"We started as a small trucking outfit," said Bryan Barnhart.

Bryan, his brother Tim and dad Tom started Barnhart Transportation in 2003 from their dad's home in Harborcreek.

Bryan drove truck then and still does now. He's also the president.

Tim is the chief financial officer, and their dad works for them.

The company is currently located in North East off W. Main Rd.

"Pretty much every aspect of transportation, we're doing it in-house with our own assets," said Tim.

Barnhart uses a number of other entities created over the years including Lake Shore Logistics, which is housed on the second floor of Barnhart Transportation.

Operations director Jeff Hollenbeck has seen the growth since he started 10 years ago.

"We don't outsource any of our calls," said Hollenbeck. "It's done by our dispatch and management team. We work rotating schedules, so that there's always one of us on the phone, so that we can get to that person who needs the answer."

The fleet has a footprint at the company's other locations in South Carolina and Texas.

"Due to our customers' needs, we do have a sister company as well that handles international freight," said Tim.

In Erie County, there's roughly 163 trucks and other equipment at Barnhart Transportation.

On some 30 acres, there's a tank wash where about 10 trucks per day are washed, and it takes about a half-hour each. There is also a fleet garage where employees work on their own equipment and the equipment and trucks of other local businesses.

Truck drivers working for Barnhart get a sense of home from the family-owned business including a kitchen, lounge complete with a workout area, TV and showers on-site.

Taking care of employees and communities is a big part of the business.

Barnhart Gives donates money every year to charity. A golf tournament made the check presented recently to the Shriners Hospital for Children in Erie possible.