BIG PICTURE - Bill Resterer
BIG PICTURE
Legend Nominee: Bill Resterer
As an Army-veteran with an additional 24-year career in the trucking industry, this Legend driver’s proudest accomplishment is not due to his unending selfless service for our country, but rather a sense of comfort derived from years of diligence in an effort to support his family. Though sacrificing much home-time, recognizing the joy and peace in which his children exude as well-rounded adults provides a lifetime reward of fulfillment.
“We are all out here to make a dollar in whatever line of work you choose. But, if that dollar gets in the way of family life, it’s not worth the money. Success for me means that my family is happy, that my wife and children are not only taken care of but can live their lives freely. Getting to see how my kids have grown up and become who they are today makes me extremely proud as a father and lets me know that everything I’ve done with the support of my wife up until now has been worth it. That is success in a nutshell – living a life of happiness as a result of hard work.”
-Bill Resterer
Owner operator, Bill Resterer of South Dakota established his business, B & C Trucking in 2007. With prior experience pulling dry van, tanker and pneumatic, his current haul for the last 7 years has been honeybees. When in season, he transports them from North Dakota out to California in the Fall, up to the state of Washington in Spring and later back to their original location of North Dakota for the Summer. Having accumulated close to 4 million miles throughout his trucking career, Bill spent his earlier half running as a company driver after serving in the military.
The realm of which a truck driver is subjected to for extended periods of time are often spent in complete solitude. However, that state of being alone is the sort of environment that appeals to Bill’s military background. When I inquired as to any obstacles that he found challenging when he first transitioned into the veteran-friendly industry, he explained the many dynamics experienced beforehand while serving helped make his career move considerably smooth. Similar to the principles of service; listen and learn, then adapt to situations quickly are all qualities that are resourceful as a professional truck driver.
For Bill, he suggests the extent of progress as a trucker is firmly based upon a strong support system. With the full support and encouragement of his wife, Pam he can work comfortably away on the road for weeks at a time. Constant communication with family at home can help minimize the distance while away on the road. The truckers’ lifestyle and demanding schedule of the business mirror the strict regimen he had been accustomed to since entering the work force. He approached driving a truck for a living with that same dedicated work ethic by presenting a positive image, providing excellent service and treating others with respect. Above all, through his performance. Stating, “When you’re given a job, you do it right the first time and to the best of your ability. That mentality transferred over from the military to my trucking career. I pretty much live by that rule.”
Growing up, Bill was surrounded by large fleet trucks as his father spent many years working as a mechanic after serving in the Air Force. His mother worked full-time in the healthcare profession as a nurse, while the couple raised two children – Bill and his younger sister. Coming from a long lineage of military family members, their legacy of service led Bill to enlist in the Army at the age of 20. In addition to his parents’ resiliency, their positive attitudes and strong family beliefs ultimately impacted the husband and father Bill is for his family today.
Though Bill’s father obtained his CDL after him in 1998, he is the initial link that brought forth his fascination of trucks into existence as a young boy. His first memorable experience occurred at the age of 8. His father’s workplace had a wrecker tow truck parked nearby on a hill for advertisement. The driver was a close friend and allowed Bill to ride along in the jump seat as he backed the old B model Mack a quarter of a mile in reverse, down the infamous hill. Looking back, such vivid memories dance around in a way that clarifies his calling into the seat of a truck all his own.
After high school, Bill attended trade school to pursue diesel mechanics. Having watched his father work on, paint and rebuild cars and trucks all of his life, he was a natural himself. A year in, he chose to put that venture on hold and left to serve his country. In 1995, as an Army-veteran with experience operating a commercial motor vehicle he acquired his CDL and immediately landed a driving position with a small family-owned company based out of South Dakota pulling flatbed over-the-road.
As for his first impression once he crossed-over back into the civilian work force as a full-time truck driver, he instinctively gravitated toward older, more seasoned drivers – which in turn, helped to his advantage. He says, “I found my niche within the business and fit right in. I have always had a tendency of hanging around older guys who have done this job for many years and I continued learning from them… still do! I believe growing up shadowing my dad in those types of environments played a big part as to why I’m so comfortable around the older scene. Now, I’m stepping into their shoes as the next generation’s senior, but if there is anything another driver can learn from my experience is to take this opportunity as a serious business move. To make a good living out of this career, you have to focus on the big picture.”
Making smart business decisions relieves financial stress so you can focus on your family and loved ones at home. He explains the significance of sacrificing quality time for them; not to be confused with the burdens of unnecessary stress of the job. Stating that many drivers forget why they’re out here in the first place and think they need that really expensive truck… sure it’s pretty, but a truck half the price can still get the job done. Adding, “Find the freight, then find the truck because the freight is what makes the money and most trucks can pull any type of freight.” Reverting back to the business aspect of an owner operator, success doesn’t happen over-night. Calculated decisions that have long-term benefits is the lane that Bill recommends.
Bill and his father drove team for a brief period almost 20 years ago. Now the pair enjoy a short run occasionally when they’re not working on Bill’s latest project, a 1994 Kenworth. His current truck is his fifth since becoming an owner operator, but the Kenworth was his first outright purchase, making the process of rebuilding it a bit sweeter. His goal is to have it completely restored in two years’ time for when this truck is paid in full, providing him with a truck ready to run another million-plus miles.
Bill’s definition of a professional truck driver is someone who is consistently aware of their surroundings and is courteous to other drivers on the road. Whether in a pinch – timewise or while in traffic – he or she remains courteous. To destress, he prays. If upset, worried, happy or sad, the answer is always prayer. He adds, that he hopes to be remembered as a God fearing, lovable father and good husband.
Being married to a trucker for 19 years could possibly be strenuous on some relationships, but for Bill and Pam they have discovered their balance by simply working together as a team at home or miles apart, strengthening their marriage. Pam is no stranger to the trucker lifestyle. Most of the men in her family are in the trucking industry; her father, brother and uncles. As Bill said, “She already had a great respect for the business and knows what we are actually doing out here because she grew up in it.” The same admiration Pam bestows to her husband, he returns with high-regard and appreciation. “Without her to take care of home and the kids, I wouldn’t be able to do what I do. It also helps that she is extremely independent, so she is comfortable managing home when I’m gone. But we still work hard on keeping our family our main priority. I have yet to miss a birthday… that is a huge part of being an owner operator. Nobody is micromanaging your schedule, you have the freedom to plan work around your life.”
In the beginning, when Bill had to hunt down a pay phone to call home once or twice a week is a thing of the past. As technology has made communicating with others only a phone dial away at any time, any place. Now the couple contact each other as often as they wish. Pam states that her husband’s success thus far is the result of his business-oriented mindset and the fact that he is not afraid to work hard. She has joined him on the road for a few loads, most recently the Great American Trucking Show hosted in Dallas, Texas. The 10-day trip was exciting, as the two turned their business destination into a slight vacation adventure; touring off to visit New Mexico so Pam could experience areas she had never seen.
During honey bee season, Bill typically stays out anywhere between 3 to 7 weeks at a time. His off season, he hauls general freight swinging by home every 10 days. He enjoys moving honey bees, to the point that he and Pam are on their third year of beekeeping. Bill says, “When I move a load I’m out there in a jacket, veil and gloves, right there with the workers. I loved it so much that I have my own bee hives now.” As mentioned earlier, anything Bill does he commits 100%.
I asked him what his future plans were, if he wanted to join his father and enjoy the retired life. His reply was nothing short of Bill Resterer:
“If you do this long enough, it’s not a job. Your personality is molded around being a truck driver. It becomes who you are… and this is what I am. You never really retire. You just slow down.”