Fleet Owner Finds Room To Grow At Clean Harbors

STANSBURY PARK, UT – Growing up, Clean Harbors National Transportation Owner Operator Troy Thornton never thought he'd get behind the wheel for a living, let alone own his own fleet of trucks.

However, after entering the workforce, he soon realized the beauty of life on the road as an entrepreneur. Today, he owns and operates TRT Services, which consists of four semi-trucks that haul dry vans for Clean Harbors.

"My Dad worked for J.B. Hunt Transport Services and I never saw him," Thornton said. "I swore that would never be me, but here I am."

Initially, Thornton pursued a career in law enforcement, but the desire to own his own company propelled him toward trucking. He got his CDL in 2016 and started pulling tankers for other companies before buying his own truck in 2021 – the same year he approached Clean Harbors to begin a partnership.

Clean Harbors, operates its own fleet of trucks – dry vans, vacuum trucks, roll offs, end dumps, tankers, and more – throughout North America, but works with owner operators to increase its capabilities. The relationship appealed to Thornton, as Clean Harbors provided consistent work, along with critical resources – like a DOT number and insurance – he didn't need to obtain as a one-man shop.

Thornton started pulling hazardous waste along the west coast, and slowly, began purchasing more trucks and adding more drivers. Now, in 2023, his three other drivers also pull for Clean Harbors.

“I give Clean Harbors a lot of credit for helping me start my own fleet," Thornton said. "The company delivered on everything they promised and more. It was the right choice for me to achieve my goals."