From Serving His Country to Supporting CPC Drivers: Safety Supervisor Kevin Ogle

When Kevin Ogle enlisted in the United States Army in 1986, he was looking for a way to pay for college. Growing up in a small town in West Texas, he saw the Army College Fund as an opportunity to build a better future.

“But once I got overseas and started discovering the world, it turned into a whole lot more than that,” Kevin said.

Serving Around the World

His decision to join the Army led to a 27-year military career that took him around the globe. Stationed in Germany for 13 years, Kevin visited almost every country in Europe. He also spent three years deployed throughout Iraq, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

Originally trained in heavy artillery, Kevin often served as a motorized infantryman during deployments, operating alongside special operations units. His service earned numerous military honors, including the Bronze Star and multiple Meritorious Service Medals, Army Commendation Medals and Army Achievement Medals. In 2005, Kevin was awarded the Purple Heart for wounds he received after his Humvee was struck by an improvised explosive device in Iraq.

While his military career included extraordinary experiences and difficult challenges, Kevin believes the sacrifices made by his family were just as significant.

“You have pride in what you’re doing,” Kevin said. “You hope you’re making a change, making something better. But you also know your family is sacrificing. It was tough on my wife and kids at times, but it made us a stronger family.”

Finding a New Road

His final Army assignment brought him to the Quad Cities, where he chose to settle in Bettendorf, Iowa, after retiring as a Master Sergeant. Wanting to continue exploring after spending much of his military career abroad, Kevin earned his commercial driver’s license. He spent six months as an over-the-road trucker traveling through all 48 contiguous states.

“I served mostly overseas for almost three decades,” Kevin said. “I wanted to experience my own country. I became a truck driver so I could go out and see America through a windshield.”

Looking to spend more time at home with his family, Kevin joined CPC Logistics in 2013 as a driver assigned to John Deere before becoming Safety Supervisor four years ago. Today, he draws on the leadership, communication and training skills he developed in the Army to help CPC drivers build successful careers.

“Like in the Army, I’m trying to protect people in my role at CPC,” Kevin said. “I’m helping them stay as safe as possible when they get behind the wheel of a truck.”

Kevin and his team have also played a significant role in expanding John Deere’s drayage operations across the Midwest and South, helping safely launch new facilities while supporting the company’s growing transportation network.

“We have a long-term relationship with John Deere,” Kevin said. “They appreciate our high on-time delivery rates and the respect and poise our drivers show every day.”

Service Beyond the Uniform

Kevin thinks punctuality and professionalism are skills that veterans can apply to careers in trucking.

“In the military, if things don’t happen a certain way, it can send the entire operation sideways,” Kevin said. “People who have served understand the importance of being on time and properly communicating about anything that may be slowing them down.”

Looking back, Kevin sees many similarities between military service and CPC’s culture.

“What I’ve come to understand about CPC is they really take good care of their employees,” he said. “I see the same thing I experienced in the military: People looking out for each other.”