Episode #59: Michael Gerdin, Heartland Express

Real Success with Nate Kaeding

On Today's Episode: Michael Gerdin is the Chairman and CEO of Heartland Express, a truckload carrier based in North Liberty, IA that serves customers throughout the United States and Mexico, and has been a legacy business in Iowa since it was founded by Michael’s father, Russell Gerdin, in 1978.

Michael shares with me the humble origin story of Heartland Express, an inside look at the company’s landmark IPO, and how working his way to the top equipped him for success. He also shares thoughts on how Covid has impacted the trucking industry, what the future may hold for the company, and how he attributes a lot of the company’s success to his family’s propensity for saying no.

This podcast is sponsored by MidWest One Bank, the proud partner for doers and entrepreneurs in the corridor and beyond. As an SBA preferred lender, the team at MidWest One Bank is ready to help you reach your business goals. It's empowered money management. It's MidWest One Bank, Member FDIC. For more information, visit midwestone.bank.

This is the Real Success podcast, produced in partnership with former NFL athlete and entrepreneur Nate Kaeding. This monthly podcast is a collection of conversations with Iowa-connected doers about success, purpose, and what makes them tick. Our hope is that you’ll learn something new about these notable leaders and that the conversations will perhaps play some small part in helping you further define what real success means to you.

This is a Corridor Media Group podcast: Bringing critical business news, thoughtful analysis, and valuable strategic insights for business leaders throughout Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and the Quad Cities. For more information, visit corridorbusiness.com.

This episode was produced by Upload Media Group in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. For more information, visit UploadMediaGroup.com.