Successful family business

WRITTEN BY Ginger Wagner         

David Franco Sr. has been leased on with Clark Freight Lines for 9 years as of this summer. He has been driving for a total of about 20 years. Mr. Franco has always been a hands-on type of person- having previously worked picking limes and mowing yards. David Sr. has three children- two boys and one girl. His eldest, David Jr. joined the Clark family in the fall of 2019. This is David Jr.’s first trucking job and his father’s third. They also have another trucker in the family- David Sr.’s brother who drives as well. Primarily they have hauled container & dry van. 

One of David Sr.’s most memorable loads was when he hauled a couple of Bentleys in a container from city docks to the Volkswagen plant. They were worth about $350,000 - $400,000 each. Another memorable trucking moment for David Sr. he recollected was when Jr. was about five years old. Sr. was taking a load to a warehouse. He dropped his trailer and told his son to stay put for a few. David Sr. beamed, when he came back- his son was sitting proudly on the fifth wheel covered in grease. He said he had to flip his pants inside out when they got back in the cab. Patience is something required for both trucking and parenting.  

SUCCESSFUL DRIVING CAREER 

Jr. agrees with his father-  patience is key to being a successful driver as well as skill. Jr. looks at his dad and says support is crucial. David Sr. agrees and says a company like Clark that provides an experienced team backing the drivers is vital. Sr. goes on to reflect on a time where he applied at another company, they handed him an application and he began to fill it out. Then, he hears a dispatcher from the next room swearing at a driver on the phone. David Sr., like any person at that point, is out of there.  A fruitful driving career is made knowing what works for you. Sr. is interested in switching his truck to an automatic. After 20 years of trucking the clutch, his knee and traffic aren’t the best combination. Other things that line up the Franco’s for success are watching out for pressing issues and challenges that are ever-present in trucking. Jr comments that he is vigilant for bad drivers on the road and the possibility that his truck could fail. His father nods in agreement.   

GOALS

It’s no surprise that both Davids have similar goals in trucking. Jr. is focused on making enough to purchase a few homes. He plans on renting them out. Sr. states his goal has always been to live comfortably. He smiles and explains that most of his goals are pretty much attained. He has a house, he is working at a company he likes. He works because he wants to. Clark Freight Lines is the kind of place where drivers bring family. Come join the Clark family & find out why so many drivers STAY!