About Us

Thunderbird Truck Management and Material Handling is named for the large, mythical bird known to native peoples of the Americas. Legend says that if you dreamt of the great bird or had a vision of the Thunderbird, you were a “Heyokas.” It is believed that Heyokas do things contrary to established beliefs and practices; they are not afraid to break tradition and endeavor to help the tribes change “backward” deeds and actions. The Heyokas often use laughter as a way to buffer the suffering of life and represent a powerful spirit and signify great change. We at Thunderbird are inspired by the legend of the Heyokas and strive to be their modern-day incarnation.

Mission Statement

The native peoples believe the great Thunderbird was a guide to help find new direction into a better future. By taking the name, we accept the responsibilities that come with it to find a new direction to a better future in our industry for ourselves, our customers, and our precious planet Earth. Our vast experience has taught us to accomplish this by using advanced technologies and processes. Our customers will greatly improve safety, add transparency to the industry, reduce the impact on our country's infrastructure and become environmentally responsible companies. With our systems in use, our world will become greener as reduced fuel usage and lower truck emissions diminish the carbon footprint for dump trucks. Our goal is to produce a mutual win for all of our customers, truck owners, drivers, contractors, dump sites, the public and the Earth.

Founder Debra Hill

Growing up in a family-owned transportation company, Deb was destined to continue the tradition. Shortly after graduation she began local and long haul dispatching for a Portland trucking company. She enjoyed the fast pace, interactions with customers and drivers and “long haul” trips vicariously taken across the country as the loads moved from origin to destination.

In the intervening years, she has held progressively higher-level dock-side and management positions in some of the largest shipping firms on the globe, including Sea-land Services and American President Lines. She was in on the ground floor of the containerized method that has revolutionized shipping worldwide and later built an airfreight business for an international freight forwarding company.

As co-owner of a successful construction company for 12 years, her experience gave her first-hand insight into the specific needs of material trucking companies, strengthening her abilities to develop efficient solutions to pressing problems.

Whether you need to move a container of electronics, mission-critical parts for machinery, over-dimensional crane rigging, or a dump truck full of dirt, she will know the most efficient means of accomplishing it – day after day.

Co-founder James Shumate

Jim has always been interested in technology and engineering. He is a U.S. Army veteran where he served in the artillery. Jim earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Cal-Poly in San Luis Obispo, CA. He held several engineering jobs before buying Air Cargo Express in 1996.

Jim currently operates Air Cargo Express. With his staff and professional drivers, they provide prompt, reliable and efficient transportation of cargo from the airport to destinations throughout the Puget Sound area. With his background and experience moving cargo, Jim is eager to apply new technologies to other facets of the transportation industry. Thunderbird is pleased to have his expertise to offer to our customers.