Aaron Craddock

CEO @ and Craddock Holdings 📈Truck Driver Recruitment Marketing and Tech | Interests: Building Technology Businesses | Real Estate

[Aaron Craddock @abcraddock]

This little guy almost did not make it.

Two weeks after we brought Theodore home, we took him to the vet thinking it would be routine, and that he was just a little sick.

I expected a quick exam, some medicine, and back home.

Instead, his blood work came back and everything changed.

The vet told us he needed to be admitted immediately and might not make it.
For the next six days, it was touch and go. Good updates, bad updates, a lot of uncertainty, and a lot of tears with Lauren and our boys.

One little known fact about me is before I went into business, I wanted to be a vet. I have always loved animals, so this hit me HARD.

Thankfully, Theodore is doing so much better now, this picture is from this morning!

Theodore is back to being a happy puppy. Getting into things, playing, and bringing a lot of joy into our home.

Thankful for incredible vets in Austin, answered prayers, and this little guy being home with us.

#Gratitude #Family #AnsweredPrayers

[Aaron Craddock @abcraddock]

Thank you for the referrals, we have gotten 143 Applications for our open Digital Marketing Specialist role, based out of Austin, TX!

Days of reviewing applications and resumes, now to the fun part, 7 initial interviews over the next 3 days.

Next up, 109 applications to review for the open Client Success Coordinator role, also based out of Austin, TX, and starting interviews this week as well.

Why do I spend soooo much time on this? Building a culture and the right team at a rapidly growing marketing technology company, is the most important thing I can focus my time on. People + Technology and AI is where we win. We need the right people to serve our clients with excellence. We need people hungry to grow, and make the industry and everyone around them better.

Hope your week is off to a great start!

[Aaron Craddock @abcraddock]

@FreightAlley Congrats!

[Aaron Craddock @abcraddock]

Epic Truck, Lot's of Gratitude for the Trucking Industry

Happy Friday! Now that the truck got your attention, I want to walk you through a quick exercise.

1) What are you stressed about today?

2) Sometimes your stressors today are things you dreamed about having 5-10 years ago. - More work, a Spouse, A Dog, Kids

3) Turn the stressors, into gratitude. EX: I am thanful to be busy doing the hard work of improving relationships, managing business growth, getting a new puppy next week, running kiddos around that I dreamed of having years ago, working on tough conversations with my wife and growing together.

Thats it! This helped me this week with busy schedules, Lauren's book launch and travels, new business, etc.

Have a great weekend!

**Thank you Bennett Family of Companies for graciously allowing me to sit in the beautiful rig for a minute at the Mid-America Trucking Show.

#growthmindset #getmotivation

[Aaron Craddock @abcraddock]

My #1 Book Recommendation for the week (and likely the year)!

I'll admit, I am a bit biased, but Amazon put Own With Intention, by Lauren Craddock as the top seller in multiple categories, including "Transformational" within hours of launch.

I was one of Lauren's most reluctant students, but have first hand seen the benefits of letting things go.

The unlock for me, is what I gain, as I don't let the acquiring and managing of just more stuff monopolize my time as much anymore.

I can contribute the the world more, and have more of an impact with my time!

The reviews and feedback of people gaining back their freedom already is mind blowing.

Don't miss out, grab a copy today on Amazon!

#getmotivation #ownwithintention

[Aaron Craddock @abcraddock]

Link to Register! https://t.co/mxhgGoadAX

[Aaron Craddock @abcraddock]

6 Days Out! --> My beautiful wife Lauren Craddock's book Launch.
Our lives are not simple, they are complex. We live on mission as a family, and track impact.
We have applied these principles the last few years (imperfectly, i'll admit), Lauren teaches in the book, and in her coaching and speaking.
We have less stuff, yes, and are careful what we bring into our home.
However, this message is not about that. This book is about freeing up time to do More impactful things and love God and love people better.
Our lives are a challenge, because of what we pursue individually and as a family.
Prioritizing date night, sabbath, mini adventures with the 3 boys, building multiple businesses, serving, podcasts, epic adventures, and leading are not easy and take time.
It's amazing how much more you can live on purpose when you develop habits and disciplines around what you own. Own things that inspire, and don't have to spend every weekend organizing and picking things up!
Link in the comments if you want to register for the launch:
#ownwithintention #booklaunch

[Aaron Craddock @abcraddock]

Alpacas + date night.

Nothing crazy.
Just time to talk.
With multiple businesses and 3 boys 5 and under, it would be easy to skip it.

We don’t.

We call it living on purpose.

Make time to connect. It doesn’t happen by accident.

#getmotivation

[Aaron Craddock @abcraddock]

“That’s impossible for me.”

Someone said that yesterday when I told them I’m cutting the last 16 pounds to get in my best shape since college.

I used to believe that too.

Most of the time, it’s not reality.
It’s a limiting belief.
Add accountability.
Add the right people.
Watch what happens.

Gym 5x/week.
DEXA done. Re-test in 90 days.
90% real food.
Maybe it’s not impossible.
Maybe you’re capable of more than you think.

Let’s go!!!
#getmotivation

[Aaron Craddock @abcraddock]

@Jason Agreed. Made the move to Austin 4 years ago, not looking back! Love the culture, the Lakes, and business opportunities in the great state of Texas!

[Aaron Craddock @abcraddock]

Some of the most successful people I know all agree on one regret. It has nothing to do with money.

