Steve Hilker Trucking, Inc.

10/12/2026

If you are not a member of the Kansas Motor Carriers Association, there is no better time to get involved. This is association is tackling some of the biggest issues affecting Kansas carriers and we need your help! We have a Meet and Greet in Garden City in November and a livestock carrier-specific meeting in the works. Let me be your host at either (or both) events!

10/07/2026

Hey everyone — we know there was an announcement yesterday regarding the temporary use of dyed diesel for highway vehicles, and we’ve had quite a few questions about what that means for Kansas carriers.

The important thing for Kansas carriers to understand right now is that Kansas has NOT announced the same tax relief measures that some of our surrounding states have. We are still waiting on specific guidance from the Kansas Department of Revenue and Kansas Highway Patrol regarding state fuel taxes, use of dyed diesel on Kansas highways, and how any temporary federal action will be handled or enforced here.

In other words, don’t assume that because something has been authorized federally — or because a neighboring state has announced its own relief — that the same rules automatically apply in Kansas.

There’s also an important distinction on the federal side: the announcement provides temporary tax relief/deferral, which is not necessarily the same thing as permanently forgiving the tax. Until the U.S. Treasury and IRS issue detailed guidance, carriers should keep good fuel records and should not assume that taxes otherwise owed will ultimately be forgiven.

One other thing to consider if your truck is still under a factory or extended warranty: check before you fill up with dyed diesel. The red dye itself shouldn’t hurt your engine, but you still want to make sure the fuel you’re buying meets your engine manufacturer’s requirements. A quick call to your dealer, manufacturer or fuel supplier now could save you a warranty headache later.

Right now, there are still far more questions than answers. We are in communication with the appropriate agencies and will share confirmed information as it becomes available.

For now: keep good records, save your fuel receipts, and don’t assume what is allowed or tax-exempt in another state is automatically allowed or tax-exempt in Kansas.

10/06/2026

Y’all know we had to join the trend. I’m told Steve used to have some pretty slick moves back in the day… and apparently, he could sing, too.

Unfortunately for all of us, the world may never know. 😂 But we’ve got the moves on record now. Sorry, Steve. The internet is forever. 🤠 Didn’t you always say everything has a price… 😏

10/05/2026

We’ve got some beautiful trucks in our fleet (and some sharp new M.H. Eby Trailers and Truck Bodies), and you can tell which guys really take pride in their equipment because that pride carries over into everything else they do. They take care of their trucks, the cattle, our customers, and each other. That’s a big part of what makes this place feel more like family than just a trucking company.

Today I got to share the story of one of our guys in this video with a customer and talk about how far he and his family have come, and then another one called to celebrate a pretty big personal win. I love getting to be part of those moments. Somewhere along the way, the people you work beside become part of the story too.

And there’s a lot of story here. What is now Steve Hilker Trucking started more than 45 years ago with my aunt and uncle, a truck, and a dream. As I’ve been working on documenting some of that history, I learned that my cousin had already been through seven different states by the time she was six weeks old.

Fast forward all these years, and these guys just crossed more than a couple state lines themselves to deliver these cattle.

Family businesses are funny that way. The trucks change, the miles add up, and new people become part of the story, but some things seem to carry from one generation to the next.

Sometimes trucking really is just in your blood.

And somewhere in all those miles, a few legends get made too. At least that’s what I’ve picked up in some of the stories I’ve been told… 😉

09/26/2026

Thank you to Kansas Motor Carriers Association and the American Trucking Associations for making our trip to Washington D.C. worthwhile.

09/25/2026

We were proud to represent Kansas trucking companies in Washington D.C. this week.

Kansas trucking executives used their annual Call on Washington to press lawmakers on the financial threat of lawsuit abuse, among other concerns.

09/24/2026

KLA is closely monitoring reported ICE activity affecting southwest Kansas.

Sudden workforce disruptions can create immediate animal-welfare, operational and economic consequences that extend well beyond an individual business. These ICE operations are having a massive chilling effect on the legal, documented, skilled workers that put beef on the table and keep the cattle supply chain moving. Additionally, these types of disruptions will lead to higher beef prices for consumers.

We urge federal officials to conduct enforcement actions in a lawful, orderly and transparent manner; respect due process; and communicate clearly with affected employers and communities.

Read the full joint statement from KLA, Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association and Texas Cattle Feeders Association: https://bit.ly/KLAJointStatement

09/23/2026

Hey y’all. It’s Alleah. I’m in Washington, D.C. today advocating for Kansas trucking companies, but since news of ICE activity in western Kansas broke yesterday, a big part of my heart has been at home.

Trying to be two places at once is hard. I’m honored to represent Kansas motor carriers here in Washington, but at the end of the day, showing up for our own team and the communities we serve will always be one of my highest priorities.

It’s difficult to hear from families we work shoulder to shoulder with, whom we consider friends, that are afraid to send their kids to school or go to work. And it’s equally difficult to recognize how complicated and inaccessible our immigration system can feel to people trying to navigate it.

These are real people, real families and real communities. Rural America depends on people working alongside one another, and whatever our individual views on immigration policy may be, I hope we can approach the people affected by it with dignity and humanity.

I also encourage people to stay informed, ask questions and communicate with their elected officials about what they are seeing and experiencing in their own communities. These are complicated issues, and meaningful solutions require people to engage in the process.

Last night, as I touched base with our team, one of our owner-operators, Alexis Lopez, offered this prayer over us. It was too powerful not to share:

“Merciful Lord, you are a refuge for the oppressed and a shelter in the storm. Protect my family and me from harm, exploitation, and sudden terror. For those who feel trapped, detained, or cut off from loved ones, send your unexpected comfort into those dark places. Soften the hearts of those in authority, that they may act with human dignity, fairness, and compassion. Hold us close when we are afraid, and be our safe place to rest our heads. Amen.”

May it be true for you as well.

09/21/2026

As we start transitioning from the grass run into the calf run, we’re curious…

What’s your favorite class of cattle to haul… and why?

Calves, yearlings, fats, railers, holsteins… everybody seems to have a favorite. So let’s hear it — what are you picking if you get your choice of load? And what are you hoping you don’t see on the load sheet? 🫠

📸: Alexis Lopez

09/21/2026

Who doesn’t love some good drone footage from out in the field… literally?

Our owner-operator, Juan Rios, sent this in and it gets us all in our feels a little bit. There’s just something about seeing a few of our guys lined up and ready to load on a grass deal that reminds us just how lucky we are to have the crew we do.

We haul all classes of cattle, from calves to fats, which means our team has to have a pretty diverse set of skills. Loading calves is nothing like loading fats. Knowing how to handle different classes of cattle matters. The shape of your equipment matters. Attention to detail matters.

We strive to show up the right way, every time—for our customers, for their cattle, and for the industry we represent.

When we say we want to be one of the best in the business, that’s what we mean. It’s a standard we work hard to live up to every day, and we’re pretty darn proud of the crew that makes it happen.