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Employees Matter - THE HAIRSTONS
The owners of Cobalt Steel Transport,Inc
ERICK MANUEL BURCHFIELD HAIRSTON - OWNER - BLUE LEFT
BRIAN NIGEL HAIRSTON - OWNER - GREEN RIGHT IN PHOTO
We know that our company's greatness comes from our employees. In the same way that you support us to be our best, we support you to be your best. From warehouse staff to contracted drivers, we lookout for all of our team.
Behind the scenes, the finest staff of customer service, logistics, driver managers, maintenance, and human resource professionals in the industry supports our drivers. We never forget that Cobalt Steel Transport, Inc Company's success depends on our drivers' success.
Says Erick Manuel Burchfield-Hairston, 31 years of age and the Co - Owner of Cobalt Steel Transport, Inc. Erick also explains that learning everything about the Transportation Business from the other owner, Brian Nigel Hairston has made this all possible as, Brian always preaches about the future and stating that the Future Is always Bright. But, that the challenge of any trucking company, said Brian Nigel Hairston, is finding drivers.
“It is always a challenge to find drivers,” Erick Burchfield also said. Brian said that has led to much better pay for drivers.
A year-round driver can earn $85,000 to $100,000 plus a year, he said.
Will go home every day to their families.
Erick M. Burchfield - Hairston also went on to say,
With advancement in both comfort and the ease in driving those big trucks, Cobalt Steel Transport has begun to see more and more female drivers. An attraction, they said, is all their drivers have short hauls and are home every day.
The company has plans to continue to expand.
2026 - UPDATE COBALT STEEL TRANSPORT, INC.
THE HAIRSTON LEGACY: A FAMILY BUILT ON DISCIPLINE, LEADERSHIP & GLOBAL BROTHERHOOD
The Hairston legacy is a living testament to discipline, sacrifice, and generational elevation. Rooted in Southern California and extending across Brazil and Morocco, the family stands as a unified force of leadership, athleticism, creativity, and cultural connection. At the center is Brian Nigel Hairston, a father whose resilience, vision, and unbreakable willpower shaped a lineage that now spans continents and industries.
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THE RISE OF COBALT STEEL TRANSPORTATION INC.
Cobalt Steel Transportation Inc. did not emerge from privilege or luck. It was built from the ground up — from school bus routes to intermodal yards, from early‑morning shifts to late‑night dispatch calls. What began as a small operation evolved into one of Southern California’s most respected intermodal fleets.
BRIAN HAIRSTON HAS A NETWORTH OF $25 MILLION
What Makes Cobalt Steel Different
• Drivers return home every day
• Premium pay between 100,000+
• A massive, agile fleet with 95 units and 80 owner‑operators
• The ability to pivot instantly between FAK freight, port drayage, and power‑only
• A culture that welcomes and elevates female CDL drivers
Cobalt Steel is not just a company — it is the training ground for the next generation of Hairston leadership.
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THE LEADERSHIP OF THE NEXT GENERATION
Erick M. Hairston — President, CEO & Certified Director of Safety
As the operational centerpiece of Cobalt Steel, Erick M. Hairston leads with a rare combination of regulatory mastery and hands‑on experience. He is a Certified Director of Safety (CDS), a Class A operator, and the architect of the company’s zero‑incident safety record.
He oversees:
• 58 company drivers
• 98 owner‑operators
• All maintenance, safety logs, and compliance systems
His leadership is defined by discipline, precision, and a deep respect for the drivers who keep the company moving.
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Erick Manuel Burchfield Hairston — Co‑Owner, Executive Partner, son.
As co‑owner and executive partner, he stands shoulder‑to‑shoulder with his father and brothers, helping guide the company’s strategic direction and long‑term growth.
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THE OPERATIONAL BACKBONE: INTERMODAL MASTERY
Cobalt Steel’s strength lies in its ability to operate across every corner of Southern California’s intermodal network.
Rail Drayage
The fleet services major hubs such as:
• BNSF Hobart Yard
• Union Pacific intermodal facilities
Drivers move domestic and international containers between rail hubs and warehouses, connecting national freight lines to local distribution centers.
Off‑Dock Street Lots
To avoid port congestion, the company relies on:
• Container flipping
• Chassis management
• Secure street lot storage
This system keeps freight moving even when the ports slow down.
Power‑Only & FAK Flexibility
Cobalt Steel can:
• Pull any pre‑loaded trailer
• Move general freight, refrigerated goods, beverages, produce, and consumer products
• Shift instantly between freight types without owning every trailer
This flexibility is the secret behind the company’s rapid growth.
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THE SAFETY CULTURE: BUILT FROM SCHOOL BUS ROOTS
Brian’s early career in school transportation shaped the company’s safety DNA.
Every driver — whether asset or owner‑operator — is trained with the same strict standards once used to protect schoolchildren.
This includes:
• Defensive driving in LA congestion
• Electronic logging compliance
• Precision maneuvering in tight street lots
• Rail yard grid navigation
The result is a zero‑incident federal safety profile — a rare achievement in modern logistics.
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THE FAMILY BEHIND THE COMPANY
The Hairston family is not just a group of individuals — it is a multi‑disciplinary, multi‑continental network of leaders, creators, and athletes.
The Sons - THE HAIRSTONS
• Erick M. Hairston — CEO, CDS, father, scholar Executive Partner
• Luis Hairston, J.J. Hairston, Daniel Hairston, Pete Hairston — The “Quiet Operators,” mastering billing, dispatch, and financial systems
• Marcus (Marcus Bessa) — Musician, performer, elite triathlete
• Matheus (Matheus Silveira Bessa) — World‑traveled, disciplined, resilient
• Abdel — Surf culture ambassador across Morocco, Brazil, and California
The Grandsons
• Erick Jr. — Learning fleet maintenance and yard safety
• AJ Hairston
• DJ Hairston
• Alex Hairston
and Matia - MATI - Hairston
The third generation is being raised with the same discipline, athleticism, and early‑morning work ethic that built the family legacy.
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THE BOOKS THAT BUILT THE BLUEPRINT
Brian Nigel Hairston’s written works are more than books — they are the operating manuals of the family empire.
• Commercial Truck Driving The Right Way — The safety foundation
• How To Start and Grow Your Trucking Business — The financial roadmap
• The Unplanned Life — A testimony of overcoming blindness and adversity
• Letters to Erick Burchfield! — A father’s written legacy to his son
These books preserve the knowledge, philosophy, and discipline that built the Hairston legacy.
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THE CULTURE OF THE HAIRSTON FAMILY
The family is defined by:
• Early mornings
• Hard work
• Physical discipline
• Loyalty
• Brotherhood
• Faith
• International unity
Whether training in the surf of Taghazout, cycling long‑distance routes, or managing intermodal freight, the family moves with purpose and precision.
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THE LEGACY CONTINUES
This is not just a family.
This is not just a company.
This is a multi‑generational system of leadership, built through sacrifice, discipline, and love.
The Hairston legacy stands unbroken.
The sons stand strong.
The grandsons rise behind them.
And the story continues — across continents, across industries, across generations.
Top Level Benefits
From great health benefits and flexible scheduling, we provide what you need to feel great about going to work. Competitive benefits packages are just the start. Let's talk today about how being a part of our company can take you to the next level.
High Standards
Sure, we have high standards for our employees, but we have high standards for ourselves, too! We want to be a company that you are proud to be a part of. We pride ourselves on making ethical choices the center of our business plan.