Trucker knows all about high fuel costs
As Rick Kruger sits in his comfy leather seat with his slippers on in his Peterbilt semi-truck - driving miles upon miles down highways and freeways - he glances at several wallet-sized photographs of his two children that hang above the driver's door.
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The family photographs are reminders of home for Kruger when he's on the road. Kruger never knows when he'll pull into his driveway off Highway 371 north of Baxter to see his family. It all depends on what job he's working on. That can change from one day to the next.
"It's tough," Kruger said of being away from his family. "But they're used to it. They don't know any different."
Kruger has been a trucker for 25 years. It's been his way of life the entire time he's known his wife, Lisa. His children, Kaitlyn, 9, and Jacob, 6, were born into the fact that dad is gone for several days at a time. The children never know when their dad will be home, but they're excited when they see his truck pulling into the family's driveway.
Rick Kruger of rural Brainerd, owner of Brainerd Lakes Transfer and Storage, recently stood on a step of his Peterbilt semi-truck. Kruger averages about seven to 10 days on the road with a three- to five-day break at home. He travels the United States except for the East Coast.
Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey
"This is our life," the Krugers said at their home on an August Saturday when Rick Kruger had a three-day vacation.
Kruger, who owns Brainerd Lakes Transfer and Storage, said trucking runs in the family blood lines. Kruger's father hauled milk and his younger brother owns Kruger Trucking.
Kruger went on his own five years ago. Previously, he worked for several trucking companies in Minnesota, mostly in the Minneapolis area. Kruger mainly hauled gas, asphalt, chemicals and appliances.
"I wanted to be my own boss and the market was good," Kruger said of starting his own business. "It was a lot better than it is now with the high fuel prices."
Kruger averages about seven to 10 days on the road with a three- to five-day break at home. He travels the country except the East Coast. He said a majority of the work is in the Midwest and in Texas.
Rick Kruger of rural Brainerd recently sat inside his Peterbilt semi-truck. Kruger, owner of Brainerd Lakes Transfer and Storage, said fuel prices have affected his business. He said he used to pay about 25 cents a mile and now he spends about 80 cents a mile. Rick and Lisa Kruger and their two children, Kaitlyn, 9, and Jacob, 6, recently sat inside Rick's semi.
Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey
A recent August trip started on a Friday by going to Deerwood to pick up tractor parts, then to Mendota Heights to pick up DVDs and CDs, to St. Paul to pick up plywood and then to Hudson, Wis., to pick up more tractor parts. Kruger drove to Des Moines, Iowa, where he slept in his semi-truck that is equipped with a full-size bed, refrigerator, microwave and a TV.
At 8 a.m. Saturday, Kruger drove to Coffeyville, Kan., and then to Tulsa, Okla., to drop off his load. By 7 p.m. he was finished for the day and he ended up getting a hotel, a rarity in his business.
"A job fell through and I had to find work to fill up my dry van (empty trailer) before I headed back home," said Kruger. "I always try to have a full truck driving home. A majority of the time my drive van is full, but there are times where I have about 20 feet open.
"In today's market having a full truck at all times is important because of the fuel prices. Before it wasn't as big of a deal. In today's market you need the truck to be full to come out ahead."
Rick and Lisa Kruger and their two children, Kaitlyn, 9, and Jacob, 6, recently sat inside Rick's semi.
Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey
On Sunday, Kruger made calls to fill up his truck and it was a success. By 8 a.m. Monday he was off to Denton, Texas, to pick up a few different loads of DVDs and CDs. On Tuesday, he traveled to Fort Worth, Texas, to pick up refrigerators and washing machines and then headed back to Tulsa to pick up floor tiles. On Wednesday, he made two drop-offs at Brandon, S.D., and Sioux Falls, S.D. On Thursday, he made his last drop off in Fargo, N.D., and returned home early Friday morning.
"I did have another job lined up in Fargo, but it fell through," said Kruger. "That happens. You never know what's going to happen. Right now I don't know what day I'll leave home. When I have a free moment, usually in the morning, I start searching the truck boards on the Internet and make calls for work."
Kruger said he does a lot of repeat business and he has a few chain companies that he does regular work for.
Even though the economy and high fuel prices have been tough on the trucking industry, Kruger said the work is still there. He said now it's just more of a negotiating game with the price for loads to help make up for the extra cost in fuel. Kruger used to pay about $25,000 in fuel per year and now he's paying $80,000-$90,000 a year. He said fuel costs basically went from 25 cents a mile to 80 cents a mile.
Kruger also said there are more trucks on the road so there are more people competing for loads. But at the same time, Kruger said in the first quarter there were 982 trucking companies in the nation that went out of business.
Photographs of Rick and Lisa Kruger's two children hang inside of Rick's semi-truck that he drives for Brainerd Lakes Transfer and Storage. Kruger's children are Kaitlyn, 9, and Jacob, 6.
Brainerd Dispatch/Kelly Humphrey
Lisa Kruger said, "It's upsetting when you think about the trucking business. Trucking is already hard and then you put in the tough market. Prices are going up, our costs for fuel, tires and other maintenance ... You're not going to get rich in trucking."
Lisa Kruger quit her job 2-1/2 years ago at Grand View Lodge after 18 years to do her husband's paperwork for his company because he didn't have time to do it. Kruger said she also wanted to help her husband because working out of the home made it tough to see Rick when he'd be off because she'd have to work.
"It'd be tough to try to catch up with him," said Lisa Kruger. "We take a lot of videos and photos so if he has to miss something he can at least see it. Now it's better that he went on his own because if there's a big event he can schedule around it."
Lisa Kruger said she doesn't make any plans because she never knows if Rick will be home for sure or not. Kruger said their extended family knows their uncertain schedule so they try to get together whenever they can.
The family enjoys boating, especially on North Long Lake. They said it's a nice lake and it's convenient because it's just across the highway from their home.
However, on the first day Rick Kruger is home from a trip it is his day to relax.
JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851.