10-4 Magazine April 2023

24 10-4 Magazine / April 2023 had the opportunities he had. He has a good life, and though some may think it was all handed to him, he worked hard towards everything he has accomplished. Both, as company owners still today, they are great men, businessmen, and have done everything right. They taught him the ins and outs of life and trucking, bringing Austin to do what he does to provide a good life for his family. I had a chance to speak to Melissa (Austin’s mom) over lunch, and she simply stated, “He is the best we have, and he works just as hard as Greg does.” Most every driver out there has trucking memories that stick in their minds, from both coming up as a kid, to driving a truck of their own. Austin remembers his dad swinging by the house on his fifth birthday just long enough to give Austin his birthday present – a pair of Georgia Giant lace-up boots. Now a father, Austin said his favorite memory since he has been driving was the first time taking his son Creed trucking. Special thanks from Austin to his parents and grandparents on both sides for their unwavering support throughout his life and helping to shape him into the man he is today. A shoutout to Dalton Snead and Jason Wade in their shop for all the hard work on the show truck, right along with Austin and Greg. To his wife Taylor (married July 11, 2021) a heartfelt thank you from Austin for her continued support and the excellent job she does on the home front. She works full time as an eighth-grade science teacher at Honaker High School. She didn’t come from a trucking background but has done an amazing job adjusting to the life of a trucker’s wife. Taylor has never doubted Austin’s capabilities as a husband, father, provider, and now a business owner, when he wanted to purchase his own truck and start his company. Today, Austin, Taylor, and Creed reside next door to Austin’s parents, Greg and Melissa. When not trucking, there are horses to be ridden, visits to his Papaw Gary’s farm, attending shows for Greg’s Tennessee Walkers (breed of gaited horses), and a favorite time of playing cornhole almost every Friday night at church with about 80 people. Austin may have his own truck and company, mainly hauling coal and gravel, but he remains heavily involved with Greg’s company, doing whatever needs to be done, as all the trucks are “WorkingEngine” and “Working Interior Cab Only” classes. I asked Austin what his favorite truck show is, and he said, hands down, their own show, which he and his family started in 2021. They have all worked so hard to put it together, and even though they don’t enter their trucks in the competition, they still bring trucks to the event. The event is called the Southwest Virginia Big Rig Showdown. It’s being held on July 28-29 this year in Lebanon, VA, at the Russell County Government Center (visit www.bigrigshowdown.com for more info). The show is hosted by the Greg Kiser Trucking family, and proceeds benefit two local organizations to support and grow the community. Austin’s biggest influences in life are his father Greg and Papaw Gary, because without them, he wouldn’t have