JACKSON TWP — When Tom Wylie started a delivery service with his older brothers more than 30 years ago, he had no idea it would evolve into a transportation company using 40 vehicles.

“We started with one truck,” he said.

The brothers started driving from their Forward Township home on Reibold Road in 1983 when Wylie was 20.

He said it took a few years to build up to multiple vehicles. MHF incorporated in 1986.

As the company expanded, Wylie was the only brother to remain.

In 1990, MHF relocated to the site of the former Halstead copper mill off Grandview Boulevard in Zelienople.

However, Mother Nature eventually necessitated a move. Wylie said the effects of Hurricane Ivan in 2004 waterlogged the site.

“After the flood happened, we left the facility,” he said.

Fortunately for the company, it already owned the current site, which was the former Pittsburgh Cut Flowers, commonly known as the Zelienople Greenhouse.

MHF kept expanding its fleet and entering new businesses unrelated to trucking.

“We operated several warehouses,” Wylie said.

By 2000, MHF had 200 trucks.

Lisa Harris, MHF controller/corporate secretary, said economics, especially the 2007-08 national financial crisis, led to downsizing.

The company now uses 40 commercial trucks — 20 owned by MHF with another 20 driven by owner-operators.

“We do a lot of retail products,” Wylie said.

Along with delivering items to retail chains, MHF moves military supplies to U.S. depots. The manufacturers of those products, not the military, are MHF's clients.

Each week, the company has 160 to 180 deliveries of domestic products across the continental U.S.

“We'll go all the way to California,” Harris said.

However, Texas is typically the farthest destination.

“The vast majority, 95 percent, is east of the Mississippi,” Wylie said.

Harris said the company values its drivers, a number of whom are industry veterans.

“We're fortunate in having a number of drivers who have been with us for five-plus years,” she said.

The longest tenured driver has been with MHF for 18 years.

However, Harris said state and federal transportation regulations are making it difficult to keep drivers for longer tenures, which is disadvantageous.

“Those guys have the experience,” he said.

Along with Pennsylvania Department of Transportation requirements, truck drivers are evaluated for compliance, safety and accountability under the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Constantly evolving federal environmental regulations are another complication.

“The current administration is a lot more restrictive,” Wylie said.

He said the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency now requires additional steps in truck manufacturing to reduce emissions from diesel exhaust.

He said the result is that a new truck that cost $85,000 a few years ago now goes for $120,000.

“The trucking industry is a tough industry,” Harris said. “Many companies can't afford to comply.”

MHF pays its 20 drivers weekly and the 20 owner-operators within two days of a trip.

“It's all cash flow,” Harris said.

Wylie said varying interpretation of vehicle code also complicates operations.

“There's so many variants with law enforcement,” he said.

Harris pointed out transportation companies don't need to be overregulated because it's in their best interest to ensure safe practices are followed.

She said MHF is dependent on loads arriving safely.

According to Harris, the key to a trucking company's survival is the diversification of its clientele.

Wylie said MHF never stops searching for new clients.

“You're always looking for new quality customers,” he said.

Wylie said perpetually searching for new routes helps offset the loss of existing clients, which is caused by such factors as a company going out of business or relocating.

Bad weather isn't as problematic as it may seem. Wylie said a good driver can handle adverse road conditions. He relies on the drivers' judgment.

“I don't second guess it,” he said.

Harris credits MHF's location with helping obtain business since it's close to Interstate 79, the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Route 19. Wylie agreed MHF is situated in the right place.

Deliveries run Monday through Friday, giving drivers the weekends off.

Wylie and Harris are among the 10 people staffing the company office.

Harris said the company's staff size is preferable for more than just fiscal considerations, citing a closer involvement in day-to-day operations.

“There's more satisfaction when it's smaller,” she said.

<B>Address</B>: 2328 Evans City Road<B>Phone</B>: 724-452-3900<B>President</B>: Tom Wylie<B>Employees</B>: 30 with another 20 owner-operators<B>What it does</B>: Moves items across the country