My name is Marcos “Rico” Claudio, founder of Rico MC Transit. This first post is an introduction not only to my company, but also to the person, purpose and experiences behind it. Every business begins with a reason. Mine began with the wrong idea: buy a semi-truck, lease it to somebody and make a profit from it.
Who I am
I was born in Jersey City, New Jersey, to Puerto Rican parents. Or, as I like to say, made in USA with Puerto Rican parts. Dad was an electrician and Mom a housewife. I’m the oldest of four: my brother, my two sisters and me. My parents moved to Puerto Rico when I was 4.
In 1991, during Operation Desert Storm, I tried to join the Army to go to Kuwait, but I was still underage. Later I joined the Puerto Rico National Guard, and then the Puerto Rico Police Department. In 2007 I moved from the National Guard to active duty, and my time in Puerto Rico was over. The Police Department gave me a military leave. I was supposed to return to the PRPD after my military service, but that never happened.
Then I retired from the Army, looked left and right, and there was nothing to do. After five deployments, criminal investigations, and protective services for the Secretary of the Army and later the Secretary of Defense, my life went from the 100 MPH of military life to the 5 MPH of military retirement.
From 100 MPH to 5 MPH. Something was not quite right.
Having nothing to do wasn’t right. Family and friends kept telling me, “That’s what retirement is. No work. Just relax and enjoy.”
The idea that would not let go
The idea for Rico MC Transit began with buying a commercial truck and putting a driver behind the wheel. My original plan seemed simple: pay the driver a salary and, after all the expenses, have at least $400 left each month for myself. I discovered that running a trucking business is nowhere near that simple.
First I learned I needed a Commercial Driver License before buying a truck, so I joined Swift Academy (a post about Swift is coming). During the academy, an instructor talked about riding with an experienced driver for a three-week mentorship and living in the same truck the whole time. I remember replying, “I don’t need that. I only need my CDL to buy a truck. I’m not planning to drive.” I was wrong again.
The instructor said, “If you want to buy your own truck, you still need to drive at least a year before a bank will approve you for a commercial vehicle loan.” Another obstacle. Why did something new come up every time before I could buy my own truck?
In the end, I finished the academy, passed the CDL driving test, completed two weeks of mentorship and was assigned my own Swift truck. Finally!
How Rico MC Transit was born
On my first day at Swift, a fleet manager in Phoenix, Arizona, opened my eyes to new possibilities. In a 45-minute conversation, he explained Swift’s Owner-Operator Program and walked me through the long process of owning a company outside Swift.
After one month as a company driver, I visited the Owner-Operator Division and asked, “Can I become an owner-operator?” A representative checked her computer and replied, “You’ve only been driving for one month. You need at least a year of experience to join the program.”
That same week, I met several owner-operators in the cafeteria. They invited me to sit with them and shared their experiences. I went back to the division in my second month and asked again. Still no: two months of experience, and I needed at least 12.
For the next several months, I asked every 30 days, heard the same answer, and kept learning from the owner-operators in the cafeteria. Then, in June, I asked once more. This time they said, “Yes, you can become an owner-operator.”
Surprised, I said, “But I’ve only been driving for seven months!” They said, “We know, but you’re good to go.” I asked if I could bring my current truck into the program. After checking, they confirmed I could transfer it from the company side to the owner-operator side.
Four years later, I left Swift, bought my own truck and started my own company.
What drives us today
Today, Rico MC Transit exists to provide reliable, professional transportation while building a company that grows with purpose and integrity. We help shippers, brokers and businesses move their freight safely and efficiently, with dependable trucking, clear communication and a commitment to getting the job done right. Our work is guided by three simple commitments:
- Reliability
- We do what we say we’re going to do.
- Communication
- We keep our customers informed and treat communication as part of the service, not an afterthought.
- Accountability
- We take responsibility for our work, our equipment and the freight entrusted to us.
What comes next
Building Rico MC Transit has been more than starting a business. It has been a way to turn my experience, values and hopes into meaningful work. We are still writing our story, and I’m grateful to everyone who chooses to be part of it.
In future posts, I’ll share the realities of building a trucking company, the challenges of running a small business, the lessons I’ve learned along the way, the people who have helped shape Rico MC Transit, and our vision for the future.
Thank you for being here. Whether you’re a customer, a fellow entrepreneur or simply interested in trucking, I’d love to hear your story, answer your questions or show you how Rico MC Transit can help. Follow along and be part of the journey.
