Hauling the American Dream: How One Rural Family Business Built 50 Years of Momentum with Barry Selland - Entrepreneurs on Fire Recap

Podcast: Entrepreneurs on Fire

Published: 2025-12-22

Duration: 19 minutes

Guests: Barry Selland

Summary

Barry Selland discusses how his family business, Selland Trucking, has thrived for over 50 years by maintaining strong communication, passion, and a commitment to a family-oriented culture.

What Happened

Barry Selland, the President of Selland Trucking, shares the journey of how his multigenerational family business has successfully operated for over 50 years. Starting with agricultural roots, the company expanded from cattle hauling to become a nationwide flatbed and step-deck carrier.

Barry highlights the importance of communication, brutal honesty, and transparency in building a thriving family business. He believes that passion is crucial for longevity and that without a true love for the work, a business cannot survive tough times.

Selland Trucking's growth and success are attributed to the personal touch that rural entrepreneurs bring to their industries. Barry emphasizes that wearing every hat and maintaining personal relationships are key to succeeding in rural entrepreneurship.

Barry's mother, Barb Selland, played a pivotal role in starting the flatbed division of the company, and her efforts laid the foundation for the business's expansion. Barry's daughters, who were initially in the medical field, have also joined the family business, continuing the legacy.

Barry expresses pride in the family-oriented culture at Selland Trucking, which fosters loyalty, safety, and enthusiasm among their team. He attributes the company's success to treating employees with respect and maintaining a positive work atmosphere.

Reflecting on his experience with the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, Barry shares that it helped him organize his thoughts, build confidence, and plan for the future, especially with his daughters now involved in the business.

Barry discusses the challenges and opportunities facing rural businesses, particularly in adapting to technological advancements like AI while preserving the personal touch that defines rural entrepreneurship. He stresses the importance of loving what you do and being willing to put in the time and effort to succeed.

Barry encourages listeners, especially those feeling stuck in their current jobs, to pursue careers they are passionate about and to seek mentors and guidance to navigate their entrepreneurial journeys.

Key Insights

• Selland Trucking expanded from a cattle hauling business to a nationwide flatbed and step-deck carrier, demonstrating the scalability of rural family businesses in the transportation industry.
• The Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program helped Barry Selland organize his thoughts and plan for the future, facilitating the integration of his daughters into the family business.
• Technological advancements like AI present both challenges and opportunities for rural businesses, which must adapt while maintaining the personal touch that defines their entrepreneurial approach.
• Barb Selland initiated the flatbed division of Selland Trucking, laying the foundation for the company's expansion and demonstrating the impact of strategic diversification in family businesses.