By Carl Fish
Lake Wales, Florida – A couple of years ago while many industries in the world hunkered down due to the Covid 19 pandemic, others were listed as “Essential”! One of those essential industries that worked even harder was trucking. Local Lake Wales company, Oakley Transport, was one of those companies that worked harder and even thrived. The company has more than a dozen locations in states like FL, GA, PA, IA, IL, AR, KY, TX and OH. The company basically hauls everything.
They have a division that operates sanitary tanks and DOT-407 food-grade tankers equipped with in-transit heat systems and stainless-steel pumps. This allows the company to transport alcohols, editable oils, liquid sweetener, juices, corn syrup and water.
They have a dry van/reefer division that hauls various products, both perishable and non-perishable foods, dry goods, and other temperature-sensitive loads.
Their dry bulk division has a fleet of dry bulk pneumatic trailers serving customer’s needs with granular food grade products, such as dry sugars and flour.
They also have a groves division hauling citrus and sugar cane, which is the backbone of the company. Oakley Transport is the largest citrus hauler in Florida.
Oakley Transports Super Heroes Don’t Wear Capes! They Drive Semi Trucks!
The company credits it success to it’s drivers. “Our drivers are the face of our company”, said a company spokeswoman today. This year like every year the company honors its drivers on “National Truck Driver Appreciation Week”. The week has been filled with food and fun for all the staff, but particularly the drivers. Catered breakfast and lunch has been provided every day this week. Gift certificates and prizes have also been given away to them. Just having fun has been part of week also. Some employees even dressed up as super heroes.
A favorite for everyone is the dunk tank they rolled out here in the Lake Wales corporate office. Employees donate money to throw balls trying to dunk supervisors and frankly anyone that is foolish enough to jump into the tank! And if you don’t happen to hit the target, well just go smash it! They will go down eventually one way or another.
The funds raised this year are going to the Wounded Warriors Project. With the final tally being matched by Mr. Oakley! The Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) began in 2003 as a small, grassroots effort providing simple care and comfort items to the hospital bedsides of the first wounded service members returning home from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. As their post-service needs evolved, so have their programs and services. Today, through their direct programs in mental health, career counseling, and long-term rehabilitative care, along with their advocacy efforts, they improve the lives of millions of warriors and their families.
Oakley Transport is very proud to have a large group of former military service men & woman. As on a cue during Daily Ridges visit the dunkee in the tank was a marine! Semper Fi!
The employees of Oakley Transport are extremely proud of their company and really appreciate the more than 700 drivers working for them! It certainly has been a fun filled week!
