Family trucking tradition carries on with Kaleb Hammett

The Hammett family trucking business began in 1963, when Harry Hammett opened Hammett Excavation in Dodd City, Texas. His son, Gaylen, followed suit, and Gaylen’s son, Kaleb, is carrying on the family trucking tradition today, as a third-generation trucker.

“All I ever wanted to do was drive a truck,” says 21 year-old Kaleb. “I grew up riding with my dad. We trucked to get our excavation equipment to the job sites.”

Heavy equipment operator is one of the many skills this young man can add to his list of abilities. However, he is partial to driving a truck.

“When I was younger, the company was kind of small, and I needed to do both jobs,” Kaleb explains. “But we’ve added trucks, and I only do the hauling now.”

And haul he does. Big things. Really big things. Like a John Deere 470G LC excavator.

“We used our 11-axle set up for that one. It grossed out somewhere close to 210,000 pounds. It’s the biggest one I’ve hauled yet,” he said.

Kaleb is attending Shell Rotella’s SuperRigs this year, showing his 2017 Peterbilt 389. He’s owned this one since December 2017. It’s his third truck. He started out with a 1996 Kenworth W900, and laughed about “upgrading to a truck with air conditioning” when he purchased a 2007 Peterbilt 389 two years ago. In December of last year he put the newest truck on the road.

Hammett plans on keeping the family business alive and well with his generation but realizes he has a lot to learn.

“My dad is getting me ready to take over one day. I can drive the truck and run the equipment, but there’s a lot more I need to know about the business side of excavation,” he said.

The poise, pride and dedication to mastering his craft are evident when speaking to the youngest Hammett. We wish him the best of luck, at SuperRigs and in his trucking pursuits.