot sport it.

SPEAKER_00 47:42

Listen, sorry guys, I know I'm not talented till after the 24th, but I'm not gonna be there, so I'm gonna get the details.

Courses, Mentorship, And Authority Setup

SPEAKER_03 47:49

Yes, you get to get all of these. You got to. I I I really wish you could be there, I do, but yeah, we are you know when I when I when I thought about this, I thought about encouraging the ladies, right? Because much like you, me, and other women, we're so busy pouring and doing our day-to-day till we run empty. Nobody's there to pour back into us, nobody's there to say, Hey, get up. You got this. Nobody's there to say, Okay, you cried long enough, pick it back up. You know, nobody's there to say, You did a great job today. Nobody's there to even celebrate your small wins. I even have a fitness trainer that's gonna be coming in there because you know, we all say at the beginning of the year, I'm daddy, I'm gonna lose weight, I'm gonna get in shape, I'm gonna eat better, I'm gonna do this and I'm gonna do that. But I I love her story because she's gonna come in and talk about her story. But she don't just have story, but she has real results, she has the receipts. So, me, when I bring in people, I bring in people that's gonna be able to have valid receipts that you're gonna be able to go and research and say, huh, that wasn't just no fluff, yeah. They actually did this.

SPEAKER_00 49:11

If you want to come to my conference, you gotta talk the talk and walk the walk.

SPEAKER_03 49:15

Absolutely, that's it. That's it, that's all. Um, so when I say when when when it all came together, um I almost cried because I'm a person that can see it before it happens, right? I'm a visionary, right? And so I can literally see everything that's gonna take place. Now I may can't see the people, but I can see the decor, I can see the the the layout of the of the uh of the um event, I can see all these things, and it brought tears to my eyes because it's not enough places where us as women can get together and we're there with the same goal, which is to build each other up, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 50:05

And you know, women need somebody to say, I see you.

SPEAKER_03 50:08

I see you, I see you. It's too many of us that feel like we're not seen, it's too many. I mean, Tammy, literally all week, that is what I've been dealing with. Like, how do I position myself to be the one that they can say she saw me, she understood my pain. She didn't overlook me because I didn't look a certain way, or I didn't dress a certain way, I didn't talk a certain way, or my business didn't make this amount of money this year. She didn't know it's not about none of that, it's no pressure here, it's literally clarity, strategy, sisterhood, and pouring back into you. That's it.

SPEAKER_00 50:52

Hey, that is awesome! That that is amazing. So, when do you go to the one in Atlanta?

SPEAKER_03 50:58

Next weekend on the 17th.

SPEAKER_00 51:00

So you have seven days to make after that one.

SPEAKER_03 51:06

Yes, I laughed this morning because I was talking to my best friend, uh, who helps me to do like but besides my husband, she is like my right-hand chick. Like, when I tell you, she everything I do, she's there, she's there. No, no, no hesitation, and so I'm like, listen, we're gonna go on the 17th because she's going with me on the 17th. We're flying out to Atlanta, and it's my mentor's thing, so I know that she is over the top like me. So I'm just waiting to see all these bells and whistles. Like, I cannot wait to see what we're gonna get. Like, I'm I'm like, listen, now when we go out here, and if I get some ideas from out here, she like, you know what? Just don't even start. Don't even stop.

SPEAKER_00 51:56

You're gonna get the idea some more because that's how I would be. Yeah, you're gonna get back and you're gonna be like, I gotta do this, I gotta do this.

SPEAKER_03 52:03

Listen, every day I have called her with okay, I still think we need to do this, and she'd be like, B, please, you have enough stuff. I'm like, but I just need to make sure we got this. And so this morning I called her. I say, You know what? I forgot. Well, we didn't get blank checks, and she was like, Girl, don't nobody do checks no more. I said they should if they are an uh entrepreneur. Your goal should be to write checks to employees. She said, You sure write. So I'm like, So we need to print out blank checks that needs to go on that vision board that you will be writing checks in 2026. We all talk about getting the bag, but you know, you can't get the bag by yourself. You eventually have to learn how to delegate tasks to other people. So writing checks is what you're gonna do. I don't care if you're zealing it to them, I don't care if you're using ADP, I don't care if you're cash having it, you're still paying them. So let's write these checks.

SPEAKER_00 52:59

Right, that's awesome. So what else? Do you is there anything else that you're involved in during the year?

