By Pam Pollock

Giving your son a skill is better than giving him one thousand pieces of gold.  ~Chinese Proverb

"Like Father, Like Son" is a popular expression but in the case of the Mackrells, it is a very true statement.  Trucking runs in the blood of the Mackrell men, even in the youngest, little Conner Mackrell.

The Mackrells hail from Western Pennsylvania and trucking is their chosen profession.  Ken Mackrell, Sr. has been a Professional Truck Driver for over 35 years, 22 of which he has driven for Cranberry Supply.  Ken Sr.'s Ride of Pride is a 2010 Peterbilt 367.

Ken Jr. has been a Professional Truck Driver for over 13 years and is also a driver for Cranberry Supply.  He drives a 2009 Peterbilt 367.  The Mackrells haul salt, limestone, gravel and bark mulch for Cranberry Supply.

Although the Mackrells drive company owned trucks, they take a lot of pride in their trucks appearance.  They are well known in the Western Pennsylvania Show Truck Circuit. They, along with their families, spend countless hours polishing and shining every inch of their trucks before the judges begin their review.  Their efforts have paid off in spades as they have a bevy of truck trophies to show for their accomplishments.

If you sit down and speak with the Mackrells you will notice right off the bat that they have a lot of pride.  Pride in their work, pride in their trucks and more importantly pride for each other and their families.  In our interview the pride and love they have for their families was always at the forefront of the conversation.  The Mackrell men have an easygoing relationship – they finish each other's sentences and if one needs a hand, the other is right there to help out.

The Mackrells have deep appreciation and gratitude to John McClymonds, owner of Cranberry Supply for supporting them and allowing them to take their Petes to numerous truck shows.

Ken Mackrell, Sr. and his wife Diann are the proud parents to three children, Ken Jr.; Andy, a Sgt. 1st Class Green Beret currently serving in Iraq and Holly.  Two grandsons round out the family tree.  Ken Sr. stated that he is "thankful for a wife who has put up with me driving for all of these years."  Diann is an avid truck show attendee and you will always find her busy polishing the truck alongside her husband.

Ken Mackrell, Jr. and his wife Jamie have a young son, Conner who already has a keen interest in trucks.  Conner definitely knows his way around his Grandpa and Daddy's trucks and will slyly sound the air horn if given a chance.  Conner loves the big rigs and if the current trend persists, he will probably become a Professional Truck Driver when he is older.  Ken Jr. is very grateful to his parents for teaching him the right way and for introducing him to trucking.  He is very proud of and thankful for his wife Jamie and describes her as the "world's best driver's wife."  Jamie is always at Ken's side at the truck shows and provides a lot of "elbow grease" to help get the Pete ready for competition.

It is refreshing to see that trucking remains in the family for the Mackrells.  It is even more wonderful to know that the Mackrells truly love their jobs, their trucks, each other and their families.