Today we’d like to introduce you to Kerri Scott
Hi Kerri, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Thank you for taking my story. So in 2012, After being a Stay-At-Home wife and mother for years, I found myself getting a divorce after almost 20 years of marriage. I knew I had a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management, but I had not been in the Corporate World. So, with the change that was about to take place, I knew I was going to need to make a lot of money, and a lot of money FAST… So, I called my father, and I told him I was going to do what he did as his profession, you see; my father was A Professional Truck Driver. I knew my dad made a lot of money Driving a Semi-Tractor Trailer, and I knew I needed to make a substantial amount of money in order to take care of myself because now, I was going to be out on my own!
So, I went and studied for my Commercial Driver’s License (CDL- Class A) and entered myself into a Job that would teach me how to drive a Semi-Tractor Trailer. Now, I knew I could do this, Afterall; I was a daughter of a Truck Driver, so it was in my blood! Well, I landed a job as a Professional Truck Driver for one of the most Prestigious LTL Trucking Companies in the United States. So, for 7 years I drove for Estes Express Lines and by goodness, I was damn good at my job. At 5ft 3, 140lbs, this little woman commanded that 80,000 lbs Heavy Vehicle every day, Monday-Friday through the city streets of Columbus and surrounding areas, and sometimes on Saturdays, driving two trailers through the foothills of West Virgina and beyond.
As I fell in love with Trucking and Transportation, I saw just how valuable we Professional Truck Drivers were to this Economy and Country. We were “Essential Employees” Everything you touch, a trucker brought it to you. I felt “Bad Ass” driving that equipment daily. People were impressed with me, and not only that, but we also commanded great respect from on-lookers. Trucker Drivers now in 2024 were the Profession that others wanted to be. Employees from the warehouses and shipping docks where we delivered and picked up freight from looked at me and my colleagues as BAD ASS. Expressing those two words to me on several occasions. I was and looked up by many women on those docks as someone whom they wished they could be. I expressed to them, that they too could get off that dock and get in that truck make 6-figures like I have.
With this new life as a divorcee, I knew my Profession provided me the lifestyle I needed and that was taking care of myself and providing the financial means for my future. That’s exactly what happened. I was able to store away a great deal of money in my 401K and savings. I paid off my bills, my children were grown, and out on their own. I lived on $200 per week but enjoyed the new life as a very confident and strong woman and I thank my profession for that great confidence I now had. I learned how to use my hands and get dirty because in trucking you do, but I loved it, and I OWNED it!
So, now years had passed and being in that truck, I had plenty of “Windshield Time” I got to see and think a great deal while driving. I saw how over the seven years how busy this city had become. I saw that Columbus and the surrounding areas were so busy with construction, portable restrooms, waste, storage, dump trailers, building, warehousing, logistics, supply chain and everything associated with transportation. So, one day, I was making a delivery and, I had to use the restroom extremely bad, but there was no facility for us truckers. I at one point thought about going under a trailer, but I knew a past Trucker driver had done just that and he was fired for urinating on a company property, so I thought against it and held it for another hour until I was able to get to a Truck Stop.
With an excruciating desire to urinate and not on myself, I held it for as long as possible. So, after thinking and looking around through my windshield, I saw potential out there. I saw Porta Potty’s everywhere. I saw the growth of Columbus and the surrounding areas exploding over the seven years in that truck. Now, I loved my job, but I knew I was seven years older and looking ahead at what I needed for retirement and looking at the next 10 years. Now, working in trucking is not for the faint at heart. You have to be strong, very organized because your day is fast paced and moves like the speed of light. You have a job daily and that is to get that freight delivered and picked up before the warehouses close. The dispatchers do not care how you do it, you just have to get it done and get it done well. So, as time went on, I knew I was good at my job, but now I had to make a decision about what I wanted to do the next ten years heading into retirement. I worked 13, 14 hours every day, Monday-Friday and several Saturdays a month as well. I made a lot of money, but I wanted to make sure I was enjoying my time before retirement. All I was doing was working and saving money.
So, I knew I had a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management and I knew I was smart. I wanted to figure out what I wanted to do before my 10 years had arrived. I saw porta potty’s, waste, truckers and construction all over this city. I knew I was a leader and had more to offer. So, I did my research and studied the portable restroom and sanitation business. I put together a dynamic business plan, and I took it to my bankers, and after their review, they gave me an SBA Loan for my new business, now known as Trucker Jons. I did not want to think of this business as a “Hobby” so as I looked towards my future, I knew I was blessed for the time I had as a Professional Truck Driver. I wanted to make a legacy and build my wealth for myself, and my children. I wanted to have better control of my time. So, I walked into my Terminal Manager’s office and handed him my resignation letter. It was the best feeling I had in my post- divorce life. I had worked hard to pay off my bills, save a great deal of money, and put myself in this position to take a lead on the rest of my life. I had prepared for that very moment!
And Trucker Jons, Deluxe Portable Washrooms, A Portable Sanitation Company is the beginning of the rest of my life. I am now working hard for myself and enjoying every minute of it!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
A smooth Road…..To some degree, it has. However, I realized I do not have the deep pockets as these big players already out here, but what I do have is the best in Concierge Services that is taking heed in this industry. I am getting quite notice for my service so that is making things quite smooth.
Now, I had a great mentor who also helped me along the way which helped to make things very smooth. Yes, there were ruffles in mechanics that will frustrate you. I am managing and figuring it out as I go and that is the most satisfying and gratifying of it all. Besides the pride in how my service rocks!
There will always be struggles especially in the financial realm and ensuring you have enough to cover everything you do, but you have to always be ready to pivot and figure things out with all the necessary resources!
We’ve been impressed with K-Shaw Enterprises LLC DBA TRUCKER JONS, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My business Organization is a Portable Restroom Operator and Sanitation Company. We rent very nice porta potty’s to many facets of businesses like special events, sporting events, outdoor events, festivals, fairs, weddings, construction, warehouses and any place where people would need to use outdoor portable facilities.
We are known for our Concierge service approach to our business. We provide that superior approach to servicing and attending to all events by maintaining clean and pristine units at all times. We excel in our service to our customers each and every time.
The thing that sets us apart from our competitors is the fact we stand on the value of excellence in our Concierge Approach to service for all our events and giving the personal hygiene in our care for portable restroom experience as if you were home. That is the way I wish to experience and give my customers the same experience.
My most proud brand is my mascot, Willy. Willy is an old school trucker and that is what I wanted to portray. I am a trucker and my roots show in my brand. My other brands are my restrooms signs… Instead of saying men’s and women’s signs, I created Hammer Jakes and Ladyloo. We wanted to be different. Not just another Porta Potty Company. We want to stand out and put the Posh in the Porta Potty Business. That is exactly what I intend to do!
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Ohhhh wow, there were so many. However, my favorite childhood memory would probably be the one where we spent our summer vacations up with Great Granny and Grandpa. My cousins and I would go on the wildest exploration through the woods or picked potatoes in our Great Grandparents field. We would eat that red dirt from the roads down in Bainbridge, Georgia.
We would always find many things to explore and find outlandish relics for us to take back with us. Those were the most fun spending time with my cousins and Great Grandparents!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.truckerjons.com
- Facebook: trucker_jons
- Other: tic tok
