Terminal manager Ledford Leabow, the man behind the leadership wheel of the Cleveland fleet for the past two years, remembers how Swing hooked up with the local home developer.
“Jim Tucker (a 20-year Habitat volunteer) came in to see me and asked, ‘Have you got a trailer you can give me?’” Leabow said with a laugh. “I told him, ‘I don’t know, but we’ll see what we can do.’”
So he did.
Just a short time later, a Swing driver was carefully steering a 48-foot trailer down 20th Street and into Century Village, the southeast Cleveland subdivision that will soon have 13 completed houses, and even more by year’s end.
Leabow said he is “absolutely aware” of Habitat for Humanity and its mission to bring decent, affordable housing to families who otherwise might not be able to arrange financing on their own and who are willing to put in the sweat equity hours required to build their home.
“Swing Transport has always tried to work to make a positive impact in any community where we have a presence,” Leabow said. “Our company wants to be a part of, and to be involved in, our host communities. We’re a family-owned operation that believes in ‘home.’ That’s why we’re really proud to have the chance to help an organization like Habitat for Humanity.”
Swing Transport was founded in 1975 and opened its Cleveland terminal 26 years ago. The trucking company, which is also widely known for its “Disaster Relief Unit” trailers, operates terminals in Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Alabama.
Swing drivers haul in 18 states throughout the Southeast.
Tucker, a retired executive director of the former Cleveland Boys Club and longtime Habitat for Humanity volunteer, said the organization relies upon the generous hearts and giving spirits of companies like Swing — especially those who want to get involved in sharing the Habitat message and partnering in its people-first, family-friendly causes.
“We had a huge need for a trailer,” Tucker said. “The old one we had had been used for a lot of years. Its sides were literally beginning to fall in. It was becoming a security risk; plus, we would never want to put our staff, our core builders or our volunteers in harm’s way. Swing really came through for us.”
Habitat uses the trailer to store construction equipment, tools and materials, and in some cases as a warehouse. The Swing trailer is already in full service at Century Village, which will probably serve as its home for some time. In the past, having a usable storage trailer has allowed Habitat to move its equipment from site to site. When Century Village was launched, the organization enjoyed the comfort of keeping the trailer in one location for an extended time. Once completed, Century Village is expected to include more than 40 homes. The development should be finished sometime in 2013.
“We really appreciate Ledford, his staff and employees, and Swing Transport for coming to our rescue,” Tucker said. “I can’t put into words how badly we needed this trailer. This is definitely a dream-come-true for Habitat for Humanity of Cleveland, one that will allow us to keep our mission alive and to continue fulfilling the dreams of families who are willing to work hard to help themselves.”
Tucker said the trucking company has given the local Habitat affiliate the same kind of “hand up” it gives to its partner families in Cleveland and Bradley County.
Located on Old Tasso Road near the Stuart Road intersection, Swing’s Cleveland terminal maintains one of the company’s “Disaster Relief Units” that is fully visible from the road. Leabow said the well-marked trailer is used to transport supplies, equipment, food and other needs to areas stricken by natural disasters like hurricanes, floods and even earthquakes or tornadoes.
Swing’s Cleveland-based emergency trailer hasn’t been called into service recently, but it is always on stand-by, Leabow said.
