As most of us know, success in trucking is all about what you put into it. If you’re willing to learn, are determined and hard-working, you’ve already won half the battle. Josh Skidmore (42), owner of Skidmore Transportation Services out of Brigham, Utah, knows this for a fact, because he is already reaping the rewards from his labor and thriving.
Growing up in California, Josh never imagined he’d one day own a trucking company. Graduating from college with a degree in Criminal Justice, Josh would eventually make his way down to Texas to work an office job in manufacturing. After losing that manufacturing job, Josh moved to Malad City, Idaho, aiming to get a good job with the Idaho DOT (Department of Transportation) plowing roads. Having no experience with trucking or a CDL, Josh turned to his father-in-law, who had a truck on his farm that Josh could learn in. After a while of practicing on the farm, Josh got his CDL at the age of 31.
After six months of plowing roads, Josh began looking for better career options. After seeing how successful a local owner operator had become, he made the decision to go out and buy his first truck and trailer. In March of 2004, Skidmore Transportation Services was born with the purchase of a ‘99 Kenworth W900L and a hopper trailer. Josh began questioning folks in the industry about how the business worked, and eventually started hauling grain. For five months, Josh hauled grain during the day, while still plowing roads with the Idaho DOT, at night.
Eventually, hauling grain and pushing snow got old, and Josh started looking for other routes. So, he hooked onto a flatbed to give it a try. Shortly after he started running a gig into California, a world of opportunities opened up for Josh, when the shipper needed more and more trucks to move their supplies. So, Josh began brokering loads for folks needing to get into Utah from northern California. A few years later, Josh added another truck, and the company took off from there.
In 2007, Josh purchased truck #385 of the Peterbilt 379 Legacy Edition series of trucks. Working as a stock truck until 2012, they decided to build the truck up to something nice enough to take to a few shows. Tearing the truck down, they shaved the frame, painted it yellow, and built deck plates, to make sure she kept a clean look. He also re-did the interior to a Kenworth button-tuck style, painted the floor pearl white with pin-striping, and then installed a TV and Xbox in the sleeper. He also moved the wiring and the ECM off the firewall to under the cab and fabricated a chrome firewall cover. Almost all of the work was done by the crew at Skidmore in their home shop. After taking it the Las Vegas show and winning 2nd place, they took it home and pulled the 608-hp ISX Cummins and painted it pearl white and yellow, with pin-stripes and chrome details to match the rest of the truck.
In 2013, the truck – dubbed “Built Not Bought” – was crowned the Pride and Polish National Champion Working Bobtail. After winning the national championship title, the truck went right back to work. Shortly thereafter, the truck had to take a load out to the back country of Wyoming during the winter. When they got back to Utah, the truck was covered from bumper to visor in mud and salt. The crew back at the shop spent over four days getting the truck cleaned. With over 700,000 miles behind her, Josh made the decision to just retire the truck and use it only for the purpose of going to shows.
Currently, Skidmore Transportation has grown to include 26 trucks and over 35 flatbeds and step-decks. The fleet consist of mostly Peterbilts, along with a few KWs, all dressed in the flagship colors of white and yellow. All of the trucks stay west of Texas and/or in the western sections of Canada, pulling flatbeds and step-decks, hauling a variety of freight.
But, don’t think that Skidmore is just about moving freight. On their 20-acre lot just off of exit 365 on I-15, is a full service truck repair center operating as STS Commercial. Their services include repairs, tires, parts, a chrome shop with installation, and an after-hours mobile service, as well. In addition to all that, a new wash will also be opening soon, too.
When Josh isn’t doing something trucking-related, you can find him doing various things with his wife of 16 years, Kim, and their four children – Dallin (15), Jackson (11), Presley (8), and Zach (5). All avid sports fans, the Skidmore family participates in baseball, along with going to NFL football games (Josh is an Oakland Raiders fan while Kim and the kids are huge fans of the Denver Broncos).
Josh would like to give a special thank you to Todd Henry and Jim Henry for all of their help getting the truck ready for the 2015 Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Kentucky. He would also like to thank his wife, Kim, and the wives of Todd and Jim, for their loving support and willingness to stay behind and take care of things back in Utah while they go “play” at the truck shows across the country.
Trucking can be a rough industry to work in, but if you catch (no, seize) the right opportunities and work hard, success will soon be knocking on your door. Thanks to his dedication and extra efforts, Josh Skidmore and his “Built Not Bought” show rig are now reaping the rewards.
