We’ve all heard the stories about men getting into trucking from either an experience they had as a child or fluke moments which set their course. Jason Mayrand isn’t out of the ordinary in finding his path to the industry early on, but you could say he always knew he would be driving a truck.
I don’t know anyone who does not enjoy hearing stories of trucking’s past, with how the industry used to be, and also hear the timeline when an individual knew he or she was destined to be behind the wheel. Growing up in western Michigan, Jason enjoyed plenty of time with his grandparents, whether he went trucking with his grandfather, who pulled a hopper bottom all over Michigan, Indiana and Illinois, or the trips his grandparents took him on when he wasn’t in school. But since he was four years old, there was never a doubt that Jason would go trucking one day.
Fast forward to fourteen years old, when Jason’s grandfather took him out west to Idaho in a 379 Pete, and Jason realized he would one day own his own truck and call his company Flat Top Transport. Why this name? Because “Flat Top” was his grandfather’s CB handle. This is definitely an awesome and heartfelt way to commemorate someone who was so instrumental in leading Jason on the path to where he is today. Jason started driving at age nineteen when he obtained his CDL, and we guess you might say, there was no looking back from there.
On August 6, 2005, Jason married Jeanette, and they have maintained a well-versed love and support system as the years have passed. Jason started Flat Top Transport LLC in September 2013, with his first truck being a 2004 flat top Peterbilt 379. Jeanette is the backbone of the company in charge of everything, including the accounting and human resources, as well as anything else that needs to be handled.
The first truck show Jason attended was the 2015 Richard Crane Memorial Truck Show in St. Ignace, MI. He has been attending that show, along with his family, every year since. It has basically become a “family” reunion of sorts, with being able to hang around with friends, plus the opportunity to look at all of the cool trucks in attendance.
Truck detailing and polishing is very important to Jason and his drivers because image is everything. He takes pride in his trucks and wants his drivers to feel the same way, because for most behind the wheel, you want to look good rolling down the road. For the last few years, Jason has used Renegade Products on his trucks, with his current favorite go-to being the Rebel Hydro-Guard Ceramic Spray and Rebel Spray Wax. According to Jason, everyone should find the right quality products for them to use and maintain their equipment. For those with pride in their rides, it is important to keep up on the “freshly detailed” look, because people notice, including your customers and potential employees.
Today, the company, located in Holland, MI, runs nine trucks through all 48 states, pulling pneumatic bulk tank trailers, hauling bulk food grade dry products such as salt, starch, and flour. Jason and Jeanette have three young children – Teagan (13), Waylon (4), and Harvey (2). Jason doesn’t drive full time anymore, but he still gets out on the road from time-to-time. The company doesn’t deal with brokers much, so Jason handles the dispatching and customer side of the company.
To date, Jason’s favorite trucking memory since he has been driving was towards the end of this past July, when he was able to take his son Waylon on his first long trip to New Mexico. It was a last-minute load, and they took one of their new trucks out, with only 500 miles on it. Waylon loved it so much that he didn’t want to go back home.
We asked Jason if he had advice to give someone looking to start their own trucking company, he said make sure to save money, expect setbacks, don’t stop learning, and always perform regular maintenance on your equipment. One thing he mentioned, which we believe is also important, is to make sure your family is on board with this business venture, because you will need that strong support system to overcome the obstacles you will encounter.
We love to get the back-story on those within the trucking industry, to find out how they got on their trucking path, who helped them along the way, and where they are now, regarding their trucks and their business. Jason Mayrand was no different, and to hear that from a very early age he always knew he would be in trucking, is definitely cool.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was brought to you by the folks at Renegade Products, manufacturers of detailing and metal polishing products for the trucking industry and beyond. For available products and uses, see your local retailer, or visit them at www.renegadeproductsusa.com.