Khary Carson knew something had to give. While he had a successful career in psychology with a degree in psychology and master’s degree in clinical psychology, he says, he wasn’t seeing success with his clients translate to the same financial success.
“Some of my friends and family, they were in trucking,” Carson says. “They were running circles around me financial wise, and here I was with a master’s degree. Something’s not right here; let me go ahead and do something different. The first thing that popped into my head was, why don’t I make a transition? Take a leap of faith and do something totally different?”
Following his friends and family members, he decided to pivot away from his career as a psychologist and instead pursue his commercial driver’s license (CDL) and a career in the transportation and logistics industry.
“A lot of people thought I was crazy,” Carson says. “If something isn’t loyal to you, don’t be loyal to it.”
With the assistance through the Ohio Department of Labor’s Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, Carson turned to Owens Community College and its Owens CDL Training Program and took his CDL test.
“I passed; I took my trucker’s test, I got my CDLs and it’s all because I made a decision,” Carson says. “I managed that decision and I didn’t give up on it. My whole goal was to own my own truck, be an owner/operator and start my own business. That’s what I did.”
He has seen through each of his goals. In fact, his company, Verde Logistics, now owns two trucks. Verde is a “small company that’s growing fast,” and Carson is actively searching for drivers with a Class A CDL with the assistance of the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce Talent and Workforce department.
Becoming a truck driver offers benefits unmatched by any other industry. Carson himself was attracted not just to the financial opportunities a career in the transportation and logistics industry offered, but also in the increase in quality of life it presented. Truck drivers often make their own schedules, control their shifts and therefore income, and are in many ways their own boss.
“I have freedom of the amount of money that’s yielding me. I’m very excited about it; I’m my own boss, I love it,” Carson says. “There’s no one telling me what I’m worth, and that was one of the biggest things for me. … I no longer have to ask for permission for anything.”
Among his greatest accomplishments, Carson ranks his family as the crowning achievement. He and his wife, Brandi, have been married for 27 years and have two children, a 29-year-old daughter and a 12-year-old son, and a grandchild. Thanks to his new career, Carson is able to spend more time with his loved ones. On occasion, his son is able to go on jobs with Carson, affording them invaluable time together.
Following his friends and family members, he decided to pivot away from his career as a psychologist and instead pursue his commercial driver’s license (CDL) and a career in the transportation and logistics industry.
“A lot of people thought I was crazy,” Carson says. “If something isn’t loyal to you, don’t be loyal to it.”
With the assistance through the Ohio Department of Labor’s Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, Carson turned to Owens Community College and its Owens CDL Training Program and took his CDL test.
“I passed; I took my trucker’s test, I got my CDLs and it’s all because I made a decision,” Carson says. “I managed that decision and I didn’t give up on it. My whole goal was to own my own truck, be an owner/operator and start my own business. That’s what I did.”
He has seen through each of his goals. In fact, his company, Verde Logistics, now owns two trucks. Verde is a “small company that’s growing fast,” and Carson is actively searching for drivers with a Class A CDL with the assistance of the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce Talent and Workforce department.
Becoming a truck driver offers benefits unmatched by any other industry. Carson himself was attracted not just to the financial opportunities a career in the transportation and logistics industry offered, but also in the increase in quality of life it presented. Truck drivers often make their own schedules, control their shifts and therefore income, and are in many ways their own boss.
“I have freedom of the amount of money that’s yielding me. I’m very excited about it; I’m my own boss, I love it,” Carson says. “There’s no one telling me what I’m worth, and that was one of the biggest things for me. … I no longer have to ask for permission for anything.”
Among his greatest accomplishments, Carson ranks his family as the crowning achievement. He and his wife, Brandi, have been married for 27 years and have two children, a 29-year-old daughter and a 12-year-old son, and a grandchild. Thanks to his new career, Carson is able to spend more time with his loved ones. On occasion, his son is able to go on jobs with Carson, affording them invaluable time together.
“Sometimes he’ll get in the truck when they might not have school or I might have to do a special load,” Carson says. “He’ll ride with me and enjoy time. This way they’re trapped; you’re forced to talk. That’s when you get a lot of good information. You don’t have to wait for a mother/son, a father/son, you don’t have to wait for a bring you kid day at work. I can do it any time.”
Carson’s strong network of friends, family and colleagues has also been helpful throughout his journey to success. He credits James Trout, president of Beyond Logistics Transportation LLC, who has been a shoulder to lean on. But, he notes, everyone in the transportation industry is willing to lend an ear or advice and help out wherever needed.
“You can be driving up the highways and byways and you can pick up a CB and hear the truckers talking and laughing and giving information: ‘Be careful in the right lane, there was a car crash so you might want to take a detour,’” Carson says. “It’s a big community of truckers that we speak the same language and we understand the hardships and success that everyone has to go through being out on the road and driving.”
Making the transition to the transportation and logistics industry has paid off in full for Carson. Not only is Verde Logistics growing, he is also finding personal and professional fulfillment and success, and he’s being recognized for his efforts. In 2022, Carson was appointed to the Lucas County Workforce Development Board on the recommendation of the Lucas County Board of Commissioners. As a CDL truck driver and an entrepreneur in the transportation and logistics industry, Carson is thriving.
“I am the captain of the ship. Everything, all the hard work that I’m putting into this, to the business, I know I’m doing this for something bigger that’s not just me,” Carson says. “I’m trying to leave a legacy behind for my family.”
Carson’s strong network of friends, family and colleagues has also been helpful throughout his journey to success. He credits James Trout, president of Beyond Logistics Transportation LLC, who has been a shoulder to lean on. But, he notes, everyone in the transportation industry is willing to lend an ear or advice and help out wherever needed.
“You can be driving up the highways and byways and you can pick up a CB and hear the truckers talking and laughing and giving information: ‘Be careful in the right lane, there was a car crash so you might want to take a detour,’” Carson says. “It’s a big community of truckers that we speak the same language and we understand the hardships and success that everyone has to go through being out on the road and driving.”
Making the transition to the transportation and logistics industry has paid off in full for Carson. Not only is Verde Logistics growing, he is also finding personal and professional fulfillment and success, and he’s being recognized for his efforts. In 2022, Carson was appointed to the Lucas County Workforce Development Board on the recommendation of the Lucas County Board of Commissioners. As a CDL truck driver and an entrepreneur in the transportation and logistics industry, Carson is thriving.
“I am the captain of the ship. Everything, all the hard work that I’m putting into this, to the business, I know I’m doing this for something bigger that’s not just me,” Carson says. “I’m trying to leave a legacy behind for my family.”
Interested in joining a partnership of business leaders in transportation (air, land, rail, sea) and logistics to address workforce and other industry needs? Please contact Megan Stretavski at megan.stretavski@toledochamber.com.
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