From bootstrap to best in class, Trappers Transport is a testament to the power of hard work, perseverance, and a commitment to quality that comes from deep within the heart of a trucker.
From humble beginnings that started with founder Dan Omeniuk, Trappers Transport has grown into one of the leading trucking companies in Canada, with 200 loyal employees and a state-of-the-art facility that ranks among the best in country.
“Our customers would say that we are a premium choice carrier,” said Dustin Omeniuk, Director of Sales and Marketing at Trappers and the son of founder Dan Omeniuk. “And that we operate out of the best facility in Manitoba, arguably the best in Western Canada, built from four decades of experience in the trucking industry.”
Trappers Transport now boasts hundreds of loyal long-time customers, a 40,000 square foot operation which includes a state-of-the-art maintenance facility with 20 drive-through bays, and 15 mechanics working on rotating shifts to maintain a fleet of approximately 150 trucks. Trappers can do everything they need to do in-house, from engine work to reefer rebuilds.
“The facility includes everything we always wanted for both our customers and our drivers,” said Omeniuk. “The way we have it set up allows us to run our operation to the quality standards that we have set for ourselves, and that our customers have come to expect and appreciate. And once you set an expectation, it becomes the new standard.”
And it all starts at the top.
“It all started with dad,” said Omeniuk, “It’s his vision that we’re built on. Employees who join the company are believers, they do their best to emulate the original standards he set, and our customers notice and appreciate that.”
A History of Quality
The Omeniuk family’s connection to the trucking industry goes back generations through Dustin Omeniuk’s parents, founder Dan and his wife Janet, and his grandparents Jimmy and Flo. Both his father and grandfather were truckers, and their wives provided the support they needed to survive and thrive in the trucking business.
Grandparents Jimmy and Flo owned an Esso Station in Grand Rapids, Manitoba. Jimmy drove a truck and Flo was the rock that held the operation together in the early days.
“Flo was like the Chief Administration Officer,” said Omeniuk. “Jimmy was a truck driver, as were all his brothers. They were into hauling gravel and whatnot. So dad grew up in an era of seeing independent truckers and watching his mother do everything including from dispatch planning to office supervision, customer service and more.”
Jimmy and Flo sold the Esso station in Grand Rapids after 10 years of operation and moved to Birds Hill Manitoba, where Jimmy returned to trucking as an owner-operator for Westman Culvert and Dan decided to pursue a career in trucking.
“He just said he was done with school,” said Omeniuk. “He was going trucking and that was it. He bought himself a truck, got it rolling, bought another one, and just found a way to keep going. He scratched pennies to make a nickel.”
The family’s trucking business grew from Dan’s vision of independence and camaraderie among truckers. “He got his buddies and trucking friends together,” said Omeniuk. “He explained what he was trying to do and asked them if they wanted to be part of it. Their answer?
‘Yeah! Let’s go trucking!’
“They were all in,” said Omeniuk. “It was like a brotherhood. It was fun. It was an adventure. They started out working in dark, grungy, cold, terrible working conditions over 30 years ago and what you see today is a result of 40 years experience in the trucking business and all the things we always wish we had. We can do everything we need to in-house. That includes engine work, reefer rebuilds, and much more, all done by our own mechanics.”
When asked if his father had to make a fortune to put it all together, Omeniuk replied:
“The banks will give you money, but you have to have to have a business plan that makes sense. And all the little extras we have here to benefit our customers, our drivers and our employees, cost tens of thousands of dollars. You need good people sourcing things for you, and you can’t be pennywise and pound foolish. You pay for it up front or you pay for it in the long run. You’re better off to have the quality from the start and not have to pay for it later, so that’s what we did.”
The building has been in place for almost 10 years, but Trappers Transport has been in business since 1985.
“We came from nothing,” said Omeniuk. “When my dad started, my mom was working in the Safeway deli. They worked together. She was giving him cash so that he could get up and down the road and pay his expenses and fuel bills. He built this business on sheer grit and determination, but mom was a big part of that, and their excellent work and commitment to quality in the early days has withstood the test of time.”
Dan and Janet Omeniuk have been married for over 30 years and have always supported each other.
“Mom was the backbone of the business,” said Omeniuk. “She was the yin to dad’s yang, the peanut butter to his jelly. This would never have happened without her. Women are super important in this business. If you don’t have their support, you’re on your own, which makes it very difficult.”
The Trappers Transport’s growth story is one of consistent focus on quality, something that has been ingrained in the company’s culture from the very beginning. Founder Dan took immense pride in his work, and he was able to subcontract other top drivers, earning a reputation for quality early in the process. His reputation for quality and attention to detail also earned him a loyal following of customers, who would often request him specifically.
“It all started with dad,” said Omeniuk, who has seen the consequences of compromising and always strives to maintain the lofty standards set by his father.
“His quality standards are what we’re built on. He took immense pride in his work. If you saw him on the road in the ’80s, you were like, ‘I want to work with that guy.’ That emphasis on quality continues to this day. Everyone here takes pride in what they do. Employees who join the company are believers in dad’s vision and do their best to emulate the original standards he set.”
The Trappers Transport name was derived from Dan’s connection with the Indigenous people in northern Manitoba. His original hand airbrushed trailers featured a mural of dog sled being pulled by wolves.
“Dad grew up in Grand Rapids and the Indigenous people there nicknamed him Trapper Dan because he was always hunting, fishing, and taking part in other activities with them,” said Omeniuk. “When he went into business, he just decided to call it Trappers Transport. He did a lot of work with the bands up north. We still go up to Norway House and Cross Lake twice a week delivering groceries, and we’ve been doing that for more than 20 years.”
Dan Omeniuk’s legacy lives on in Trappers Transport. Although he is now “totally hands-off” and “remotely involved” in the business, the values he instilled within the company form the basis of Trappers Transport today – high quality, exceptional customer service, camaraderie among truckers, and a brotherhood that makes trucking an adventure.
The company has a four-person executive team, including Dan’s son Dustin, the Director of Sales and Marketing, as well as a VP of Operations, a Chief Financial Officer, and a Director of Maintenance, who are responsible for overseeing various aspects of the business including trucks, trailers, dispatchers, planning, marketing, sales and especially customer service.
“You have to start with quality,” said Omeniuk. “But after that, it’s all about your relationship with customers and your employees. They’re going to market your product for you, and it absolutely works.”