Threes and Eights for One of TA’s Greats!

After more than four decades in the transportation industry, and nearly 37 of those years spent dedicated to TA Services, one of the four original founding members, Jackie Askelson, is booking her last loads, putting the transportation industry in her back pocket, and retiring from her position as Vice President of Brokerage Operations on Tuesday, January 31st.

Jackie Askelson began her career in the transportation industry four plus decades back. As one of the four founding members, she helped to establish Team America—known today as TA Services—as a brokerage company back in 1986 with the sole purpose of servicing Gerdau Special Steel’s mill plant (formerly known as Chaparral Steel). As the story goes, TA Services was founded on little more than a handshake and a promise – to never let the mill plant in Midlothian, Texas shut down. [Click here for the full story on our relationship with Gerdau]

Throughout her career, Jackie has more than upheld that promise. With the expansion of TA’s service offerings through organic and acquisitional growth, and the additions of some exceptional logistics professionals, not only does our Midlothian, TX mill and brokerage office run like a well-oiled machine (with 94 employees operating seamlessly to carry out the promise made by Jackie and our other founding members), TA Services has grown to include more than 20 locations and nearly 1,000 employees nationwide.

In the last 3 decades, TA Services has grown from a small transportation company with only a few facilities, mainly offering brokerage services, to a full-service third-party logistics provider with an array of transportation services offered to domestic and international shippers alike. Jackie’s contributions to the TA Services organization have been pivotal and instrumental to TA’s overall success. Jackie has adapted to, and thrived throughout, the organization’s growth, taking operations from pen & paper (and fax machines) to new logistics technology on the internet. She has often said she misses the days of tracking truckers down when they don’t answer their beepers, but has learned to appreciate the growth and advancement over her 36+ years.

Jackie’s unwavering work ethic has earned her many nicknames given by carriers, customers, coworkers, and family members. Whether you call her Jackie, Colonel, Queen, The GOAT, or any of the other nicknames she dons so well, Jackie will answer to all of them promptly. To add another nickname to the roster, “The Mother of TA” seems fitting…

The TA Services convoy wishes all the best in the journey ahead for Jackie. She will be fondly remembered and sorely missed. Remember to keep the shiny side up and don’t be a stranger.
Threes and eights.

Since Jackie would rather give than receive (it’s just her nature), a donation page for St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund has been set up in her honor. Please consider donating on her behalf in lieu of a retirement gift. Visit this link to make donations in Jackie’s honor or simply scan the QR code below.

Take a stroll down memory lane with us. Watch our 35th anniversary video to see Jackie and other members of our leadership team talk about the many changes TA has seen since our founding in 1986.