Before launching Classic Transport, Richard was an experienced truck driver who worked for other companies. He and Hattie agreed it was time to start their own operation, which hauls dirt, sand, asphalt, gravel, hot/cold mix, boulders, broken concrete, demolition materials, and aggregate.
“The difference in working for ourselves is we are responsible for everything, right down to being responsible when a truck runs out of fuel or needs maintenance. Not only do we have the responsibilities of making sure job sites are okay, it’s also about looking after our drivers,” he explained.
Hattie enrolled in SBOP to learn how to do business with Clark County and Richard often accompanied her to class.
“I believe the greatest benefit of SBOP was meeting the connections you get with different businesses, and people like the one who does the DBE certification--pretty much, making contacts, which is what you need to do in business,” said Richard.
In the earliest days of operation, Classic Transport worked locally for brokers in the trucking industry. The company’s focus changed after eight months of operation when the firm earned its first small business certification, a DBE (disadvantaged business enterprise) designation through McCarran International Airport. Hattie and Richard were quick to realize that certification could increase their odds of landing new business.
“There are contracts with set-asides for projects that receive federal funding and a portion of that is set aside just for companies like ours,” said Richard.
That knowledge inspired the pair to earn an impressive list of certifications. Their certifications, paired with good work performance, have helped them continuously attract new business.
“We stay extremely busy and may be the busiest people we know,” laughed Hattie. “We are certified as MBE, WBE, WOSB, EDWOSB, and ESB. We also have a mining certification through MSHA (Mine Safety and Health Administration) and a FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) certification, which qualified our company to work in emergency situations such as natural disasters or mining accidents.”
“In emergencies we may be called to help animals and people, hauling dirt and water, and debris. For example, when there was flooding in Mesquite, there was a lot of debris that needed to be cleared and it can take weeks to do work like that, sometimes with as little as 12 hours notice. We are lucky because we get really good drivers and we work to make sure everything is good, ” Hattie said.
Richard said the company expands its fleet as needed to meet the demands of the workload, which is growing at a steady pace.
“We have a couple-million dollar job coming up in Ely in a month and we might be there for two work seasons, and we are looking forward to another that may have us bouncing back and forth between locations a little bit. We have started reaching out more toward northern Nevada because there seems to be a lot of better-paying jobs there. We are also working on a contract with the Forestry Department,” said Richard.
He added, “We may be too small to broker out something for the federal government, but by this time next year, we are on track to be running out of two or three cities. On some jobs, we are the main trucking company onsite, and eventually may become a prime on those types of jobs,”
Richard said he would advise fellow business owners daunted by the idea of getting certified to look at every option.
“Don’t sell yourself short. Some companies are out there charging thousands of dollars to help you get certified but there are a lot of things you don’t have to pay for that people are charging for. For example, DBE certification is free of charge and you can fill out your own paperwork free of charge,” he said.
In addition to running Classic Transport, Hattie owns one company that sells soap and bath salts, and another that sells women’s accessories. Together she and Richard are preparing to launch a small business consulting company.
In their spare time, the Igartuas said they volunteer and support community organizations that are working to help the homeless. Giving back to the community in true entrepreneurial spirit.
