Today we’d like to introduce you to O’brian & Taricka Russell
Hi O’Brian & Taricka , please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
O’Brian and Taricka Russell both attended Albany State University in 2007. Taricka pursued her Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education and O’Brian pursued his Bachelor’s Degree in Health and Physical Education and played college football.
Taricka and O’Brian officially met in 2009 when O’Brian asked to sit at the same table as Taricka in the cafeteria and they have been connected since.
In 2010, O’Brian and Taricka started their Health and Fitness journey. Both Taricka and O’Brian were involved in sports growing up but in 2010, they started to focus on lifting weights, nutrition, and taking care of themselves from the inside out. This is also when O’Brian started to train individuals while also pursuing his degree.
In December 2011, Taricka and O’Brian both graduated. Taricka obtained a middle school education job at the beginning of 2012 and entered into her Master’s program for Early Childhood Education. In August of 2012, Taricka obtained her first official teaching position in her field. From an education standpoint, Taricka acquired her Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education, Specialist degree in Leadership: Curriculum and Instruction, and her Doctoral Degree in Leadership: Curriculum and Instruction. In regard to her career, Taricka worked as a fourth grade teacher for 3 years, instructional coach for 2 years, and a middle school principal for 3 years. In 2020, she retired from working in education and joined working in their trucking company full-time.
When O’Brian graduated in 2011, he pursued his aspirations for playing in the NFL while also furthering his education. He attended Georgia College & State University to pursue his Master’s Degree in Health and Human Performance Kinesiology program. Although, he did not achieve his goal of playing in the NFL, he continued to pursue his passion for helping people be healthy and fit through personal training and coaching; this included working at Communities in Schools in Dublin, GA helping students get active. This included training athletes to prepare them further for their respective sport.
In 2013, Taricka and O’Brian got married and in 2016 they started their Flatbed Hotshot Trucking company called Russell’s Transport, LLC. Taricka and O’Brian started their trucking company because they wanted an avenue they could use to start their family legacy, have something to pass down to future generations, and acquire freedom personally and professionally.
Between 2016 and 2025, Taricka and O’Brian learned the ins and outs of trucking. They ran their business with only O’Brian driving for the first 6 years while also helping more than 30 people get into the trucking industry. In 2022, they had a desire to grow and scale their company so they decided to hire a business coach in 2022. Additionally, in 2022 they acquired their second truck to add to their fleet and hired their first driver. During this time, they have been able to start a dispatching company, increase revenue, provide drivers with a secure career, adding business certifications, receive grants, be a part of accelerators and incubators, and position the business for government contracts at the federal and local level. Taricka and O’Brian work the business full-time and they truly love what they do.
In 2023, Taricka and O’Brian had a desire to diversify their income so they started a Drug and Alcohol company, OB&T Testing Solutions. They decided on starting a Drug and Alcohol company because they wanted to capitalize in the trucking industry on a greater scale. They knew trucking companies needed to be part of a consortium and take drug and alcohol screenings to operate motor vehicles so they felt this would be a great asset. During this time, they acquired a business coach to guide them along the journey.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
This journey has not been a smooth process but it has been rewarding. Some challenges along the way have been:
1. Coming into a new industry and having to learn the ins and outs of the business was a challenge of its own. We encountered this journey twice with the trucking industry and the drug and alcohol testing industry. We experienced the trials and errors of being new to an industry and running a business.
2. Lack of funding. When we first started our trucking company we had to use our personal funds and take out loans to get the business started.
3. Personal and professional growth. We really had to focus on learning how to run and manage a business, change our mindsets, unlearn habits and ideas, etc.
4. Hiring: Trying to find reliable and trustworthy employees and drivers.
5. Working together as a team from a business standpoint. Learning how to merge and separate the personal relationship from the business relationship. Learning what worked and did not work for us.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Taricka and O’Brian are the co-founders and co-owners of Russell’s Transport, LLC which is a family-owned flatbed hotshot trucking company located in Jonesboro, GA since 2016. Serving the Atlanta metro area and the broader Southeast region, we specialize in hauling general freight, including pipe, steel, trees, and building construction materials. We currently have our business certifications such as MBE and DBE. We are also certified with the City of Atlanta, City of Fulton, and Clayton (SLBE). At Russell’s Transport, trucking isn’t just our business, it’s our passion. We are dedicated to continuous learning, scaling our operations, and maintaining the highest standards of safety and compliance. Our commitment to exceptional customer service means we tailor our solutions to meet the unique needs of each client, ensuring reliable and efficient freight transportation every time.
We are most proud of our brand being recognized as honest and trustworthy, providing exceptional customer service, being professional at all times, and always going the extra mile for our customers.
At Russell’s Transport, LLC, we pledge to deliver unparalleled customer service, ensuring your transportation needs are met with the utmost professionalism and care. Safety, compliance, and excellent customer service are at the core of our operations, guaranteeing your freight is handled securely and arrives on time. With a dedicated team and reliable equipment, we are committed to exceeding your expectations, providing reliable and efficient flatbed hotshot trucking services that you can depend on every time.
Offerings/Services:
• We provide flatbed hotshot freight hauling services (pipe, steel, trees, building construction materials, general freight, etc.).
• Expedited shipping
• Specialized cargo handling
• 24/7 customer support and tracking
• Flexible load scheduling
• Short & long haul loads
• Same day pickup and delivery
• Critical load appointments
• On-time pickups and deliveries
What does success mean to you?
We define success as a continuous journey of personal growth, having strong and healthy relationships, business expansion, and overall well-being, all while staying aligned with our core values. We believe true success is not just about financial milestones but about constantly improving, embracing challenges, and fostering meaningful connections built on trust and respect. Growing our businesses with integrity and strategic vision is essential, but so is maintaining balance, prioritizing our physical, mental, and emotional well-being to ensure we thrive both personally and professionally. Above all, success means staying true to who we are, leading with integrity, prioritizing safety, and compliance, and making a positive impact in everything we do. Success is a harmonious blend of growth, purpose, and well-being, ensuring we excel in both business and life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.russellstransportllc.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/russellstransport?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=ZDNlZDc0MzIxNw==
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/russell-s-transport-llc/?viewAsMember=true
