10-4 Magazine August 2023

Trucker Talk: By John & Kim Jaikes I’ve been involved in the trucking industry now for over 40 years. During this time, I’ve had the opportunity to meet some amazing people. One of those amazing individuals I’ve had the pleasure of knowing is Michael Gully, President of Quincy, Illinois based Gully Transportation. You won’t meet a more genuine, humble, and amazing man in the trucking industry than Michael – or anyone who loves Freightliner trucks more. John and I had the pleasure of spending a few hours with Michael at the ATHS show in Reno this past June. While the white with yellow and blue striped rigs of Gully Transportation are a well known sight on the highways across our country today, the company came from very humble beginnings. Michael’s father, William “Bill” Gully, grew up during the Great Depression and is considered by many as a pioneer and an icon in the trucking industry. Known for his relentless work ethic, Bill took his one truck operation at the age of 20 and grew it into the 200+ tractor-trailer fleet that Gully Transportation is today, now run by his son Michael. Talking to Michael in more detail, he told me, “My dad was born in 1927. At the age of 14, he began driving a dump truck in a rock quarry in Barry, IL for the Missouri Gravel Company in the summer,” Michael said. “His brother Lloyd and my grandfather also trucked, hauling livestock between Barry, IL and the East St. Louis stockyards during that time, around 1939, and my dad would ride along with them or other drivers,” as Michael continued telling me his dad’s story. During those rides, the young Bill learned a lot, especially from one Riss and Company driver in particular, Wimpy Skillman, who took a liking to Bill and mentored him, teaching Bill how to drive his truck on the 250-mile trip from Barry to Chicago. At 16 years old Bill began working part-time on weekends and evenings for the Kansas City based Knaus Truck Lines shop in Barry. Bill was initially hired to fix tires, service trucks, and wash them, but with the advent of the United States entering World War II in 1944, the country experienced a crucial driver shortage. As it still is today, the legal age to drive a truck across state lines (interstate) was 21, but at that time, the ICC turned a blind eye to this rule due to the war efforts and the driver shortages. This allowed Bill the opportunity to start driving trucks at the age of 17. That summer (1944), the Knaus Road Boss (terminal manager) needed a driver to take a load from Barry, IL to Indianapolis, IN. Knowing Bill could drive, the Road Boss approached Bill and asked him if he would take the load. Needless to say, that trip started Bill’s lifelong career in trucking. When that summer ended, Bill asked his father if he could continue driving instead of going back to school for his senior year of high school. Bill’s father was not surprised by the request, telling Bill it was his decision. So, in September that year, just before his 17th birthday, Bill’s full-time truck driving career officially began. Not just a driver, Bill also knew how to work on trucks, with Michael telling me, “My dad was once on a run to Indianapolis one weekend for Knaus and the truck’s engine went down. There were not any shops open in the area, so my dad talked a mechanic into letting him use his shop to tear down the engine and rebuild it that weekend.” Needless to say, it caught the attention of Knaus executives back in Kansas City who then advocated to the ICC and insurance companies in order to keep Bill working for the company, due to his amazing job performance. But after the war ended, service members who drove for Knaus before the war began returning home and, by 1947, Bill was quickly bumped from his driving position. Looking for an opportunity, at only 20 years old, Bill purchased his first truck and leased it on to Kansas City based Healzer Cartage. While the ICC began enforcing its 21 age requirements to run interstate, Healzer utilized Bill and his truck, operating him between their Pittsfield and Chicago terminals, within the state of Illinois. Having found some success with Healzer, Bill decided to expand from a one truck operator to a small fleet owner. After purchasing eight trucks, he began converting his small fleet from gasoline powered trucks to the more powerful diesel engines being produced by Cummins. All of Bill’s trucks continued to be leased to Healzer, operating routes from Kansas City to Chicago, Milwaukee, Peoria, and all relaying at the Pittsfield, IL terminal. “My dad typically ran the Pittsfield to Chicago turn, and that’s where he met my mother in 1955,” said Michael. Bill and Barbara married a year later and, that same year, in 1956, Bill purchased six brand-new Hendrickson trucks, of which Michael still owns one of those original trucks to this day. Things at Healzer were going great for Bill, but in 76 10-4 Magazine / August 2023 A FREIGHTLINER FAMILY Michael in 1992