SPEAKER_03 53:06

Yes. So um this year, one of the biggest things in ooh, I'm putting it out here. One of the biggest things that I'm gonna be doing this year, um, I'm partnering up with entrepreneurs, um, and we're gonna do a give back in December.

SPEAKER_00 53:25

And so kind of like a project program, a Santa program.

Manifesting My Millions Event

SPEAKER_03 53:28

In a sense, in a sense, so it's gonna be entrepreneurs united, uh, giving back. And so I look at it like this as entrepreneurs or as business owners, CEOs, however, you know, we ask people to partake in our businesses, whether it be to purchase a product, purchase a service, or you know, let us come and do a service for them, and they pay us. What do we do to give back to our community? And so that is what sparked it. And then uh, me being again, I think for me, Tammy, a lot of what I do came from being a single mom, not being able to provide the way I wanted to provide for my children at the time before um you know I got put into place where I am in the position that I am, but I remember at Christmas time not being able to provide for my children the way I desired to. So we're going to be providing haircuts for the boys, we're going to be providing uh food, we're going to be providing toys, we're going to be providing just some good time, a good uh moment of fellowship, network, you know, networking, getting to know and different things. So it'll be a big community event held December 19th here in the Houston area. Um, and so nobody knows. So, guess what? You got the exclusive thing. We are probably gonna get in trouble for putting it out there already, but that's okay. Um, that is one of the biggest things that we're gonna be doing this year. So all year we're gonna be, you know, just reaching out to entrepreneurs because we want it to be entrepreneur-based donations, um, you know, giving back into our community. We have to give back and to those that give to us day in and day out.

SPEAKER_00 55:21

So I think, yeah, I think that's a great goal for 2026. Um, I think that's a great vision to have. Yeah. Anything else in store for Mrs. V this year?

SPEAKER_03 55:31

So in October, um, my mentor that I was telling you about, um, she has this big ultimate entrepreneur uh conference. And so this year she's doing it three days, October 1st through the 3rd. And so I am lucky and honored and privileged to be one of the ambassadors for that. Um, and so when I say this is an entrepreneur conference like none other, oh my gosh, it's amazing. And this year she's doing a gala or a gala, however people say it. Um, and so it's a three-day event. Yeah, we all say it, right? It's a big three-day event, and um she is one that has helped a lot of entrepreneurs build six, seven, and eight-figure businesses, and so she is the entrepreneur, the ultimate entrepreneur herself, um, Coach C, uh, Charmaine Stevens. And so I'm excited to be a part of that. Um, there's a lot of events that she's gonna be doing throughout the year that I'm gonna be a part of, and so you just gotta follow me. You have to follow me. I'm on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram. You just have to follow me to see where I'm gonna be. There's a lot of things that me and my husband are trying to do in the trucking industry this year. Uh, we're looking to start our own truck parking, affordable truck parking area for those looking for parking, affordable, secured, because I'm targeting calls.

SPEAKER_00 56:57

I'm gonna put my request in right now because this is my biggest complaint, right? So you heard it from Tammy. Lighting, yeah, trash receptacles, okay, bathroom access.

SPEAKER_03 57:08

Okay, I'm right now this down. Lighting, trash, and bathroom.

SPEAKER_00 57:12

Yeah, all these truck parkings that are coming up are not safe areas for a lot of women. Absolutely. It does not have adequate lighting, it doesn't have adequate trash and a bathroom and security. And those are things that when women are out here, you know, well, you're not ever allowed to leave your truck because you know you need you know, security, you need lighting, you need bathroom facilities.

Community Giveback And 2026 Plans

SPEAKER_03 57:37

Absolutely. So just to kind of give you a little peek in, because I'm not gonna give you everything, but but um that has already been in the in you know the making. Um, and one of the other things we will have is like a little office where they can go in and do their paperwork if need be. Um, and we're working to further it out to where we can have little hotels there for those that can't do cab. So it's a lot, Timmy. Uh you asked it a lot, we got a lot going on in 26 to 27. Now we are working on, like I said, we want to recreate the way people look at truckers. The industry is a whole so yeah, we we definitely with the truck parking, we're gonna have 24-7 security. Um, it will be very well lit um with lighting, and we will have you know plenty of trash receptacle dumpsters there. Um, we will have actual portable, uh not the little porta potties. No, we're going to build a restroom facility um there as well. Um, and then um not only that, one of the reasons why I want to do this this week on Sunday, this past Sunday, one of my drivers called me and said his computer was stolen out of his truck. Same thing happened to my husband and I. Our computer was stolen out of our truck. So, again, these are things. So, here's a his here's one of the things that a lot of times that I think that people need to realize when they provide a service or a business, what solution are you providing to your community? Yes, we're definitely gonna have security, it's going to be a lock day if you don't have, and you know, here's my thing a lot of times people don't realize that they give the thieves the access when you give people the codes to go into these places, so it won't be it won't be, yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 59:49

