On February 15, 2025, past and present Fousek Trucking employees gathered at Pad71 to reminisce about all the fun and exciting adventures working at Fousek Trucking has given them. They also took time to honor the employees and friends that have passed on. Sam and Angie Fousek bought their first truck in November of 1982. They went to a Taylor and Martin Sale in Fremont, Nebraska where they bought a blue 1975 international cabover and an American Bull rack. This was the official of Fousek Trucking. Sam started by hauling hogs out of the Heinholt Pig Station in Dante. The station was located on the southwest corner of Dante. Sam would load the pigs and haul them to the pork plants in South Sioux City, Nebraska or Madison, Nebraska. His son Steven was along for the ride most of the time. After a while he started hauling out of the Heinold Station in Scotland, South Dakota as well. Sam and Angie not only hauled hogs, but they also farmed as well. At their home, Angie kept track of all the paper-work and helped with all the farm needs when Sam was gone.

In 1984, he decided to purchase a second truck and trailer and hire his first employee, Arnie Bouska. Arnie drove a white 1976 international cabover and bull rack for a while. Shortly after, Sam purchased his first grain trailer and when he or Arnie were not hauling pigs, they hauled grain out of the local grain elevators. This kept them busy, and business started to pick up.

By 1986, Sam and Angie had six trucks and employees that ran mainly locally. Every so often, Sam would take on a few longer trucking jobs where they would go out to Wyoming, Colorado, or Montana. Seeing as though things were really starting to pick up and their family was growing, Angie was running out of room to do the necessary paperwork.

In 1989, the original Bartlett grain elevator located on the south end of main street next to the railroad tracks came up for sale. Sam and Angie decided to take a leap of faith and purchased the property so they could buy grain and haul corn in their cattle trailers which they retrofitted to be able to haul grain to the west coast and bring livestock back to the Midwest. Along with farming and trucking, they fixed up the grain elevator and opened in the fall of 1989. Now, Angie had plenty of space for paperwork and the trucking business kept growing. By 1998, Sam and Angie had 18 trucks. They would haul all over the Midwest. Sam had guys running from North Dakota south to Texas and all the way to California up to Washington and back around. The long hauls were mainly cattle and pigs throughout that area. The guys put on many miles and got to see the wonderful and some of the most magnificent sights that the United States had. From the Texas panhandle to the Grand Canyon. From the miles of the wide-open salt flats of Nevada and Utah to the winding roads of the Rocky Mountains in Idaho, Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana.

Over the years, Fousek Trucking embraced the technology advancements which improved the efficiency and safety for everyone. To this day, Sam stated that the cell phone was one of the best technology advancements for his business. Before cell phone, Sam would have to wait for the guys to stop at a truck stop or phone booth to call in and report where they were and how things were going. There were times when suddenly a load would get cancelled or changed, but there was no way to stop them and make them stay put and wait for a different plan or possibly even turning around and head in a different direction. The cell phone saved many wrong miles and hours not only for the truckers but for the customers as well.

While running his own trucks, he also dispatched (found loads) for four other trucks as well. Be-tween the trucks and the grain elevator, Sam decided to hire Carl Soulek to help dispatch. Both dispatched up to 25 trucks at one time. Things were super busy and at times very chaotic. So, in the early 2000s, they decided to downsize and by 2006 they stopped hauling the long hauls to California and the west coast and tried to stay closer to South Dakota. As of today, Sam and Angie run seven trucks that run regionally. In the fall they get as far as the western edge of Montana, but mainly stay in South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, and North Dakota.

Throughout the 42 years, Sam and Angie have employed over 100 employees. Every one of those employees spent many hours away from family and friends and put on many miles which Sam and Angie are extremely thankful for and consider each of them family. Thank you all for helping Fousek Trucking be the success that is.

As they look to the future, Sam and Angie remain dedicated to maintaining the high standards that have defined Fousek Trucking for over four decades. They will continue to invest in their fleet, embrace innovation, and nurture the strong bonds they have built with their employees and customers. With their passion and dedication, there is no doubt that Fousek Trucking will continue to thrive and inspire for many more years to come.

I had the pleasure of getting to know everyone. Sometimes I got to experience the trucking bond firsthand, being in the driver's seat running alongside them and taking in every breathe taking sight. I have heard many stories, but after getting back together again, I heard so much more than what I had remembered. Seeing everyone again brought back some good times and good memories. Thank you all that made it to the get together and for all the fun.