Cargill – One of Their Fleets Will Fit You

Steve Pollock
July 2021

WICHITA, KS…. One hundred and fifty-six years ago William Wallace Cargill established Cargill with the idea of connecting farmers with consumers.  It is a concept that still drives the company today.  However, now Cargill has plants in 60 countries and employs over 150,000 people.  The company has 30 meat processing plants in the USA. There are many owner-operators leased to haul the livestock into the plants from feedlots in Texas and Kansas, but far more are leased to haul the refrigerated meat to consumer outlets.  The meat is fresh or frozen and palletized, there is no swinging meat.

In 1982 Cargill purchased the assets of Excel Beef Processing in Wichita, Kansas and with it came Excel Transportation.  With this acquisition, Cargill entered the transportation business.  From that base came Cargill Meat Logistics Solutions, Inc., the transportation arm of Cargill.  Today the Cargill Meat Logistics Solutions, Inc. fleet consists of 200 plus owner-operators.

There are some very unique advantages when leasing to Cargill – at the top of the list is earnings.  You will be hauling direct from the shipper with no freight brokers in between, ensuring substantial revenues.  Contractors are paid on percentage and settlements are made twice a week.  The freight is consistent and steady year-round.  Owner-operators are welcome with or without a refrigerated trailer, but there is no charge to pull Cargill’s reefer trailer.  If you lease a tractor only, it helps facilitate drop and hook operations.

Business is booming and Cargill is expanding all of its private fleets and is presently in need of good, dependable, quality owner-operators to haul their perishable meats.  Only top drivers qualify because of the nature of the freight and because of that, Cargill is willing to compensate their contractors handsomely.  Top runners grossed over $300K in 2020.  Cargill’s established freight lanes are set up that contractors can lease on practically anywhere in the USA.  The company has plants across the country, providing a number of fleets to work for.  Livestock haulers have 2 fleets, one in Texas and one in Kansas that haul from feedlots into Cargill plants.  The company also has two dedicated routes – Nebraska to California and Colorado to California.  The Midwest reefer fleet is paid 72% of the linehaul and loads going regionally and nationwide.  The plant-based fleet loads at Cargill processing plants and delivers to customers all over the USA.  Drivers can work out of a specific Cargill plant.

Cargill Meat Logistics Solutions, Inc. still takes the time to get to know their drivers.  The safety Director sends a personal congratulations to each driver who has a clean MVR.  Recruiting Director Jeff Johnson said, “Our focus is not to be the largest fleet in the country.  Our goal is to move our own product safely and efficiently, serving both our customers and our parent company, Cargill.”

For more information about opportunities, call 800-835-3119.