The Passion of TTS Agent Ruth Hanna
(June 24, 2009 - Dallas) When TTS agent Ruth Hanna rises up each morning, she has two primary passions that motivate her in life. By day, it is operating her thriving transportation agency located in Omaha, Nebraska. By night, it is playing competitive bridge with the likes of Warren Buffet. She has a great love for both of her passions.
Ruth opened the doors of her agency at the same time she joined Total Transportation Services in February of 2006. Up until then, she had always worked for someone else in the transportation industry in a variety of capacities starting back in 1966. Over time, her transportation career path has included time with Pillsbury, Holmquist Grain and Lumber Company, ConAgra and Commercial Terminal Services.
She got the urge to venture out on her own through the encouragement of others who saw great potential in her. Additionally, she had a growing desire to reap the rewards of her own efforts in building a business as an owner.
"I had always worked for someone else all my life and I felt the timing was right to give it a try and go out on my own," she said. "It was the best decision I have ever made and it has worked out very well."
A partnership with TTS made the decision even easier as she was able to tap into the resources she needed to successfully operate a transportation brokerage at a level she knew her customers would require.
With everything in place, Ruth notified her existing customers of her decision to venture out on her own. She found all of her customers to be very supportive and pledged to continue on with her as their transportation agent.
"I called each of my customers and told them I was starting my own deal and every one of them said they would go with me because it was me they had a relationship with over many years," Ruth said. "That was a happy day."
It wasn’t long before Ruth was experiencing success as an agent and reaping the rewards including being able to purchase a new car with cash within just a few short months.
"I was scared to death going out on my own but immediately realized I could make it work and that’s exactly what happened," she said. "After the first year I had easily doubled the highest salary I had ever made before then."
Her business is primarily intermodal with a variety of grain millers in Nebraska like Bunge Corporation who processes and distributes flour. She provides turnkey transportation services to her customers from field to the mill, and onto various distribution points throughout the country. She utilizes a combination of truck, rail and drayage to complete her customer’s logistic needs.
A transportation veteran with over 40 years in the industry, Ruth has served as the president of the Omaha Transportation Club in 1991 and was named their Transportation Person of the Year in 1995.
She said her partnership with Total Transportation Services has been a great relationship that has enabled her to grow her business in ways she could never have done alone. "I love TTS for all of their support and how responsive they are," she said. "I can call anytime and get immediate help with any need I have and their technology platform is second to none."
As for her other passion, duplicate bridge, Ruth just can get enough. She often plays 5 or 6 times a week in the evenings at several local bridge clubs in the Omaha area.
"I took up bridge about 14 years ago after growing up watching my father play and vowing never to play the game because it looked too boring," she said. "But a few years ago, a friend of mine ask me to give it a try. I did and was immediately hooked." Her growing bridge expertise has earned her the status of Silver Life Master.
Her passion for bridge has even enabled her to play competitive bridge against the likes of well know bridge aficionados Warren Buffet and Bill Gates. Buffet and Gates have appeared at several regional bridge tournaments she plays in with their pro bridge partners and body guards in tow.
"Playing against these two business titans can be a little intimidating but I hold my own," Ruth says. "I just focus on my cards and make the best plays I can."
Whether playing bridge or operating a business, Ruth Hanna seems to have the same approach which has led to great success in both.
Warren Buffet and Ruth Hanna at a recent bridge tournament