February 20, 2025

Local Alaska truck driver Johnny U leads by example

By: Lucy Bogen

in Alaska, Career Growth and Advancement, Freight Transportation, People of Saltchuk, Safety

Johnny U smiling next to a Carlile truck

Known for his wide smile, broad operational expertise, and dedication to mentoring new drivers, Alaskan Truck driver John Unutoa, or “Johnny U” as he is commonly known, is a Carlile institution.

Johnny has seen the company from many angles in his 20 years at Carlile, Alaska’s freight network. “I worked in the warehouse loading trailers, then started driving because I wanted to learn more and grow at Carlile.”

Today, he works sister company, TOTE Maritime’s, twice-weekly run, shuttling trailers after the Midnight Sun’s Tuesday night arrival in Anchorage. The ship completes its turnaround in eight hours, with containers moving off the roll-on, roll-off decks before reloading for Tacoma. Carlile drivers transport much of that freight to the Anchorage warehouse for final distribution.

“I know I am doing something good when I get things to the warehouse because people need the things in my truck.”

A Stretch Assignment

When Carlile’s safety director wanted to incorporate a stretching program to prevent injuries, she knew Johnny should lead it.

“I lead all the drivers through a stretch before everyone starts driving for the day,” he explains. “Also, when I sit for a long time taking the trailers back and forth, I take a break and stretch. In my line of work, I need to make sure my body is functioning right.”

Johnny U leading stretches at the Carlile morning meeting.

All Systems Go

After morning meetings and stretching, Johnny conducts his truck’s safety inspection. He received a new Kenworth as recognition for his years of service. With systems checked, he heads to TOTE’s terminal to begin the cycle of moving loaded trailers to Carlile’s facility and returning with empties.

Johnny U checking his truck before heading to the port.

A job with Purpose

“I like my job. I like the way it works, and I like to finish the job,” even if it means working extended hours in peak times. “I know I am doing something good when I get things to the warehouse because people need the things in my truck.”

The importance of his work became especially clear during COVID-19: “Everything that I was delivering during Covid, I was thinking how badly people needed what was in my truck, and it could possibly save someone’s life.

Johnny U looking at what he needs to pick up from the port next.

Year-Round Operations

Alaska’s economy is notoriously cyclical, with boom seasons closely aligned with natural resource development. Summer is the time for construction materials to be positioned and readied in anticipation for late Fall when ice roads are created to enable over the road freight movements to the North Slope. For the most part, a steady stream of cargo keeps Anchorage-based Carlile drivers like Johnny busy year-round.

Johnny U adding flags to the back of the truck.

The freight never stops coming

“The freight never stops coming. When we aren’t working, that just means more for us to move in a day,” Johnny remarked when asked about weather delays or working in snow and ice during the winter. “It is such a challenging job with the weather conditions in Alaska, so it is very important to have the training and knowledge about the roads. The priority of getting the freight to our customers, Alaskan truck drivers are so important to the community.”

Everybody Knows Johnny

Whether gospel or reggae plays in the truck, Johnny keeps things upbeat. “My favorite thing is to meet new people,” he says. While he enjoys the TOTE run, his favorite assignment has been making local deliveries, where he interacts with new customers daily.

“Johnny knows everybody, and everybody knows Johnny,” Johnny says with his signature smile– a point Carlile’s Senior Director of Operations, Rob Porter, agrees. “Johnny is amazing. He’s the heart of Carlile.”

Johnny U walking away from the camera.