As a high school student, Roger Schmidt was fascinated with anything that had four wheels. Today, he is the founder of Liquid Trucking Companies, one of the 30 largest tanker trucking companies in the nation, 215 employees strong. As of today, this makes him Cass County’s largest private employer, a fact he is proud of.
In a speech to Plattsmouth High School students during his induction into the Plattsmouth High School Hall of Fame, he told students honestly that as a kid, his passion did not lie in the classroom, but finding his passion was an incredibly important part of his development. He learned that working with cars and other pieces of complex machinery was fulfilling to him, and that he was good at it.
After high school, he worked for the city of Plattsmouth and founded Schmidt Auto Repair. In 1989, he purchased four semi trucks and started Schmidt Transportation. The success of this small company laid the foundation for the growth and success of Liquid Trucking Companies today. With sons Josh and Gabe serving as General Manager and Operations Manager, respectively, as well as both being partners in the company, Liquid Trucking shows what it means to prioritize family and community.
In addition to the honor of being inducted into the Plattsmouth High School Hall of Fame, Roger has also been honored as the Plattsmouth Chamber of Commerce Business Person of the Year and received the Friend of the Fireman Award. Treating his employees like family and giving back to the community is an integral part of Roger’s mission.
Plattsmouth High School, St. John’s School, Plattsmouth Fire Department, Plattsmouth Chamber of Commerce, Cass County Economic Development, Cass County Sheriff, Plattsmouth Senior Center, Pheasants Forever, and various youth sports clubs are a few of the organizations Roger supports through service and/or monetary donations. He has also served as a board member of the Plattsmouth Airport Authority, Plattsmouth Chamber of Commerce, Cass County Economic Development Council, and Nebraska Trucking Association.
Roger Schmidt provides a great example for young people today of just what can be accomplished when you combine hard work and dedication with a passion for what you do, give back to the community, and treat your employees like family. Thank you for taking a few minutes to read about Roger. If you would like to learn more about Liquid Trucking Companies or see available positions in our fleet, please click here.