Our History
In 1960, Chicago police officer Robert Trinski and his wife Shirley opened the doors to a small, family-owned marina that manufactured and repaired boat engines in an effort to provide a better life for their family.
Six years later, Robert was tasked with hauling a friend’s boat back from the Chicago Boat Show; without even realizing it, he’d set in motion a plan for his family’s future, launching a transportation arm to his marina.
More than 60 years later, The Arrow Group has only continued to evolve and grow, earning a much-deserved reputation as the number one heavy hauling company to rely on.
Professional truck drivers not only meet, but exceed company-set standards, ensuring reliable, quick and safe hauling.
It’s the greatest company in the world. And it’s because of the whole team.
Michael Trinski, President and CEO
It’s the greatest company in the world. And it’s because of the whole team. The drivers – that are on our front lines and show who we are – to maintenance, dispatch, and our office staff, to the weakest link, which is me,
jokes company owner, Michael Trinski. Our strength is the people we are associated with,” he continues. “And everyone I work with is always trying to do better.
Leadership that Drives the Way Forward
Trinski has served as a core part of the company for as long as he can remember. He started out wielding a broom, sweeping the floors of the marina to help out his dad. Throughout the years, he worked within all positions at the company and became the driving force behind a business that’s proven it can successfully adapt and change.
What began as a marina expanded into Arrow Transport, and then into Arrow Specialized Carriers. Now, the ever-evolving company also offers Arrow Sand and Gravel, the Arrow Tire Center, and will soon be expanding its services into groceries and personal care items.
We’re really working at bringing our company into the 21st century and the way we are doing it is the right way,
says Trinski. Everyone needs the basics, such as tissue and water, and we sit in the Chicago- Milwaukee corridor, which is an ideal spot and continues to grow.
Customer Service that Exceeds Expectations, Every Time
Driver safety and happiness aside, customer service is a number one priority for Arrow.
We pride ourselves on customer service, being part of customer solutions, and having something that nobody else has. We will always exceed customer needs, and we try to build the business on that focus with everything we do,
says Trinski.
Service, he continues, is the bottom line. It’s about being able to pick up the ball if someone else drops it, being flexible, foreseeing problems in their supply chain, and being able to bring them solutions. We spot problems customers may have missed, and take a proactive approach to client management.
A Family of Drivers
Trinski and the leadership team inherently know they’d be nowhere without their dedicated and skilled team of drivers, and so, they are all treated like part of the family.
This is the God’s honest truth,
says Trinski. When drivers need help – whatever it may be – we help. As long as they treat us like family, we will treat them like family. We stand behind them 100 percent. We help them with their needs, to help them keep rolling, to help them keep prospering.
Whether you’re a driver looking for employment, or a potential customer, we look forward to working with you!
Photo captions:
- 1. Jeff Brand and Mike Trinski, in 1968 hauling the River Queen.
- 2. Ron Fortin and Howard Muchlnickel, hauling a 50 foot Sea Ray boat in 1995.
- 3. 1980, Mike Mc Connell in the Tank Division.
- 4. Ron Jameson, hauling parts for a nuclear power plant in the 1990’s, across country.
- 5. 1990, Mike Trinski, on a dump job on the Chain O Lakes.
- 6. John Dutze, Recruiting local families, at a High School Job Fair, in 1996.