So I seated a place in Tennessee, and every time it was secured, but every time you logged in, it gave you a one time use code, and that is what I

SPEAKER_03 1:00:01

Absolutely, and that way we know who it was.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:06

Yeah, it was like every time the gate opened, it was a different code that had to be used. It didn't work past once. So that's pretty awesome. You have a really busy 2026 coming up. So for those watching, um, that are looking at getting into dispatching, looking at getting maybe their first truck, looking at just creating a business. What advice do you have?

Secure Truck Parking Vision

SPEAKER_03 1:00:32

If you're looking to get a truck, my advice would be save six months worth of your house bills, not the trucking bills, your house bills. Because ideally, when you first start, the lows you're getting is paying your insurance, it's paying your truck note, it's paying for your fuel. So you want to be able to because when you're first starting off, it's hard to find people that work with you, right? Every broker has a stipulation of so you have to be prepared for that. So in that, save you six months of your house bills so that you know that you got that cushion to build your business. That would be my advice on that. When it comes to the dispatching side of things, my advice to the dispatchers would be find you someone that you can um what's the word, be an apprentice for someone that you can work under, someone that you can shadow until you learn the ins and outs. Don't just take my training or someone else training and think, okay, let me jump out there. No, like I told you guys, that was probably my biggest mistake, but at the same time, it helped me get to where I am. So I wouldn't call it a mistake, I would call it a blessing in disguise, right? But I would say get under someone that's going to help you to actually be um effective in the business, and that that's not going to, as the kids use now, gatekeep, that's not going to hold back any information, but that's going to really make sure that you understand the rules and regulations, and even if it's just the basic things that you learn, get those things, grab a hold to them and figure out how to apply them so that you're not causing drivers to get shut down or to get fined or whatever the case may be. And actually care about what you do, don't take on more than what you can chew. In other words, we don't take carriers just because we can make X amount of percentage. No, if I if I don't think that I can guarantee to keep you moving, I don't want to, I don't want to do that to you.

SPEAKER_00 1:02:47

Yeah, I can see it. So get a mentor, um, which as you've said multiple times, you have mentors in your life.

SPEAKER_03 1:02:54

So I have I have two. I have a I have a Christian mentor, my spiritual mom, and then I have a business mentor, um, Coach C. So yeah, I have I have mentors in my life because you need them. You definitely do. We we need each other.

SPEAKER_00 1:03:11

We do, we do. Well, I tell you what, this has been an exciting episode. I have just enjoyed it immensely. Um, and then your what was your webs website again?

SPEAKER_03 1:03:22

V, I'll let you give that ckk logisticsandtrucking.com.

SPEAKER_00 1:03:26

So if you have any questions for V or if you'd like to um get with her on her dispatcher mentoring services, um, or looking to become a carrier and want to get into paperwork, check her out. Other than that, other than that, thank you so much, V, for being guests. Thank you for having me.

SPEAKER_03 1:03:48

Also, I do want to make mention, I forgot one thing that we do have on our website too. We have uh, I think it's like three of 400 brokers that will work with you in your first 90 days. Oh, so that list is on there as well. So, yes, so yep. So, thank you so much, Tammy, for having me. This has been an awesome um podcast interview. I I loved every moment of it. You're you're you're such a breath of fresh air. I love what you're doing in the trucking community, how you're educating people and you're bringing out other people that can um help others win as well in the industry. So, thank you, Tammy, for what you're doing.

SPEAKER_00 1:04:27

Well, it we all win together that way. So, I tell you what, listeners, I'm gonna let you go, but I'm gonna stick around and be getting those seats. So, listeners, you have a great day. Be safe out there, and Tammy today.

SPEAKER_03 1:04:44

Bye, y'all.