Harleysville Entrepreneur Sheds the Suits and Cubicles of Finance Sector to Launch Pair of Trucking Companies

Keith Heffintrayer | North Penn Now•

Anthony Williams, 40, of Harleysville, sits on the bumper of his rig while being interviewed.

An entrepreneur from Harleysville has launched his second company in the last eight years, as demand for his trucking services continues to grow.

Trucking wasn’t initially a passion — or even a second thought — for 40-year-old Anthony Williams, who took what he described as the "traditional” route of getting a college degree and landing a position as a financial specialist for a national banking giant.

"I realized didn’t like sitting behind a desk,” Williams said. "I wanted more freedom. I wanted more time for myself, and I wanted more control over my environment.”

Finding himself dissatisfied with his career path, Williams said a friend recommended he consider getting a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) and pursuing a career in over-the-road trucking. Gone would be the days of sitting at a desk, wearing suits, and working a rigid schedule, and he could instead gain some freedom and flexibility.

Williams took the challenge and has never looked back.

"What I enjoy about trucking is the freedom, being able to just get into the truck and go,” said Williams.

With his CDL in hand, Williams said he worked for various companies across the region. But while he said the jobs were great, he also said he faced seasonal layoffs that would disrupt his income.

"Every year I would get a great job, but every winter I would become expendable, and they would lay me off,” Williams said. "With the responsibility as a father of two lovely daughters at home, I had to figure out a way, so I decided to launch my own company and I haven’t looked back since.”

In October 2017, Williams launched his first company, Williams Elite Trucking, and quickly found success in the over the road trucking field, transporting mushrooms, lettuce, fruits, and other produce across the country. His success led to the hiring of multiple employees, and ultimately to the launching of his second company, Direct Freight Enterprises, which will also focus on over the road trucking as well as local trucking, limousine services, and more.

As of February, Williams now employs a team of nine full-time staffers and five contractors as he continues his focus on expanding both companies.

"I’ve always wanted to help everybody out, so being able to be a catalyst in the community, provide jobs and help them put food on the table, has also been a source of pride,” Williams said, adding he’s also found an additional sense of pride in being a Black-owned business. "There’s a lot of hurdles that you have to overcome. But once you’re overcome those hurdles, it becomes a source of pride to be a Black-owned business owner and entrepreneur.”

According to Denise Collins at North Montco Technical Career Center, trucking is a profession that is expected to grow by more than 7% nationally by 2030. Collins also echoed Williams’ thoughts on the field, pointing to freedom and earning potential as the key benefits of trucking.

"Truck drivers have a level of independence since they are on the road. Also, they can build a good network of friends and business acquaintances because they travel to and through different locations,” Collins said. "Another excellent benefit is that a CDL license can be paired with many other professions to help maximize your earning potential. For example, people with a CDL and other work experience, such as construction, utilities, or landscaping, may be more in demand.”

Much like the field itself, the future is a bright one for Williams, as he continues his expansion throughout the region.

For information on obtaining a CDL through North Montco, click here. For anyone interested in working at Direct Freight Enterprises, email your resume to [email protected] or call Williams directly at 267-642-4848.