S&M Transportation

My name Santiago Mendoza, I’m the Owner of S&M transportation. I have been driving trucks for 13 years and been self employed for 9 years. I always wanted to own my own business, so in 2008 when the economy crashed & funds were tight and because in my previous job my wages were cut, I decided to get a class A drivers license. I wanted to control how much I can make and not leave that decision in someone else’s hands.

Before becoming an owner operator I worked many jobs, I worked as a truck driver for a company, I did landscaping, car salesman, dairy worker, field worker, you name it. I did what I could in every stage of my life to survive and provide for my family. But, let me tell you, nothing beats being my own boss.

I like many things about being a truck driver, but my favorite part is driving and exploring new places and experiencing something new every day, it never gets boring.

Although, I enjoy many aspects of being a truck driver, there are many aspects I dislike such as, tarping, expensive repairs, and the lovely california regulations for us the truck drivers. For these things there is not much I can personally control (besides the tarping) or do alone, what I can do is speak up more about these issues and help others in the trucking community so we can all push for a change.

“There is only so much we can do alone, but together we can accomplish anything”

My slogan is “ Your load is in good hands”. I picked this as my slogan because I take pride in my work, I treat every load as if it was my own from the moment I pick up to the moment I deliver the load.

I have many accomplishments that I’m very proud of, for example, putting food on the table, sending my kids to college, staying in business through all the hardships I have experience as a business owner and the continued to growth every year. My biggest motivation is my family because they are the most important thing to me, they inspire me to keep going when I don’t feel my best.

In the future, I plan to retire because I’m getting older and I don’t want to driver forever. One of my options is to rent/lease equipment to other truck drivers who need it, or truck drivers who are just starting out and need the most help with their business.

Oh man! There is so much that I am grateful and thankful for. To start I’m thankful for the family God gave me, I’m thankful my wife’s unconditional support, I’m grateful for my daughter for helping me with my business, for all the people that have come and gone that helped me through my life, for my life, health and the availability to keep working and providing for my family. And last but not least, God. I have found myself through Him, for that I’m eternally grateful.

There is so much I can say to new and or future truck drivers, but overall I would say that “besides driving the truck, learn all the ins and outs of your business. Don’t let things go just because you don’t know how to do them, ask for help. A big one, expenses can rack up quickly, learn to manage them and your money, pay yourself, save and invest”.

And remember to put God first, with God on your side you’re invincible.