What 2025 taught us about Transportation and Managing Growth
JoyRide’s leadership team reflects on a transformative year of stabilization, safety recognition, fleet technology innovation, and building scalable systems for sustainable growth.
The Interview
A conversation about transformation, challenges, and the path forward
Part 1: Who I Am & The Journey to JoyRide
1. Adis, your story is incredibly inspiring—coming to the US with just $50, working as a dispatcher, getting your CDL, and driving trucks before founding JoyRide in 2014. Looking back, how did those early days on the road shape who you are today?
Those years taught me humility, discipline, and respect for hard work. I know what it's like to worry about making a delivery on time, sitting in traffic, dealing with equipment issues, or being away from family for days and weeks at a time. I wasn't born into this industry, I earned my place in it one mile at a time. The road taught me that every truck has a person behind the wheel with a story, responsibilities, and dreams. That's something I've never forgotten. Even today, when I make decisions, I try to look at them through the eyes of a driver first, because I've been there myself.
2. What was that exact moment or turning point that made you say, "I need to start JoyRide Logistics"? What gap in the industry did you want to fill?
The turning point wasn't one single moment, it was years of seeing good drivers treated like truck numbers instead of people. I worked in dispatch, I drove trucks, and I saw how often drivers felt unheard and undervalued. I believed there was a better way. I wanted to build a company where drivers could trust leadership, where commitments meant something, and where success was shared by everyone who helped create it. JoyRide started with a simple idea: if we take care of our people, our people will take care of our customers. That's still the foundation of this company today.
3. What does your day-to-day look like now as President, and how do you make sure you stay connected to the real, everyday experiences of the drivers?
Every day is different. Some days are spent planning growth, meeting customers, working on strategy, or solving operational challenges. Other days are focused on recruiting, safety, equipment, or simply helping teams remove obstacles. The most important thing I do is listen. I make it a point to talk with my team, especially in leadership, hear concerns, ask questions, and understand what's happening in the field. Reports and spreadsheets are important, but they never tell the full story. The people doing the work do. Its hard to talk to every single driver these days, we’ve got a lot, but I still do that no matter how ‘big’ we are. The day I stop listening to drivers is the day I stop being effective as a leader. 4. When you aren't busy steering the company toward the future, how do you like to unplug and spend your free time? Family always comes first. Spending time with the people I love helps keep me grounded and reminds me why we work so hard in the first place. I also enjoy staying active, traveling, horse riding, nature walks and reflecting on how far we've come as a company. As entrepreneurs, we're always thinking about the next challenge, but I've learned that it's important to occasionally slow down and appreciate the journey as well.
Part 2: Message to the Drivers
5. If you could speak face-to-face with every driver starting their engine today, what is your direct message to them about their value to the JoyRide family?
I would simply say this: Thank you. Thank you for the early mornings, the late nights, the sacrifices, the professionalism, and the commitment you show every day. There is no JoyRide Logistics without our drivers. Period. Every customer we serve, every load we move, every milestone we achieve exists because someone got behind the wheel and delivered. Never think that your work goes unnoticed. You are not just operating a truck, you are representing our company, supporting your family, and helping build something bigger than all of us. My promise is that we will continue working every day to create opportunities, improve our operations, invest in our people, and build a company you can be proud to call home. Stay safe, take care of yourselves, and know that you have my respect and gratitude every single day.
Part 1: My Path & Role at JoyRide
1. Kemal, could you share how your journey intersected with JoyRide and what excited you most about taking on the role of Executive Vice President?
My journey with JoyRide started with a shared belief that transportation can be done differently. Adis built an incredible foundation from the ground up, and what attracted me was the opportunity to help scale that vision into something much larger than a trucking company. I've always been passionate about building businesses, creating systems, and finding better ways to solve problems. When I saw the culture, the people, and the ambition behind JoyRide, I knew this was a place where we could create something truly special. What excites me most isn't where we are today, it's where we're going. We have built an organization capable of competing with anyone in the industry while still maintaining the values of a family-owned company. We’re not here just to stay, we’re here to dominate. That is my whole philosophy and I wont back down!
2. For our drivers and team members who might not see the executive side of operations, what does a typical day look like for you, and what drives your passion every morning?
The truth is there really is no typical day. One morning I might be discussing expansion plans, technology investments, or customer partnerships. The next, I may be working with our operations teams, helping solve challenges in recruiting, safety, maintenance, or driver retention. What drives me every morning is simple: growth. Not growth for the sake of numbers, but growth that creates opportunity for our people. Every truck we add, every customer we earn, every terminal we open, and every process we improve creates more stability and opportunity for the people who make this company what it is. I wake up every day knowing that our decisions impact hundreds of families. That responsibility motivates me to keep pushing forward. I love these people, we have amazing people in the company from drivers to back office.
3. From cutting-edge fleet tech to global recognition and massive partnerships, JoyRide has grown immensely. What has been the most rewarding project or milestone for you so far?
For me, the most rewarding milestone isn't a single contract, award, or piece of technology. It's seeing what started as a vision become a company that now provides careers, opportunities, and stability for hundreds of people. Watching drivers, dispatchers, mechanics, safety professionals, recruiters, and leaders grow within this organization has been incredibly fulfilling. If I had to choose one area, it would be helping position JoyRide as an innovative transportation company. From investing in advanced technology and fleet systems to building operational models that challenge traditional thinking, we've shown that a transportation company can be both people-focused and forward-thinking. The journey is far from over, and I genuinely believe the best chapters are still ahead of us.
4. Outside of the office and the fast-paced world of logistics, what are some of your personal hobbies or passions?
My biggest priority outside of work is spending time is my faith and my daughters. No matter how busy life gets, they remind me what truly matters. I sometimes apologize to them for constantly being on my phone, but I must be accountable to the company and its people too. They hopefully understand. They are my everything, God bless them. I also enjoy traveling, studying leadership, business, and personal development, and finding ways to continuously improve both professionally and personally. I've always believed that growth should never stop. Whether it's learning from other industries, reading, writing, or exploring new ideas, I'm constantly looking for ways to become a better leader and a better person. At the same time, my faith helps keep me grounded and reminds me that success means very little if it isn't paired with gratitude, humility, and purpose. I am nothing without Him.
Part 2: Message to the Drivers
5. What is your core message to the JoyRide drivers regarding the future of the company and their role in the big milestones we have ahead?
My message is simple: Everything we are building depends on you. The trucks, technology, facilities, partnerships, and growth plans are important, but they mean nothing without the professionals behind the wheel. Every customer relationship we have is strengthened or weakened by the experience our drivers create every single day. The future of JoyRide is incredibly bright. We are investing heavily in our people, our equipment, our technology, and our expansion plans because we believe this company can become one of the most respected transportation organizations in North America. But that future won't be built by executives sitting in meetings. It will be built by drivers who continue showing up every day with professionalism, pride, and commitment. As we grow, my promise is that we will never lose sight of the people who got us here. We will continue pushing for better opportunities, better support systems, better equipment, and a stronger company for everyone involved. But be patient, trucking is not a sprint it’s a marathon. Thank you for what you do. We see it, we appreciate it, and we're building this future together.
