It's not unusual for Bruce Hoblik to put aside his work and visit with an owner-operator who has stopped by the headquarters of Riley-Whittle Inc. (RWI) in Wilder, Ky., a suburb of Cincinnati.

"There is a family atmosphere here that comes from the close working relationships we develop with our owner-operators," says Hoblik, RWI's director of recruiting and driver personnel.

Since 1978, RWI has been the main inbound transportation arm for Cincinnati-based Castellini Companies. Founded in 1896, Castellini Companies is the largest wholesale fruit and produce house in the United States. RWI is a wholly owned subsidiary of Castellini.

"The most positive thing about hauling this commodity is that it is consistent year round," says Hoblik, who has been with the company for more than three years. "People have to eat, and good quality fruits and vegetables are important to healthy diets."

RWI is a 100 percent owner-operator company, and the length of haul is an important aspect of its operation. Predominately a team-oriented operation, RWI's main team fleets operate between the Ohio Valley and California and Arizona. A second team fleet operates between the Ohio Valley and the Northwest.

More than 100 teams comprise these two fleets, and their average length of haul is between 2,400 and 2,600 miles, one way. Since RWI is responsible for providing transportation for almost 6,000 loads a year from the West Coast back to the Midwest, owner-operators can easily get all the miles they want.

When there are openings, solo owner-operators have the choice of leasing on and running in the West Coast, Northwest or Midwest regional/Southern fleets. "We are primarily a drop-and-hook operator on the Ohio Valley end," says Hoblik. "Owner-operators do not touch our freight."

RWI's flexibility with drivers works well for Sergio Silva, an owner-operator who has been leased to RWI almost four years.

Silva feels lucky that his job allows him to to spend more time with his three children in Southern California than most other trucking gigs would permit. "I'm usually out for about 12 days and then at home about four or five days," says Silva , who drives a 1998 Peterbilt. "The company lets me make my own schedule, and it gives me time to see my kids.

"If I want to take a week off, I tell them. There doesn't have to be a lot of advance notice," he says. "I can actually be at home every week, if I want to be."

Part of the family atmosphere at RWI can be attributed to its dispatch system. Drivers deal with only one dispatcher, and each driver is assigned a specific dispatcher.

"It's very personalized when you talk to the same person all of the time," says Hoblik.

Silva knows he can depend on his dispatcher, Kathy Lockard.

"If she needs a favor, I'm there for her. And in return, she knows that she can rely on me to help her out," says Silva. "We have a great rapport because we work so closely."

Not only does Silva feel comfortable working with his dispatcher, but he also finds RWI's management group is very approachable, he says.

"When you go to offices of other fleets, you're not even allowed in certain parts of the building," Silva says. "I walk all over the office at RWI. Even the president's door is always open, if I ever need to talk."

Drivers are paid for all dispatched miles, whether they're loaded or empty. Settlements are paid by direct deposit every Friday, as long as the paperwork is in by Tuesday.

RWI covers all of the base plates and permits and files fuel taxes. The company also has a fuel discount program and passes along all fuel surcharges.

Some might think this type of hauling could be stressful, because of the tight deadlines associated with perishable goods. But RWI is careful to give drivers plenty of time to make their trips, says Hoblik.

The working relationship between the owner-operators and the company is what makes RWI successful.

"We have to get our loads back here, and we need conscientious, safe owner-operators to do that," says Hoblik. "Without them, we cannot be successful. In return, we offer the kind of miles and consistency to help our owner-operators be successful."