66% of logistics pros say talent quality — not cost — is the #1 factor in choosing a nearshore partner. Rapido's integration model explains why that's the right question to be asking.
Plus, a carrier pleading guilty to mob money laundering while still FMCSA-active, Iran's first post-ceasefire attack and what it means for diesel surcharges, FedEx Freight's first earnings as a standalone company, and more in today's newsletter.
Freight brokers are measuring their inboxes wrong. Most inbound email is monitoring, not work. And the longtail categories that look like noise are costing real margin. Here's how to audit what's actually in your inbox, and why it matters in 2026's margin-first market.
In the latest episode of "The FreightCaviar Podcast", we sit down with Jackie Jones, Chief Marketing Officer at Mesilla Valley Transportation. She shares the secret behind the company's success and talks about the importance of sustainability in trucking.
In this week’s episode of The FreightCaviar Podcast, we sat down with Jackie Jones, Chief Marketing Officer at Mesilla Valley Transportation, one of the largest private fleets in America. Jackie shares the key to the company’s success, what sets them apart from other fleets, and why sustainability is essential in trucking.
The company's story begins with founders, Royal Jones and Jimmy Ray.
As a young man, Royal– Jackie’s father– worked in his own father’s lumber yard, where he learned the fundamentals of running a business and operating machinery.
After saving money for about a year, he was able to purchase his first truck and became a truck driver–much to his family’s dismay. But as Jackie explains, when Royal puts his mind to something, he always finds a way to succeed.
That’s where Jimmy Ray, one of the founders, comes in. They two met when Royal started driving for Jimmy’s father, Joe. D. Ray. One thing led to another, and soon, they found themselves working side by side.
“They were working out of an office together. Jimmy had a couple of trucks, and Royal had a couple of trucks. In late 1981, they realized they were both having to pay taxes and having to do their own billing, a lot of duplicate work, so they decided to partner up and bring the trucks together.”
Forty years later, Roy is just as dedicated. When he’s not in El Paso visiting other MVT locations, or booked with meetings, he’s always looking for ways to improve the business.
Over the years, Mesilla Valley Transportation has not only grown into the largest but also one of the most reliable fleets in the country. The secret? Always staying one step ahead, and hiring the best drivers.
“We don’t put limits on ourselves. We’re very forward-thinking about we’re always trying to out-do what we’ve previously done. We want to make sure we’ve got the best drivers and they’re paid extremely well. We want to make sure that they’re given opportunities that they wouldn’t be given elsewhere.”
So what truly sets them apart from other fleets?
“We’re big on efficiency, doing the right thing and being transparent. I think the biggest differentiator for us is that we really care about our employees. We’re like a family. We have several drivers who have been with us for over thirty years, some close to forty.”
Jackie also emphasizes the importance of sustainability in trucking. The company invests heavily in fuel-efficient technology to reduce its environmental impact.
“Of course, as we learn more about technology and things we can do- at the end of the day you can buy all the products in the world– but if you don’t have a driver that understands fuel mileage, they’re still not going to get good fuel mileage.”
At Mesilla Valley Transportation, sustainability is a top priority—but so is taking care of employees. Each quarter, the driver who achieves perfect CSA score and delivers the best overall performance is rewarded with an impressive $25,000.
If you value great treatment, sustainability, and a company with a rich history, Mesilla Valley Transportation is the perfect choice for you.
Listen to the entire interview on Apple Podcasts, or Spotify, or watch it on our YouTube Channel.
“When I say you’re going to require high levels of authenticity and authentication at the point of entry... that is no longer going to be enough to prevent access. You’re going to need multiple points that all need to match in order to unlock access- that’s where we’re going."
“Hold on, we've got something here where these guys are hungry to grow. We're hungry to grow." So, if we work together, we can help them grow their business."
Thomas Mella breaks down his thoughts on this week's FreightCaviar Podcast.
"We’ve gotten feedback that it saves them days of manual work, and they walk in prepared and being a good partner.”
Join over 14K+ subscribers to get the latest freight news and entertainment directly in your inbox for free. Subscribe & be sure to check your inbox to confirm (and your spam folder just in case).
