Welcome back to A Good Pour! I’m Kathryn Good, and today’s episode is a special one. We’re sitting down with Jared Stancil, the man who keeps everything running smoothly at Anchor Transportation. If you’ve ever wondered what goes into managing a fleet of buses that serve everyone from university sports teams to community organizations, you’re in for a treat.
Jared’s the kind of person you immediately want to know better. We’ve crossed paths through Young Life, and I’ve seen firsthand how much heart he puts into everything he does—whether it’s his work or his service to the community.
Anchor Transportation: More Than Just a Bus Company
Anchor Transportation isn’t your average bus service. They don’t run on a set schedule like a city bus. Instead, they offer charter bus services for all kinds of groups—from university athletes and military troops to church groups and school kids heading to Washington, D.C. Jared explained, “Every trip is different. Every group is different.”
When you think of a company like Anchor, it’s easy to focus on the logistics. They have 88 vehicles and around 140 employees across multiple locations in Tennessee and Alabama. But what really sets them apart isn’t just the size of their fleet—it’s the way they care for the people they serve and the people who work for them.
Serving Others: From Clients to Employees
One of the things I admire most about Jared and his team is their commitment to doing good work, not just for their clients but for their employees too. During the early days of COVID-19, when many companies were struggling to figure out their next steps, Anchor Transportation took an unexpected approach. They started a food bank to support their employees and their families. “For eight weeks, we fed 30 people,” Jared shared. “We didn’t know when work would pick back up, but we knew we could help with this.”
This commitment to service didn’t stop there. Anchor introduced a chaplain program to support their employees’ emotional and spiritual needs. Jared explained, “We realized that people weren’t just concerned about work—they had real-life issues, like family problems and health concerns.” The chaplain became a trusted resource, available for confidential conversations, offering prayer and support, and even helping employees navigate personal challenges like illness or grief.
What struck me most was how much thought Jared and his team put into creating a work environment that goes beyond the paycheck. “When employees feel cared for, they want to stay,” Jared said. It’s a simple but powerful truth—people want to be part of something that values them as whole individuals, not just as workers.
Microloans and Employee Support
Anchor also found practical ways to support their team beyond emotional care. They started offering micro-loans to help employees with housing deposits and car repairs—challenges that can prevent people from getting to work and earning the money they need. “We saw a need and thought, ‘How can we help?’” Jared explained. The microloan program has been a lifeline for employees who are working hard but need a little extra support to make ends meet.
Core Values: More Than Just Words
At the heart of everything Anchor Transportation does are their core values: Do Right, Be Safe, Honor God, and Serve Others. These aren’t just words on a mission statement—they guide the company’s decisions every day. “We started asking ourselves, ‘Are we really living these values?’” Jared said. That question has led them to look for creative ways to support not just their clients but their employees and the community around them.
Whether it’s through partnerships with organizations like Second Harvest or supporting church camps and Young Life trips, Anchor Transportation embodies the spirit of service in everything they do.
Finding Balance in Leadership
Running a large company and balancing family, church, and community service is no small feat. Jared finds his balance by being part of a peer advisory group called C12, where he meets monthly with other Christian business leaders to reflect on his roles as a leader, husband, and father. “It helps me reset and focus on what’s important,” he shared. Taking time to pause, reflect, and adjust is key to staying grounded in both his personal and professional life.
The Power of Relationships
For Jared, success isn’t just about running a profitable business—it’s about building strong relationships, both inside and outside the company. Whether it’s ensuring that a coach gets the same driver every time because they’re superstitious (yes, that happens!) or helping an employee through a tough time, it’s clear that relationships are at the core of everything Jared and his team do.
And that’s why Anchor Transportation stands out. It’s not just about getting people from point A to point B. It’s about how they make people feel along the way—valued, supported, and cared for.
Final Thoughts
As Jared and I wrapped up our conversation, he shared something that really stuck with me: “People want to work with you not just because you pay them, but because they feel like they’re part of something bigger.” That’s the essence of good work—whether you’re driving a bus, running a business, or serving your community.
Anchor Transportation is more than a transportation company. It’s a company that’s making a difference—one bus ride, one employee, and one relationship at a time.
If you’re looking for a company that truly cares about people, Anchor Transportation is it. They’re not just moving groups from one place to another—they’re building connections and making an impact in the process. Thank you, Jared, for sharing your story with us and for doing such good work!