Wreaths Across America's Trucking Tributes Presents Bay and Bay Transportation


Professional drivers and trucking companies give so much to the nation. Without the transportation industry, the Wreaths Across America mission to remember, honor, and teach would be nearly impossible to carry out. Veterans’ wreaths move by planes, trains, ships, and livestock trailers, but trucks and their professional drivers transport the lion’s share of America’s respect. In 2021, to be specific, 525 truckloads of wreaths were delivered, representing 390 different carriers.

In November and December, one of the busiest periods of the year for the transportation sector, the Wreaths Across America mission brings drivers together in an effort of unparalleled unity. With a positive, “can-do” work ethic, that unity makes it possible for Americans to honor millions of veterans laid to rest here at home and overseas. With over 3,136 participating locations, in addition to Arlington National Cemetery, transportation logistics are immense.

Many of these drivers are veterans and say the truckload of fresh, balsam-fir wreaths is the most precious cargo they transport in their careers. Wreaths Across America highlights their steadfast commitment in the “Trucking Tributes” feature online and on Wreaths Across America Radio.

Seth Reda is originally from Alaska, and he attended the University of Wisconsin-Superior for trucking management and logistics. Out of college, Seth worked for Martin Transport out of Wisconsin for about ten years before accepting a job in Utah, then, ultimately with Bay and Bay Transportation out of Minnesota.

Bay and Bay Transportation is a trucking and logistics company. “We run about five hundred trucks out of our assets department, but our logistics department is the big brother. We also have other subsidiaries with a bulk specialized division, CTX, and leasing.”

Seth is the General Manager and Vice President of the company’s refrigerated trucking operations. “At the time I was in college, we were in a sort of recession,” Seth explained of his decision to choose the transportation industry. “One of my hockey teammates suggested I go into transportation because there was a ninety-eight percent job placement at that time. I started in the major my sophomore year. My dad was involved with the Alaska Railroad. He worked there thirty-four years so I had some idea of what it might be like, and it intrigued me. At first it was self-survival, but it’s turned into a career.”

When Seth joined Bay and Bay, he was pleased to discover they were already involved with Wreaths Across America. “Wreaths Across America is a big deal in our industry and carriers that I worked with previously were also involved. Once a driver participates, they want to do it again year after year, but we try to share the experience among our drivers who are veterans. We like to pick a person who hasn’t done it before and of course a person who we feel will represent Baby and Bay well given the magnitude of the event. Actually, the tough part is matching up the driver and equipment. We have a couple of military-wrapped trucks and trailers, but they’re spread out though the country. A few weeks out, we have to be sure we get those assets back to Minnesota so we can get them up to Maine. The Maine to Arlington, Virginia is the milk run but we also did another run that had about ten stops to it. Normally if you ask a truck driver if he wants to be held up with a load for ten days they’d say no, but this is just such a great experience and one of our drivers has such a can-do attitude and he’s told us he’s going to do this until he can’t do it any longer. One of our drivers who went up to Maine made about ten wreaths while he was there. It was cool experience for him.”

Both of Seth’s grandfathers served in the military. “One of my grandpas’ served in the Navy for tweny-six years and my other grandpa served during World War II.” Sam Anderson, Bay and Bay’s Chairman and CEO, also has military service as part of his family background which makes the mission to remember, honor and teach an important part of the company culture. “There’s such a strong connection between trucking and the military and we love drivers who are veterans. The cause is important to us, and Mr. Anderson wants to see us double our loads from last year.”

Thank you, Mr. Anderson, Seth, and the entire Bay and Bay Transportation team for all you do to find a way to serve!

You can hear Seth’s full interview on Trucking Tributes. Trucking Tributes is heard exclusively on Wreaths Across America Radio every Trucking Tuesday at 11:00 AM and again at 4:00 PM (eastern).

If you’d like to support our trucking logistics, the first step is the volunteer form found here: https://trucking.wreathsacrossamerica.org/