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The Rural Dispatch
Welcome to The Rural Dispatch, the podcast that delivers honest conversations from the fields, the highways, and the home front.
I'm your host, Aly Behrens - headquartered in rural Iowa, I help run a trucking company that specializes in hauling livestock nationwide.
I was born and raised in small-town-Iowa and I’m passionate about rural communities and the people who help them thrive. Since becoming a mom, I’ve taken a step away from my own career in finance and into a behind the scenes role in our second-generation family business. I’m proud to help continue the legacy of hard work and dedication that built this business. I’m building a life with a multi-faceted business owner who also holds the title of truck driver, cattle feeder and dispatcher, all while we both work together to manage office operations, oversee business development, and bring the next generation along to show them the ropes, just like their grandpa did with their dad.
If you’re anything like us, you wear a lot of hats in your operation. This podcast is for people like you: hardworking men and women in the rural trucking, livestock and business communities who are juggling all the things every day. Whether it’s running loads, managing a herd, staying compliant, or handling the bookkeeping, we know the challenges you face because we’ve lived them.
In our weekly episodes, I’ll bring you a mix of my own experiences as I navigate the ins and outs of these industries, stories with my better half, Smoke about the lessons we’ve learned throughout our time in this business, and interviews with experts who tackle the pain points we all probably face at one time or another. From trucking to livestock production to rural entrepreneurship, this show is here to equip you with the tools, resources and a supportive community to help you thrive.
Whether you’re in the cab of a truck, out checking cattle, or sitting at your kitchen table, we hope you’ll tune in and find value in conversations that speak your language. No matter your role in the industry, there’s something for everyone here.
Buckle up, friends, there's lots to come. If you enjoy an episode, it would mean the world to us if you would share it with a friend. Keep up with us between episodes on our socials, at Behrens and Co., or subscribe to our email list on our website to receive new episodes directly to your inbox every Wednesday. Thanks for being here. We'll talk soon.
The Rural Dispatch
From $300 to Owning Agar Transportation: Buying Blue Sky, Dispatching Through Slowdowns, and the Mental Load in Trucking
In this episode, we sit down with Paul Radloff and Brittany Fenstemacher from Agar Transportation to talk about what it means to buy "blue sky" in the trucking industry. Paul bought the company with just $300 to his name but a whole lot of ambition to make it work. Brittany, the brains behind the scenes, helped bring structure to the transition and continues to play a vital role in operations.
We also talk openly about the current slowdown in the livestock transportation industry, how the weight of this season is affecting business owners and drivers alike, and why mental health awareness in this industry matters now more than ever.
This episode is full of real talk, laughs and insight.
Tune in to hear:
- Paul's background in trucking
- How he came to own Agar Transportation
- Brittany's role in the company and what makes a great team
- PAR Repair and other ventures they've started
- Why dispatching is harder than ever right now
- The mental toll of slow seasons, and the importance of talking about it
- Advice for others navigating transition, ownership, and burnout in rural industries
Links & Resources:
Agar Transportation | Fruitland, ID | Facebook | Paul Radloff (@agar.transportation) • Instagram photos and videos
This episode is sponsored by Jefferson Monument Works in Jefferson, Iowa.
Crafting custom granite memorials, markers, vases, and more — all designed and engraved in-house with care and craftsmanship since 1947.
Learn more at jeffersonmonumentworks.com or call 515-386-2652.
Because some stories are meant to be set in stone.
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