Leo & Erick: Dads, Drivers, Dedicated

After 25 years in the classroom, Leo eventually found his way back to a familiar place — the driver’s seat of a truck. Given that his most recent full-time job was as a high school principal, the transition would have been difficult for most — but not for him. Throughout his upbringing in southwest Oklahoma, his responsibilities on the farm included harvesting wheat and transporting it on a truck. Decades later, carrying this confidence, he took the wheel again. For a few years, he either ran solo or within a pair. In February 2018, his son Erick called him, sharing his desire to get a Class A CDL. In May, after doing so, he asked his dad if they could team-drive together. Of course, Leo couldn’t say “no.”

The duo’s first go-around with Knight began at Phoenix Refrigerated. After an initial fruitful season, however, the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic left them to seek open doors elsewhere. But in 2022, their luck turned. A “dream opportunity” opened – a dedicated route from Memphis to El Paso – working with Knight’s Cummins account.

Generally, the road can be demanding, especially the time and distance away from loved ones. Erick gratefully expresses the uniqueness of their dynamic, driving together as father and son – an experience that’s only brought them closer together. To Leo, “it can’t get much better than this.” He values having a driving partner he can care for “not just as a coworker, but as a father first and foremost.” Erick promises that “as long as [my father] can drive, I’ll do it with him.” While they wish for things to stay the same, the duo understands that circumstances can change. Leo has the confidence that his son can step into a transportation-related position in the future with his resumé behind the wheel. For himself, he believes he’ll return to Phoenix one day, setting his eyes on a role with Knight’s Safety Department. Wherever life takes them, Erick says, “I just wanna show my kids hard work. Even when you’re away, you can provide.” Leo says, “I want my grandkids to see that we were successful in what we did because we got along and worked together.”