Meet Our Drivers
Bernard Feltner
Bernard has been a dedicated driver with Pemberton Truck Lines, Inc. since 2011, drawn to the company over 14 years ago for its convenient location close to home. Throughout his career, he has experienced many memorable moments on the road, but one of his favorite memories was hauling auto parts across the country. During his time with Pemberton Truck Lines, he has particularly enjoyed building strong relationships with customers and has found the job both rewarding and enjoyable.
What Bernard values most about PTL is its family-oriented culture, which makes him feel like more than just a number. The company’s commitment to work-life balance allows him to be home on the weekends, something he deeply appreciates. Over the years, he has driven countless miles across the country, with his typical routes taking him through the Midwest, but he’s also driven through Florida, Georgia, and Pennsylvania.
Bernard takes great pride in his work and appreciates the sense of connection he has built with the PTL family.
Chris Millsaps + Susie “The Boss Lady”
Chris has been a dedicated driver with Pemberton Truck Lines, Inc. for over a decade, originally drawn to the industry by his older brother. At the time, Chris was working as a machinist, but after seeing how much his brother enjoyed the road, he decided to give trucking a try. Though he stepped away for six months, the good people at PTL—along with the sense of family he felt—brought him back, and he has now proudly been with PTL for a total of 10.5 years.
One of Chris’s favorite memories is driving with his Chihuahua, Susie, lovingly known as “the boss lady.” Susie has been by his side since he first started trucking and is now 11 years old. Their time on the road has taken them through North and South Carolina, Oklahoma, and Kansas, where Chris has continued to nurture strong relationships with dispatchers and colleagues who genuinely care about his well-being.
Outside of work, Chris focuses on staying active and taking care of his health, which helps him maintain a positive mindset both on and off the road. He values the support and kindness he encounters at PTL, and feels truly at home here. We’re so thankful to have you as a member of the team, Chris!
Greg West
At Pemberton Truck Lines, our drivers are the backbone of our success. Greg West is a valued member of our team, helping to keep goods moving safely and efficiently across our service areas. Whether it’s long hauls or local routes, Greg brings dedication, professionalism, and a passion for the open road.
One of Greg’s favorite memories was driving over the Mississippi River for the first time, marking the beginning of a career filled with travel and peaceful drives through many states. He appreciates the reliability and dependability of Pemberton Truck Lines, as well as the great customers he has had the opportunity to work with. Greg values the consistency of the lanes and the routines that help drivers feel comfortable on the road. Above all, he is grateful for the support he has received from the company and truly loves working for PTL.
Elizabeth and Fernley Faust
Elizabeth and Fernley both call Knoxville, Tennessee, home—though their journeys into the trucking industry began at very different times.
Fernley hopped into the cab in June of 1984 and hasn’t looked back since. “I love it,” he says plainly. Elizabeth’s path was a little more circuitous: managing a hotel in California in 2013, she met Fernley when his dedicated UPS account dropped him nearby for a run out of Ontario, California. They connected over the road, and she soon relocated to Tennessee, enrolled in truck-driving school that same year, and trained under Fernley’s watchful eye. By February 2014 she was behind the wheel, and in April of 2015 they sealed their partnership in marriage. After a stint through a staffing agency, they officially joined Pemberton as full-time team drivers—and haven’t looked back.
As dedicated team drivers, Elizabeth and Fernley share every mile of the road with their two spirited schnauzers, Mia and Freckles. The foursome tackles Pemberton’s Academy Sports + Outdoors account as their mainstay, logging anywhere from 5,000 to 55,000 miles per run.
For this duo, Pemberton Truck Lines isn’t just an employer—it’s family. They first tried the company via a staffing agency, but as soon as Debbie from recruiting reached out and John Pemberton himself welcomed them back with an open-door policy, they knew they belonged. “Everyone here genuinely cares about drivers,” Elizabeth reflects. “You can talk to John about anything.” That support and camaraderie make the long hauls feel shorter, and the home time all the more rewarding.
When they’re not rolling down the interstate, the couple is stationed at their new home in Knoxville. Fernley can often be found doing yard work, tending his plants, or planning his next Harley ride. Elizabeth, meanwhile, is looking forward to a trip to Indiana to catch up with her dad and other family members. Between the open road and the open door at Pemberton, they’ve found the perfect balance of work, home, and adventure.
Vic Russell
Vic Russell has been around trucks for as long as he can remember. “I’ve been crawling in and out of trucks since I was four years old,” he says. His first official driving job was in 1990 for none other than Gene Pemberton, and although his path took him through a few larger companies, he quickly realized that being “just a number” wasn’t for him.
After some time away, Vic returned to PTL nearly seven years ago, this time alongside his wife, who had also driven for the company. The open-door policy and welcoming culture made it an easy decision. “What they tell you is what you get,” he says. “They’ve always treated us like family.”
Vic’s regular routes take him through Oklahoma, Kansas, Arkansas, and Missouri, but he’s always willing to jump in where he’s needed. That flexibility goes both ways, and it’s one of the things he values most about working at PTL.
One of his favorite trucking memories is a love story on wheels: while laid over in Texas, he spent a weekend with a fellow driver – his future wife – before she and her co-driver suddenly quit. Fate brought them back together during a run through Louisiana, and they ended up driving team for 18 years.
When he’s off the road, Vic enjoys old car and truck shows, woodworking, landscaping, and lending a hand to neighbors. Whether he’s behind the wheel or fixing up the yard, he’s happiest when he’s working with his hands and helping others along the way.
Emily Boswell + Sarge
We’re proud to highlight Emily Boswell and her loyal co-pilot, Sarge the German Shepherd. Emily’s journey into the trucking industry began just a few years ago, with no previous driving experience. After starting out at Total Transportation in Mississippi, she quickly found her home at Pemberton Truck Lines—thanks to a friend she met through a shared passion for snake rescue. She chose to pick up driving as it is less physically demanding and gives her the flexible schedule she wants!
Emily now runs deliveries and returns for Academy Sports + Outdoors stores, covering routes throughout the Midwest, Southeast, and Ohio. What keeps her going? The ever-changing nature of the job, the freedom of the open road, and the strong sense of family she’s found at PTL. “There’s always something different,” she says. “The people here make it feel like home.”
Off the road, Emily has a unique crew waiting for her—dogs, snakes, and even tarantulas. But Sarge, her four-legged travel buddy, rarely leaves her side. Together, they bring a positive spirit and a sense of adventure to every mile. We’re lucky to have them as part of the PTL family!
Mark Faulkner
Mark didn’t grow up in trucking, but once he made the switch, he knew he was in the right place. After years of selling house paint and painting houses in the Florida heat, he took a leap, enrolled in driving school in Tampa, and found a new path behind the wheel.
After years of working with large carriers, Mark was ready for a change, and eventually found his way to Pemberton. Because PTL was close to home, it felt like the right fit, so he reached out, and they hired him on the spot!
Mark loves many things about working for Pemberton, with the most notable being the flexibility, the people, and only running dry van freight. “You can always get someone on the phone here. They’re great communicators, and you build real rapport with the team.”
Mark runs a variety of routes, from Tennessee to Kansas, Oklahoma, the Carolinas, and beyond. He enjoys the mix of dedicated and spot freight, and he appreciates PTL’s understanding when it comes to home time. One of his most vivid trucking memories came early in his career: a fuel stop in Iowa turned into a full-on snowstorm, the flakes getting bigger by the minute. “It was one of those moments that sticks with you,” he recalls.
When he’s not driving, Mark spends his time outside tackling yard work, relaxing with family and friends, or renting a houseboat and cruising Florida’s lakes!