Culture

Behind the Wheel: Meet CJ

TruckSmarter

Dec 14, 2023

A truck driver named CJ Marley standing in front of her truck with a wreath placed on the front grille

It’s the holidays again and the second year CJ (Calliope LLC) is volunteering with Wreaths Across America, a nonprofit organization that distributes wreaths to military cemeteries across the U.S. Named the “Honor Fleet,” trucking partners and volunteers make up the backbone of the organization’s efforts as they haul millions of wreaths to honor our country’s fallen soldiers at the holidays.

CJ was raised in a military family and understands first-hand the importance and the impact of honoring those who served. Both of her grandfathers were veterans, her mother was an army veteran, and her late husband served, making her a Gold Star Wife. By volunteering with Wreaths Across America, she pays homage to her family, as well as millions of others. 

This year, CJ volunteered to pick up wreaths in St. Louis and spent three days delivering to Minnesota, Iowa, and North Dakota. An advocate for the organization, she also appreciates its Wreaths Across America Remembrance Tree Program, which invites Gold Star families, or families of those who passed while serving or as a result of serving in the Armed Forces of the United States, to select a living balsam tree, hang a dog tag of their deceased loved one, and mark it as their family tree in a living commemoration of their service.


Before CJ got behind the wheel, she worked in web development and taught herself HTML, PHP, MySQL. When her late husband was diagnosed with a melanoma in 2009, she stepped in to support her family and has been driving ever since. If you ask CJ, the technical and logical thinking skills she developed through web development has helped her in trucking–an industry that requires constant problem solving. In fact, this year CJ was crowned “Queen of the Road” by Real Women in Trucking, a trade association dedicated to supporting and amplifying women in the trucking industry.


Right now, CJ admits the market is rough for drivers but she prides herself on being tenacious. Like many drivers, she faces uncertainty and challenges like a stolen trailer and major expenses on her truck. But she’ll hang in there, as she clearly has the critical thinking, creativity, and perseverance to keep trucking. And as “the only load board [she uses],” we’re proud to be a small part of her journey.


Follow CJ on X (Twitter) @cjmarley

Support Wreaths Across America 

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Amplify your earnings with the TruckSmarter Referral Program

Friends help friends earn more. Refer a fellow driver or owner-operator to TruckSmarter, and you both have the chance to rack up fuel rewards (or even cash).

Amplify your earnings with the TruckSmarter Referral Program

Friends help friends earn more. Refer a fellow driver or owner-operator to TruckSmarter, and you both have the chance to rack up fuel rewards (or even cash).

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TruckSmarter’s Fuel Network expands to 500+ stops

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***Your deposits qualify for up to $3,000,000 in FDIC insurance coverage when placed at program banks in the Thread Bank deposit sweep program. Your deposits at each program bank become eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000, inclusive of any other deposits you may already hold at the bank in the same ownership capacity. You can access the terms and conditions of the sweep program at https://go.thread.bank/sweepdisclosure and a list of program banks at https://go.thread.bank/programbanks. Please contact with questions regarding the sweep program.

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*TruckSmarter is a financial technology company and is not a bank. Banking services are provided by Thread Bank, Member FDIC. FDIC insurance available for funds on deposit through Thread Bank, Member FDIC. Pass-through insurance coverage is subject to conditions. The TruckSmarter Visa Debit Card is issued by Thread Bank, Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa USA Inc. and may be used anywhere Visa cards are accepted.

**Annual Percentage Yield (APY) of 2.96% is effective as of 09/19/2024. This is a variable rate and may change after the account is opened. Fees could affect earnings on the account. TruckSmarter is a financial technology company and is not a bank. Banking services provided by Thread Bank, Member FDIC. The TruckSmarter Visa® Debit Card is issued by Thread Bank, Member FDIC pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted.

***Your deposits qualify for up to $3,000,000 in FDIC insurance coverage when placed at program banks in the Thread Bank deposit sweep program. Your deposits at each program bank become eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000, inclusive of any other deposits you may already hold at the bank in the same ownership capacity. You can access the terms and conditions of the sweep program at https://go.thread.bank/sweepdisclosure and a list of program banks at https://go.thread.bank/programbanks. Please contact with questions regarding the sweep program.

****Terms and conditions apply to the TruckSmarter cash back rewards program. Please see Program Terms for details.

TruckSmarter Logo Asphalt Grey Footer

*TruckSmarter is a financial technology company and is not a bank. Banking services are provided by Thread Bank, Member FDIC. FDIC insurance available for funds on deposit through Thread Bank, Member FDIC. Pass-through insurance coverage is subject to conditions. The TruckSmarter Visa Debit Card is issued by Thread Bank, Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa USA Inc. and may be used anywhere Visa cards are accepted.

**Annual Percentage Yield (APY) of 2.96% is effective as of 09/19/2024. This is a variable rate and may change after the account is opened. Fees could affect earnings on the account. TruckSmarter is a financial technology company and is not a bank. Banking services provided by Thread Bank, Member FDIC. The TruckSmarter Visa® Debit Card is issued by Thread Bank, Member FDIC pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted.

***Your deposits qualify for up to $3,000,000 in FDIC insurance coverage when placed at program banks in the Thread Bank deposit sweep program. Your deposits at each program bank become eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000, inclusive of any other deposits you may already hold at the bank in the same ownership capacity. You can access the terms and conditions of the sweep program at https://go.thread.bank/sweepdisclosure and a list of program banks at https://go.thread.bank/programbanks. Please contact with questions regarding the sweep program.

****Terms and conditions apply to the TruckSmarter cash back rewards program. Please see Program Terms for details.

TruckSmarter Logo Asphalt Grey Footer

*TruckSmarter is a financial technology company and is not a bank. Banking services are provided by Thread Bank, Member FDIC. FDIC insurance available for funds on deposit through Thread Bank, Member FDIC. Pass-through insurance coverage is subject to conditions. The TruckSmarter Visa Debit Card is issued by Thread Bank, Member FDIC, pursuant to a license from Visa USA Inc. and may be used anywhere Visa cards are accepted.

**Annual Percentage Yield (APY) of 2.96% is effective as of 09/19/2024. This is a variable rate and may change after the account is opened. Fees could affect earnings on the account. TruckSmarter is a financial technology company and is not a bank. Banking services provided by Thread Bank, Member FDIC. The TruckSmarter Visa® Debit Card is issued by Thread Bank, Member FDIC pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. and may be used everywhere Visa debit cards are accepted.

***Your deposits qualify for up to $3,000,000 in FDIC insurance coverage when placed at program banks in the Thread Bank deposit sweep program. Your deposits at each program bank become eligible for FDIC insurance up to $250,000, inclusive of any other deposits you may already hold at the bank in the same ownership capacity. You can access the terms and conditions of the sweep program at https://go.thread.bank/sweepdisclosure and a list of program banks at https://go.thread.bank/programbanks. Please contact with questions regarding the sweep program.

****Terms and conditions apply to the TruckSmarter cash back rewards program. Please see Program Terms for details.