Truck Drivers Defend Sparhawk as Wisconsin Carrier Shuts Down After Decades in Business

Truck drivers working with Sparhawk Trucking are speaking publicly about the Wisconsin carrier as operations come to an end, with several saying they plan to stand by the company and its owner until the final day.

During an interview involving company drivers and independent contractors, participants said owner-operators were being shut down as they returned from their final trips. One driver said he had delivered his last load that same day, while another said he was about 1,800 miles from home and still did not know what his next move would be.

The discussion came as the host referenced reports that the Wisconsin Rapids trucking business was closing and that 74 employees were being laid off. The drivers, however, focused much of the conversation on their experience with the company and with Mark Sparhawk, who they said took over the business after it was founded by his father, Tom.

Several drivers described unusual financial support they said they had received while working with Sparhawk. One owner-operator claimed the company helped him through roughly $38,000 in maintenance expenses, while another said he had accumulated around $60,000 in repair costs after engine and rear-end problems. Both said they were allowed time to repay the money.

Another driver said he initially joined Sparhawk as a company driver before leasing a truck and claimed Mark later helped him with money for a house down payment. Others described an open-door relationship with management and said they were willing to remain with the carrier because of how they had been treated over the years.

The shutdown appears to be leaving only a limited number of workers behind temporarily. According to the drivers, some company drivers are expected to move equipment to auction locations, while mechanics remain to prepare and clean up company assets.

Drivers also claimed the carrier had continued generating revenue despite its financial difficulties. One participant said the business had once operated close to 200 trucks and was later down to around 86. The drivers said they believed the operation had been profitable even while going through Chapter 11 proceedings, although those financial claims were made by the interview participants and were not independently verified in the transcript.

Sparhawk’s history also played heavily in the discussion. Participants said the company dates back to 1979, giving the carrier roughly 47 years in business. Some drivers said that if Sparhawk were ever able to restart operations, they would consider returning.

The closure also comes at a difficult moment for Wisconsin Rapids, according to workers in the interview, who pointed to other local businesses and mills that have already shut down. For the drivers delivering their final loads, the immediate question now is where they will work next.