Anybody seen Joe?

[Denny]

I think something needs to be said about Joe and why he got involved in the bus repairs business. Many newcomers may have never heard the story.

Joe was an owner/operator truck driver meaning he owned his own truck and worked for a trucking company. The company Joe was working for hauled gravel, slag, stone, dirt, etc. for road construction. Joe was traveling slow and a car ran into the back of his dump trailer killing the driver of the car. Ultimately, Joe lost his drivers license for two years which will be up in April, 2010. A truck driver without a license means no work.

Joe went through an extremely difficult financial time with no income. He sold his truck and what ever he could to just survive. He tried to sell his bus but that never happened. As I said, Joe was having an extremely difficult time.

Joe has always been very mechanical and maintained his own truck and equipment. Trucks and buses have a lot of the same components so out of necessity Joe started doing work on buses to survive. He did it to put food on his table and to keep bill collectors away from his door. I have the most respect for Joe and what he did. The survival instinct kicked in and he provided for his family.

To compare Joe's bus business with other bus businesses and converters is not fair. Yes, he should have insurance to protect himself but do you pay the insurance premium or buy food for your family? Do you buy insurance or make your house payment?

As a business owner, I have disability income insurance, liability insurance, malpractice insurance, umbrella policies to cover umbrella policies and a host of other insurances. Did I have all of this when I bought my funeral home 20 years ago? No. I was concerned with keeping my head above water not winning any races. Joe was in survival mode and food was more important than many of the common business practices we use today.

And now you have some of "the rest of the story"