Every week, I ask one question: Did I spend real time with my boys?

Last week was simple. Bowling and a pet store trip.

Plan the adventures. The year depends on it.

#getmotivation #growthmindset

[Aaron Craddock @abcraddock]

Freight is downstream of everything

Data centers don’t just appear
They require steel, concrete, energy, equipment
That’s flatbed demand

Then it pulls through:
Dry van
Specialized

At the same time:
Driver supply tightening
Enforcement increasing
Truck orders ramping

Cycles don’t start when everyone agrees
They start when signals don’t look obvious
We’re starting to see it

#Trucking #Freight #driverrecruiting

[Aaron Craddock @abcraddock]

Be the person in the room who asks more questions, and listens in a way to learn, not to respond. (Reminder to myself!)

Be curious today!

#growthmindset

[Aaron Craddock @abcraddock]

Happy Monday!
I’m excited about AI right now.

However, if I’m being honest, a little overwhelmed too.
As a small, entrepreneurial company, with an incredible AI enabled team, we can now do things at scale that used to be reserved for much larger teams and companies.

That part is energizing, and at the same time, new tools are popping up daily.
Opportunities everywhere! REAL opportunities. I want to personally try every new piece of tech.

However, the reality is, I can’t explore all of them.
There are probably 100 good things I could do today. Not just good things, but things that will meaninfully help our team, clients, and vision for Hire Truckers!

I’ll realistically execute on one. Maybe half of one. Also, I can also help guide out team toward high impact things in clients success, ops, dev, sales, etc. I wish I had 100 hrs a day right now, and could just work, ha. However, I also have to focus on my health, realationships, family, etc.

So the question becomes:
What actually matters in our business?

Right now, I’m focusing on a simple filter:
Does this help us better serve our clients and help us move faster in a meaningful way?

AI isn’t slowing down.
However, we still have to choose where to focus.

Where do you stand?
Are you all in, overwhelmed, or somewhere in between?

#AI #GrowthMindset #DriverRecruiting

[Aaron Craddock @abcraddock]

I asked 20 large fleets the same question over the last two weeks.
What are you seeing right now?

Their answers were almost identical on the Truckload side (LTL is not far behind).
“We have the trucks.”
“We have the freight, and are even cutting the bottom 10-20%.”
“We need drivers.”

Not just any drivers.
Quality drivers, with experience and a good safety record.

There is real pressure right now to scale and not miss this window.
At the same time, regulators are tightening enforcement.

1) 17,000 drivers already taken out of service.
2) More scrutiny on CDL issuance.
3) More focus on fraud and bad actors.

This is not a normal cycle.
This is a pressure build.

The fleets that win will not be the ones who react fastest.
They will be the ones who prepared early.

Are you ready to fill your trucks before everyone else tries to?

Reach out to our team at Hire Truckers for help filling your trucks at scale!

#DriverRecruiting #GrowthMindset #HireTruckers

[Aaron Craddock @abcraddock]

Yesterday, I had the honor of baptizing our oldest son, Noah.
An incredible moment on its own!

However, what made it even more meaningful was watching a video of his great-grandfather, recorded years ago, sharing his one prayer:

That Noah would accept Jesus at an early age.

Yesterday, that prayer was answered.

Dunking Noah, in front of our church here in Austin, I was reminded that what we do today echoes far beyond us.

Faith. Family. Legacy.

What we pray for, invest in, and model matters more than we realize. Especially for future generations, as our time here on earth is short.

Dream Big. Think Bigger.

#Faith #Family #Legacy

[Aaron Craddock @abcraddock]

I'm Thankful this Friday!

1) I am thankful for my 3 boys, and that I can put fun little things around the house I know they will notice at some point today, and get joy from.

2) Thankful my boys build creations each day, and artwork, and leave them on my bedside table.

3) Thankful for God's grace (which I still need daily), and Jesus' sacrifice for me on this Good Friday.

Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13

Have a great Friday, what are you thankful for?

[Aaron Craddock @abcraddock]

@FreightAlley And it’s just beginning! Love this data

[Aaron Craddock @abcraddock]

The trucking market is heating up again,
and this time feels different.

Over the past couple weeks, my team and I spoke with over 20 of the largest fleets in the country.

Same message across the board:
1) Opportunity is back.
2) Pressure to scale is rising.
3) (Qualified, Safe, and Experienced) Drivers are the constraint.

Then I was at the Mid-America Trucking Show last weekend and heard directly from Sean Duffy and leaders at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

- 17,000 drivers already removed for English proficiency.
- Non-domicile CDL issues bigger than expected.
- Crackdown on fraud and ghost carriers underway.

We are not just entering a stronger market with spot rates spiking quickly.
We are removing supply at the same time demand is increasing.
That combination moves fast.

If you are not preparing your recruiting strategy now, you may already be behind.

#TruckingIndustry #DriverRecruiting #HireTruckers

[Aaron Craddock @abcraddock]

The past: Bad Rules, Bad Actors, Bad Enforcement, Non-English Speaking CDL Holders

Thank you Transportation Secretary @SeanDuffyWI for speaking with us at MATS.

Coming soon:

English Only Tests, English Speaking Required for getting CDL.

Cracking Down on Ghost Companies / Fraud

More enforcement across the board, making our roads safer.

Spot Rates Should Continue to Rise

I appreciate how Sean and the team are open for ideas from industry leaders, company owners, and American drivers.

#mats2026 #truckshow