Community Highlights: Meet John Hollingsworth of On The Grind Trucking

Today we’d like to introduce you to John Hollingsworth.

Hi John, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My journey to where I am now really started during the pandemic in 2020. It was a challenging period after leaving the restaurant business that served as a wake-up call. I was able to view the downtime and absence of distractions as the catalyst needed to explore other opportunities. This helped me to fortify my resilience and expand my skill set. With this renewed mindset, I leveraged my contacts in the trucking industry, an area where I always had an interest. This was the stepping stone for me to venture out again and establish my own business. After thorough research and identifying a market need, I founded ‘On The Grind Trucking’ in 2020. This venture started as a trucking company hauling loads and has since blossomed into a thriving local and long-distance moving company.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not at all. One of the biggest hurdles has been navigating the complex world of trucking in California. The state laws and regulations, high insurance premiums, combined with federal compliance requirements, means there’s a lot of red tape to manage. Keeping up with these numerous compliance demands is a job in itself.

Competition in the moving industry is cutthroat, especially when you’re trying to compete against larger, more established companies and brokers. The first broker I worked with ended up stealing thousands of dollars over the course of several months. Being reliant on them for jobs, my business could have ended before it really started.

Lastly, staffing has always been a challenge, particularly in finding the right drivers and crew members. But over time, we’ve developed a keen eye for hiring the right people for the job, which has been crucial in building a successful team and growing the business.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
On The Grind Trucking is a premium moving company. We are proudly black-owned and operated, based in Southern California with a hub in Atlanta. We specialize in local and long-distance moves, handling everything from small apartment relocations to large corporate transfers, coast to coast. Our services extend beyond just moving; we offer storage solutions, packing services, and debris removal, ensuring a comprehensive package for our clients.

What sets us apart in the industry is that we operate as a carrier, not a broker. This distinction is crucial for our customers. With brokers, you don’t know who is showing up on move day. When clients book with us, they’re working directly with the team that will handle their move, eliminating the guesswork. This allows us to guarantee that your possessions aren’t transferred to a different truck or held up in storage for weeks. Since we own our fleet, we can provide dedicated trucks and direct delivery. This translates to less handling of your goods and faster, more reliable delivery service. Think of us as the Amazon Prime of moving!

I’m particularly proud of the impact we’ve had on our community. As a company owned and operated by black men, we’ve created employment opportunities for hundreds of individuals, including those who have faced incarceration and those entering the workforce for the first time. This is not just a statistic for us; it’s a core part of our identity and mission. We’re a growing business, learning through trial and error and constantly evolving to provide the best service while, uplifting our community.

What are your plans for the future?
In response to the surge in our business over the past few months, we are expanding our footprint into Northern California, Washington, Texas, and Colorado. We are also scaling up our sales team to help manage the influx of business, and maintain the high level of service our clients expect from us.

A development in the near future we’re excited for is our recent strategic partnerships with a major university and Devyne Stephens Academy, a private high school. Through this initiative, we will offer students the chance to learn about our industry, gain practical skills, and receive school credit. Our aim is to help these students build confidence and prepare them to be productive members of the workforce.

These steps are not just about growing our business; they reflect our commitment to providing quality service and reaching out to more communities. We’re excited about these changes and look forward to the opportunities they will bring to our company and our customers.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.onthegrind.org
• Instagram: @Onthegrindtrucking
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/on-the-grind-trucking-burbank?osq=on+the+grind+trucking&override_cta=Get+pricing