Today we’d like to introduce you to Cristy Jennings.
Hi Cristy, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I grew up in El Paso and later in the Houston area, raised by parents who believed deeply in hard work and in being able to stand on your own. As a first-generation American, that message carried even more weight. College wasn’t a realistic option for us financially, so I chose a practical path, a secretarial school, which led to my first professional role at Exxon. Those early experiences shaped my confidence, my discipline, and my ability to navigate complex responsibilities.
Over time, I found myself drawn to leadership roles in the nonprofit world. I eventually served as Executive Director of the Fort Bend County Women’s Center and later the Center for Psychoanalytic Studies. Those years taught me how to build teams, manage crises, and keep an organization steady — skills that quietly prepared me for what came next.
326 Trucking grew from a mix of family, faith, and timing. My husband, Tom, had been in the trucking and construction world for years but never quite found a place that felt like home. We decided to build something ourselves, and in 2019, I founded 326 Trucking. Like many new businesses, we experimented at first — thinking we’d operate as a broker-carrier — until we realized our strength was in being a pure brokerage. Figuring out the right model, the right systems, and especially the right pay structure to retain excellent owner-operators took time and persistence.
Launching right before COVID pushed all that learning into overdrive. We leaned on prayer, problem-solving, and a lot of cold calling. We made mistakes, including taking on a job that didn’t give our drivers full days, which taught us that not every opportunity is worth pursuing. But slowly, the business found its rhythm. As we grew, we hired our first full-time staff member, my niece Stephanie, after initially having my nephew help process tickets part-time. That was the moment I realized we were building something real.
What sets 326 Trucking apart today is simple: relationships. Tom visits our customers weekly, staying connected to their needs and helping them match materials with hauling opportunities. Our owner-operators know they can call or text us anytime. Our internal systems give them full transparency on their loads and payments, and we make everything as seamless as possible, including accepting electronic tickets instead of paper. Our admin team builds real working relationships with customer admin teams, helping resolve issues quickly and keeping everyone on the same page.
A good day for me is when the sun is shining, our drivers are running full days, and everything goes smoothly… no weather delays, wrong loads, or job-site complications. Days like that mean families are earning, customers are happy, and all the moving parts are working the way they should.
What I’m most proud of is the stability we’ve been able to offer. Many of our owner-operators have grown from one truck to multiple because of the steady work we provide, and many of our customers have been with us for three to five years, nearly the entire life of our business. We’ve also made hard decisions when necessary, including ending relationships with partners who weren’t treating their own drivers well. Our reputation matters deeply, and so does the livelihood of the families who rely on us.
As a woman in a male-dominated industry, I haven’t personally faced many misconceptions, but I do believe women can do any job they set their mind to. Early in my career, I led a welfare-to-work program that matched women with corporations, often in fields dominated by men, and I saw firsthand how capable they were when given the opportunity. The best advice I ever received was to surround myself with people who know more than I do, and that’s exactly what I’ve done in every chapter of my career.
Today, 326 Trucking supports 40–50 owner-operators a day, all on hauls that get them home every night. It’s still a family business, Tom serving as Executive Vice President, and my daughter Crissy now stepping in as Executive Managing Director. We’re built on Christian values, dependability, and the belief that steady work can change lives. And as we look ahead, we’re hoping to double in size so we can support even more families in the coming year.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Like most small businesses, especially those in construction and trucking, the road hasn’t always been smooth. In the beginning, we were really trying to figure out who we were. We thought we might operate as a broker-carrier, and after testing that model, we realized it wasn’t the best fit for us or our trucks. Refining the business into a brokerage-only structure took time, patience, and a lot of trial and error.
One of the biggest challenges early on was learning what kept owner-operators committed, especially in an industry where consistency can be hard to come by. We had to develop the right pay structure, the right communication systems, and the right kind of dependable work to keep good drivers with us. We also learned the hard way that not every job is a good job. In the early years, we took on a project that didn’t provide full days of work for our trucks, and as a result, some of our owner-operators began leaving. That experience taught us to take on only work that aligns with our values and supports the livelihoods of the drivers who rely on us.
Launching just before COVID added a whole new layer of complexity. Not only were we building a business, but we were doing so amid unprecedented uncertainty. We leaned heavily on faith, prayer, and creativity — cold calling customers, adjusting our model, and doing everything we could to keep trucks moving safely.
Through it all, the most significant ongoing challenge has been the industry’s day-to-day unpredictability. Weather, job-site delays, customers changing needs, trucks breaking down — it all affects our owner-operators’ income. Our job is to navigate those challenges with honesty and transparency so our drivers and customers always know where things stand.
But every struggle has sharpened who we are today: a company built on resilience, adaptability, and the belief that relationships matter more than shortcuts.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
326 Trucking is a brokerage that specializes exclusively in aggregate hauling — moving materials like sand, gravel, and limestone for concrete and construction projects across the Houston region. What makes us different is the way we operate behind the scenes. We’re known for reliability, hands-on communication, and the strong relationships we build with both our customers and our owner-operators.
We’ve created systems that give drivers complete transparency into their loads, schedules, and payments, and we keep the process as simple as possible — including accepting electronic tickets instead of paper. On the customer side, Tom personally visits job sites weekly to stay aligned with their needs and help match opportunities with available material sources. That level of attention isn’t typical in our industry, but it’s become part of our identity.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud that we’ve become a steady, trusted partner. Many of our customers have stayed with us for years, and many of our owner-operators have been able to grow their fleets because of the consistency we provide. At its heart, 326 Trucking is a family business built on Christian values, dependability, and a commitment to helping other families thrive. Our goal is simple: provide excellent service, keep our word, and make sure everyone gets home safely at the end of each day.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
We love building strong partnerships, and there are several ways people can work with us or support what we’re doing at 326 Trucking. On the customer side, we collaborate with construction companies, concrete companies, quarries, site contractors, material suppliers, developers, and counties who need reliable aggregate hauling. Whether it’s a one-time project or ongoing daily work, our focus is always on providing dependable service and clear communication.
We are also actively recruiting qualified owner-operators in the Houston, Austin, and San Antonio regions. We work exclusively with end-dumps (aluminum units are ideal for many of our routes) and we’re always looking for hardworking operators who want consistent, well-organized work.
The community can support us in simple but meaningful ways: referring strong owner-operators, connecting us with businesses that need hauling, following us on social media, or simply sharing our name with someone who might benefit from our services.
We also welcome professional partnerships. We frequently collaborate with other trucking brokerages, material suppliers, construction firms, and municipal or county agencies. For us, collaboration isn’t just about moving material, it’s about creating long-term relationships that help multiple businesses succeed.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://326trucking.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/326trucking/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/326trucking
- Twitter: https://x.com/326trucking
