Driver Lifestyles

Meet Mr. Main Event

Expediter Doug Schell has had an interesting life, so far.  In addition to his work history as a roofer, work in a tool and machine shop and driver on an ice cream route, this forty-year old drove a straight truck and cargo van for a Toledo-based cartage company before entering the expedite world in 1997. 

And, did we mention that he's also a professional wrestler?

Schell, who competes under the name of "Mr. Main Event", tells us that when he's found something that works, he sticks with it: "I've met a number of  guys who jump from company to company, but this is the only expedited carrier I've  known." 

"Before I joined Pronto Expedited (an expedited carrier that was purchased by Bolt Express), I drove a straight truck occasionally, but in expedite, it has always been a cargo van." 

"In fact, I'm still driving my original van, a 1997 Ford E250.  I bought it with 40,000 miles on it and it now has 915,000 miles on it.  It's got the original 5.4 liter gas engine with the original transmission and neither have been rebuilt." 

He continues, "The transmission's pan has never been dropped and the trans filter has never been changed.  I've been using Valvoline's transmission service where they change the fluid and nothing else. I have that done at 50,000 mile intervals." 

"I do my oil changes at around 10,000 miles, but it burns it faster now than it used to.  For the most part, I've just used the regular, off-the-shelf brand of oil, no premium stuff.  The van still has the original coolant hoses."

"Over the last 10 years, I've averaged 70-80 thousand miles a year.  On top of all the road miles the truck has on it, I've put many hours of idling time on the engine too (for heat)."

Schell says that even with the mega-miles his van has accumulated, high-mileage loads are not a concern:
"I don't worry about taking the truck on longer trips.  About a year ago, I took a load to California along with a number of other long-mileage runs.  It runs so good, I'm not afraid to take it anywhere."

"I've had upwards of" 3,300 pounds on it a number of times, but I don't go over that weight.  The outside of the body looks fine, but the inside is kind of banged up and scratched up as you might expect."

And, there's no elaborate sleeping arrangement for this driver.  He says, "I sleep right in the front seat.  I just lay the seat back and put my feet up on the dashboard." 

Schell says, "I enjoy expedite.  I'm not married and don't have any kids, so I don't have a family back home to miss.  Of course, you never know how much you're going to make and you never know where you'll be."

"With Bolt Express, I usually have runs of about 300 miles and they're pretty good about finding me loads bringing me back home.  I'm happy with the company because they're really flexible about letting me move to different locations, they're not locked into what a computer tells them what to do."

Schell says that he prefers loads with some mileage attached: "I like the longer runs of 500-600 miles and even farther. He also reveals a culinary preference:  "I love Buffalo-style wings and I know the location of most of the BW3's in the Midwest.  I don't usually have a problem with my weight, so I really enjoy my wings."

So, what's the deal with his other avocation?

He says, "I've been a fan of professional wrestling ever since high school when one of my younger brothers caught the bug.  We entered a school in Lima, OH, trained for two months and then we were ready to go."

"I've been wrestling for 11 years now and I trained under Al Snow, who is one of the advanced trainers for the WWE.  Some of my wrestling heroes are Al Snow, "Nature Boy" Rick Flair, Buzz Sawyer and some others.  I was always a fan of the bad guys because they were the most interesting."

Mr. Main Event
When asked how he developed his wrestling alter ego, he explains, "Back when I was driving a straight truck for that local company, I got out a piece of paper and began writing down a number of names." 

"I already had an idea of the character I wanted, and it was just a matter of fleshing him out.  Mr. Main Event is usually the bad guy with a  big ego, even though he's only 6 feet tall, weighs only  200 pounds and is not heavily muscled.  He thinks he's built like Big Poppa Pump and that he's king of the world, but he usually winds up getting his butt kicked (laughs).  He always leaves the fans laughing, especially when his opponent gives him a "super atomic wedgie"."

Schell says that he competes in a number of independently-operated wrestling operations in Michigan, Indiana and Ohio. He typically wrestles 2-3 Saturday nights per month with additional nights ringside performing managerial duties.

"Now I walk around hurt all the time," says Mr. Main Event.  "At 40 years of age, I feel the pain."

He tells us that among the wrestling legends he's faced in the ring, Jim "Hacksaw" Duggan and "Road Warrior Hawk" are at the top of the list.

"For six months last year, I had my own wrestling school.  I have two brothers and a nephew who are involved in wrestling and they helped me operate the business."

"I recently discovered a web site that lists wrestling shows around the U. S., so now I carry my wrestling gear with me, just in case I can make it to one of those shows."

For an up close and personal look at Mr. Main Event, be sure to visit his web site.  Who knows - you may become a fan!

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