Most people see the truck.
They see the load, the road, the job getting done.
But they don’t see the life behind it.
My husband Wayne and I started Durrett Transport & Recovery in 2015.
We didn’t set out to build a brand.
We didn’t have some big vision or perfect long-term plan.
We were simply trying to build a life.
Day by day.
Load by load.
One decision at a time.
What started as a way to earn a living slowly became something much bigger — something that would shape not only how we worked, but how we lived.
Over the years, life revolved around responsibility.
Running a business.
Raising kids.
Helping customers.
Solving problems.
Keeping things moving.
And somewhere in the middle of all of that, we learned that building something comes with a lot more than people see from the outside.
There were years where we questioned everything.
Times we wondered if we should quit.
If all the stress, the long days, the financial pressure, and the constant responsibility were worth it.
Running a small business, especially in the towing and transport industry, isn’t what most people think it is.
It’s not just driving a truck or moving vehicles from one place to another.
It’s responsibility.
It’s risk.
It’s learning.
It’s showing up even when you're tired, when things go wrong, and when you’re not sure exactly what the next step looks like.
And there were plenty of seasons that felt like “almost enough.”
Close enough to keep going…
but hard enough to make you question everything.
But somewhere along the way, something shifted.
We stopped seeing it as only a business.
We started seeing the life it was creating.
Not a perfect one.
Not an easy one.
But one that was ours.
A life built from hard work, faith, lessons learned, and a lot of figuring things out along the way.
That’s where Axles & Acres came from.
After years of focusing on what needed to be done, I realized there were also stories worth sharing.
The lessons from the road.
The quiet moments at home.
The things you learn about marriage, family, business, faith, and yourself while you’re busy building a life.
Axles & Acres became the place where all of that comes together.
The road and the land.
The work and the rest.
The struggles and the blessings.
Because one thing we’ve learned is this:
Meaningful things are usually built slowly.
In the early mornings.
In the long days.
In the ordinary moments nobody sees.
One mile.
One acre.
One step at a time.
We’re still in it.
Still learning.
Still growing.
Still building.
And if you’re in that place too — building a business, starting a new chapter, or simply trying to create a life that feels meaningful — you’re not alone.
This is part of our story.
And we’re glad you’re here.
— Brenda
Stories of soil & steel, building independence one acre & one mile at a time. 🌾
🌾 Continue Building
One of the reasons we created Axles & Acres is because we believe real experience should become practical help for someone else.
We're taking what years on the road have taught us and turning it into guides, tools, systems, and resources that may help someone else start a little smarter, avoid a few expensive mistakes, and build something that can last.
If you're building your own towing or auto transport business, these are a few good places to continue:
📘 Beginner's Guide to Non-CDL Towing — Trucks, equipment, licensing, setup, and some of the things worth understanding before you get too far down the road.
📙 From Setup to First Load — Finding work, building relationships, getting organized, understanding the business side, and preparing for those first loads.
📊 Profit & Loss Spreadsheet — The same simple type of spreadsheet I've used for years to understand where the money is really going, both in business and during my real estate career.
🛠 Helpful Resources — Equipment, systems, software, guides, and other things we've used, learned from, or found helpful along the way.
🚚 Tow Equipment & Reviews — Real-life looks at tools and equipment we actually use on the road and in the business.
💻 Behind the Scenes — The spreadsheets, systems, software, and everyday workflows that help us keep Durrett Recovery and Axles & Acres moving.
Take what helps.
Leave what doesn't.
Along the Way
If you'd like to see a little more of the life behind the work:
🚚 Life on the Axles — Real work, real roads, and lessons from towing, auto transport, and small business.
🌾 Life on the Acres — Real stories from home, the land, projects, marriage, and ordinary life on our little piece of land.
☀️ Brenda's Beacons — Personal reflections, recommendations, and the little lights I'm finding along the way.
🛒 Amazon Storefront — Browse the tools, books, road gear, acreage finds, and everyday things we actually use and recommend.
🎬 Along the Way — Watch the everyday pieces of Axles & Acres as they happen, from the road to the acres and everywhere in between.
If something here helped make the road ahead a little clearer, you're always welcome to subscribe to Axles & Acres or share this with someone else building their own towing or transport business.
Disclosure: Some links may be affiliate links, which help support Axles & Acres at no additional cost to you. We only recommend products, tools, and resources that have genuinely earned a place in our business and our lives. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
