Today we’d like to introduce you to Kirk Tucker and Jalen Pearson.
Kirk and Jalen, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Jalen and I (Kirk) started J.K. National based on an appreciation and respect for each other’s work ethic and personalities. We have been friends since attending Tucker High School and also former high school football teammates. Jalen started his journey within the transportation business under his brother after graduating from Kennesaw State University in May of 2018. While there, he handled a fleet of about 25 cars and conducted business with top Atlanta influentials/celebrities. Jalen’s drive and ambition did not stop there. He knew that ultimately he wanted to open his own business as well. One day while scrolling down my Instagram timeline, I saw that Jalen had posted a successful moment that he encountered since working under his brother. His post had inspired me and I instantly texted him to congratulate him on his accomplishment. Within that text, I also expressed to him that if I didn’t find a job within the medical field after graduating in December of 2018, from Oklahoma State University, then I would love to work with him and his brother. Jalen called me as soon as I texted him and was very excited about my proposal. We agreed to go over the details after my graduation and after graduating, I had called him to set up our meeting when I fly back home to Atlanta. After returning to Atlanta, we met the Monday after my graduation and Jalen expressed to me that he was no longer under his brother and would love if I would be his business partner. I was very excited and agreed to go into business with him because of our history and how well we gelled together. We became official through the Secretary of State on January 10, 2019 and initially started out with only a 2015 Ford Focus and grew to a fleet of 6 cars as of now (BMW i8, BMW 5-series, Mercedes Benz E300, Mercedes Benz C250, Lexus LC 500, and Ford Fiesta). This experience has been very beneficial for the both of us and we have learned a lot that will allow us to continue to grow within this industry. We have been successful up to this point because of the will power and ultimate goal that we have set for ourselves, our families, and our business overall.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Starting our own business has not always been a smooth road, but the mindsets that Jalen and I (Kirk) bring to the table allow us to continue to push through those struggles and see the bigger picture of the obstacles we face. Some of the struggles that we came across was having one of our very first cars totaled by a client, maintenance issues with cars, trying to get financed so that we can continue to build our fleet, obtaining commercial fleet insurance, and having car note payments at the same time during slower months of cars being rented out.
J.K. National Transportation – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
J.K. National Transportation, Inc. is a transportation business who’s main focus is Car Rental services. At J.K. National, we pride ourselves on providing high-quality customer service to all individuals alike. We are known for great customer service, providing a pristine vehicle, and alleviating the stressors of renting a vehicle through major Car Rental companies. We want to make sure the experience is a smooth process for each client, from the time they book one of our cars until the time that we meet again at the end of the reservation. We understand that circumstances change and untimely situations come up in life, but we are here to accommodate and make it to where no situation or circumstance is too much to handle. What sets us apart is that we go above and beyond for our clients by delivering our cars to your front doorstep or in the location you are currently in.
What is “success” or “successful” for you?
We measure success in the amount of people that we bless. We love being able to go back to look at the reviews that we received from our clients and see the impact that we have had on their experience with renting through the Turo platform. A lot of our clients are first-time Turo users and we provide them with an unforgettable rental experience, which makes them want to come back to us each time they need a vehicle.
Pricing:
- Ford Fiesta $30/day
- Mercedes Benz E300 $105/day
- Mercedes Benz C250 $59/day
- BMW i8 $300/day
- Lexus LC 500 $200/day
Contact Info:
- Website: https://turo.com/en-us/drivers/6580855
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jknational/
Image Credit:
KJM Garage (Kenny J)
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