Mikhail Bakay — Founder of Stream Transport LLC in Minnesota

Mikhail Bakay went from serving as a sergeant and military mechanic in the Soviet Army to owning Stream Transport LLC, a trucking company based in Shakopee, Minnesota.

Founded in 2009, the company transports fresh produce, refrigerated goods, and beverages across the United States. Today, Stream Transport has approximately 65 drivers and a fleet of more than 60 trucks.

The Army and His First Trucks

— How did you get into trucking?

— I come from a generation when almost every young man interested in machinery dreamed of owning a KamAZ or SuperMAZ truck. Even better was getting a job with Sovtransavto, driving internationally or making long trips across the Soviet Union.

When I came back from the army, I had one dream: to buy my own truck. I thought that would give me a happy life without financial worries.

Now I have many trucks, and my dream has changed. Someday, I'd like to sell everything and live a peaceful life.

— What did you do before becoming a truck driver?

— I studied garage operations, vehicle maintenance, and the repair of cars, agricultural equipment, and tractors. I graduated at 19 and joined the army.

At first, I worked as a driver for the commander of a military unit. In my free time, I started repairing trucks that had been sitting for a long time because they were broken down.

Eventually, repairing vehicles became my main job. We worked on heavy military trucks and off-road vehicles.

After leaving the army, I still dreamed of owning a truck and driving long distances.

In 1996, I started working for the Red Cross. My first trip was from the North Caucasus to the Netherlands. My brother and I transported humanitarian aid. From the Netherlands, we delivered flour, blankets, clothing, and medicine to refugees in the North Caucasus.

That's how my long-haul trucking career began.

My First Years in America

— Did you start driving trucks right after arriving in America?

— No. First, I worked in construction, pouring concrete and building walls. Then I worked as a mechanic for seven months.

After that, I decided to return to trucking. I studied for the CDL exams on my own and passed them.

My First Freightliner and Becoming an Owner-Operator

— How did your trucking career in the United States begin?

— When I started driving in Minnesota, there were only two Russian-speaking trucking companies here.

I got a job with one of them. The owner had three or four trucks.

My first truck was a Freightliner with an 18-speed manual transmission. My first trip was to Miami.

— Did you buy your own truck after that?

— Yes, pretty quickly. In 2003, I bought my first truck and became an owner-operator.

From One Truck to Stream Transport LLC

— How did you go from owning one truck to running your own trucking company?

— I worked with an American trucking company for about seven years. During that time, I stayed in touch with many Russian-speaking drivers.

People who were just starting their trucking careers in America often called me. They wanted to know how to get a CDL, where to start, and how to find a job.

I shared my experience and tried to help them.

In 2009, circumstances led me to start my own trucking company.

By then, I already had plenty of experience as both a driver and a mechanic. But I wanted to understand the business side better.

I learned how dispatchers worked, how to find loads myself, and how to organize freight transportation.

That's how Stream Transport LLC was founded in 2009. The company is still operating today.

Running a Trucking Company

— What's the hardest part of managing a company with dozens of trucks?

— People. We have about 65 drivers, and every one of them is different.

One driver might be going down the highway, singing songs and smiling, while a wheel is about to fall off his truck.

But if that wheel comes off and hits somebody, I'm the one who will be held responsible.

Twenty-five years ago, this business wasn't regulated nearly as much as it is today. Now we have electronic logging devices, cameras, and many other requirements.

When you own one truck, you're mostly responsible for yourself. When you run an entire company, the responsibility is completely different.

Is Starting a Trucking Company in America Worth It?

— What advice would you give a driver who wants to start a trucking company?

— Times have changed a lot.

Today, it's hard to find a 20-year-old who dreams of owning a truck the way we did.

Before starting a trucking company, you need to learn a lot and think about it 150 times before deciding whether it's worth doing.

There may be other businesses today where you can make money with less risk.

— What does a trucking company need to be profitable?

— If you truly feel that trucking is what you want to do, start thinking about having your own repair shop right away.

Without my own truck repair shop, I don't know where I would find the profit.

Too much money goes into truck repairs, especially when trucks break down on the road.

To make a decent profit, you probably need at least 20 trucks.

It's also better to buy trucks with warranties. If your equipment constantly breaks down, repair costs can drive your company into bankruptcy.

— How much money does someone need to become an owner-operator?

— A used truck can cost anywhere from several tens of thousands of dollars to $100,000. A new truck costs around $200,000. You also need a trailer.

In a good market, an owner-operator might bring in $10,000 to $15,000 a month.

But that's not net profit. You still have to pay for fuel, insurance, repairs, and other expenses.

Many drivers buy their first truck and immediately start thinking about buying a second or third truck and hiring drivers.

I wouldn't recommend rushing into that.

Advice for New CDL Drivers

— What advice would you give someone who just graduated from CDL school and got their license?

— Be consistent and take things one step at a time.

First, get some solid experience with a good trucking company.

Work as a company driver, build a good credit history, and only then think about buying your own truck.

Working for a company will also help you understand whether trucking is really the right career for you.

Don't rush out and buy a truck just because someone told you how much money you could make as an owner-operator.

How to Choose a Trucking Company

— What else would you recommend to drivers when choosing a trucking company?

— Don't make decisions based on emotions.

Sometimes a driver gets upset and immediately says, "That's it. I'm leaving."

But someone who constantly jumps from one company to another loses respect, seniority, and their position within the team.

Let's say business slows down. Another driver is making 80 cents per mile, and you're making 70.

First, look at the situation. Talk to management, explain why you deserve a higher rate, and give it some time.

At a new company, they might deduct an insurance deposit from your pay. And because you're new, they might give you shorter runs where you make less money.

Sometimes companies promise 80 cents or even a dollar per mile, but they don't give you enough miles.

In the end, you might make less money than you did at your previous company.

That's why you shouldn't look only at the pay per mile. Look at how much money you can actually earn.

The Most Important Advice for Future Truck Drivers

— To sum it up, what's the most important thing for someone starting a trucking career in America?

— Get real experience and learn to take responsibility for your equipment.

In trucking, knowing how to drive isn't enough.

You need to understand your truck, keep it in good condition, and be ready to take responsibility for the people, the freight, and everything that happens on the road.