The Story of Iowa Carriers

Our dad, Zoran, began his journey as a truck driver at just 18 years old in what was then Yugoslavia. In 1983, he joined the JNA, the Yugoslav People’s Army, and began building a life around hard work and driving.

In 1996, during the war and difficult years surrounding the breakup of Yugoslavia, Zoran made the incredibly difficult decision to move his entire family to the United States in search of a safer and better future.

We started over from the beginning.

Zoran eventually settled in Iowa, where he continued his career as a professional commercial truck driver. In 2002, he began driving commercially in the United States, working hard to provide for his family and build a better future for all of us.

Then, in 2007, everything changed. Two trucking companies Zoran worked for went bankrupt, and he suddenly found himself without a job. At the time, his son, Zee Zivkovic, was attending Iowa State University and studying Supply Chain and Logistics Management.

Zee looked at his dad and said: “Dad, I will start a company for you.”

And that is where the story of Iowa Carriers truly began. In July 2007, Zee started Iowa Carriers with one truck and a dream. It was not about becoming a huge corporation. It was about giving his father an opportunity, creating something the family could be proud of, and building a company where people were treated with respect.

Sadly, our family’s journey took a heartbreaking turn in April 2011. While traveling through Gallup, New Mexico, Zoran suffered a heart attack and passed away at age 50.

At that time, the company had only one truck, and Zoran had made only one payment on it. Zee was faced with an impossible choice. He could walk away from the company, or he could carry forward the dream he had started with his father.

He chose his dad.

Zee took over Iowa Carriers and continued moving forward, determined to keep his father’s name, hard work, and dream alive.

What started with one truck became a family-owned trucking company. Over the years, Suzy Zivkovic, now Suzy Berbo, joined the team, along with many other people who became an important part of the Iowa Carriers family.

We may still be a small company, but we believe that being small is one of our greatest strengths. We know our drivers. We know our customers. We care about the people who keep our company moving.

Our father, Zoran, taught us that a truck is more than a truck. Behind every driver is a family, a story, a sacrifice, and a reason to keep moving forward.

Today, every mile Iowa Carriers travels carries a little piece of his story. From one truck and one family dream to the company we are today, Iowa Carriers remains committed to the values our dad gave us: work hard, treat people right, keep your word, and never give up.