How Brakebush Transportation created a century of service

You commonly hear fleet leaders say they treat their employees like family. But at Brakebush Transportation, moving chicken has been a family business for a century.

As the private fleet for chicken processor Brakebush, the transportation operation stands out for its innovative strategy that led it to grow into a sophisticated network supporting a complex poultry production system. Brakebush Transportation is the midsize 2025 FleetOwner Private Fleet of the Year, sponsored by Descartes. The award was presented during a ceremony at the National Private Truck Council’s 2025 conference in Orlando, Florida.

Chris Armstrong, Brakebush’s fleet manager, said that communication is as important as on-time delivery. “You can find a truck anywhere to haul anything, but can you find somebody who’s going to be able to communicate, be reliable, and provide the level of service our customers need?” he noted. 

One of the ways the fleet finds and retains good drivers is through an innovative 1-cent-per-mile referral bonus to company drivers. For every mile the referred driver logs in the first year, the referring driver gets a penny. 

“Your drivers are ultimately your best reference,” Schwersenska said. “I wanted to invest our recruiting dollars back into the current drivers working for us.”

The recent implementation gives the recommending driver an invested interest in the new driver’s success. “It’s not just about recommending people; it’s about recommending the right people that fit our culture. And it helps encourage them to act as a kind of mentor to that new driver,” Schwersenska explained.

Drivers can also access Brakebush’s wellness center, which offers medical services, counseling, physical therapy, and legal services. Gray credited the company’s Driver Advisory Council for helping executives shape policies and benefits that have helped the fleet keep its turnover rate below 10% annually. This year’s 6% turnover rate included two retirements.

Making safety a priority

With a company-wide focus on safety, Gray said they involve the driver council to get frontline buy-in for technology and safety initiatives that help drivers want to stick with Brakebush. She said the fleet conducts monthly driver safety scorecards tied to safety bonuses. 

Armstrong said the fleet’s safety focus is its top priority—from intense maintenance programs, regular equipment refreshes, and a strict adherence to educating drivers on how to comply with regulations. “We have a culture where we expect you to run legal,” he explained. If a driver runs out of service hours, Brakebush will send another truck to take over the load, for example. 

“We put our money where our mouth is,” Armstrong said. “We’re willing to go to these lengths to make sure you’re not violating hours of service; we expect you to do the same. We expect the same out of our maintenance team. We don’t cut corners. And we’ve had drivers tell us repeatedly that this is the best equipment they have ever driven.”

Gray said Brakebush is fortunate to be part of a team that works well across several locations. “This sense of teamwork is felt throughout the organization,” she said. “Many drivers have mentioned in our driver surveys that this place feels more like a family than a place of work.”

That also gives Armstrong pride. “Brakebush is still family owned after 100 years,” he noted. “You run into a lot of the family quite often, and they’re just an outstanding group of people that created an awesome atmosphere.”