What We Stand For
TOP KNOT LLC
ESTABLISHED 2017
At Top Knot LLC, we don’t just haul freight, we move with purpose. Born in the oilfield and forged under pressure, we’re a hotshot trucking company built to go the extra mile, literally and figuratively. Inspired by the ancient Roman law requiring soldiers to carry a pack one mile, we don’t stop where the job ends. We push further, deliver faster, and set higher standards, not because we’re asked to, but because that’s who we are.
We believe in sharpening one another through real mentorship and radical transparency. Like iron sharpening iron, our team is strengthened by shared experience, accountability, and honesty. There’s no clay here, only people built for hard work and tough conditions. Every haul we move carries the weight of trust: trust in each other, trust in our process, and trust in the standards we uphold. Whether we are handing off a dispatch or navigating through rough terrain, we make sure the next person in line is set up to win, no weak links, no excuses.
Our culture is built on grit, extreme ownership, and a drive that doesn’t quit. We’re not just drivers; we’re problem solvers, deadline beaters, and reputation builders. When you work with Top Knot, you’re not just hiring a carrier, you’re partnering with a team that takes full responsibility for the outcome. Rain, snow, or 2 a.m. callouts, we show up ready. Because for us, this isn’t just business. It’s personal.
CORE VALUES
Iron Sharpening Iron
Relay Handoffs
Go the Extra Mile
Extreme Ownership
Transparency
Grit
WHO DRIVES US
The owners founded Top Knot with a clear mission: to provide dependable, fast, and safe hotshot services for the oilfield. With years of hands-on experience in trucking and logistics, they understand the challenges operators face every day. Their leadership is built on hard work, trust, and a commitment to keeping every haul, and every customer, moving without interruption.
Aaron Cexton
I partnered with Zech to start Top Knot after realizing we couldn’t find a hotshot company that operated with true fairness, transparency, and integrity. We knew there had to be a better way, so we set out to build it ourselves. From day one, we committed to running Top Knot on biblical principles, trusting God’s design for how a business should be led and how people should be treated. That foundation shaped everything: how we communicate, how we serve, and how we hold ourselves accountable. As we’ve grown, so has our vision. What started as a small hotshot operation has become a mission to empower independent drivers in a way this industry rarely offers. Top Knot is built to give drivers real opportunity, a platform where they can earn more, grow more, and build generational wealth without sacrificing their families, their health, or their peace. We didn’t just want to create another trucking company. We wanted to create a place where people are valued, supported, and set up to win. Top Knot is bigger than business for us, it’s a calling.
Zech Petroski
I started Top Knot because of a long journey that began when I moved from Washington State to North Dakota in 2011. After working construction, roustabout, and spending more than five years on the rigs, I felt a deep conviction about how much time I spent away from my family and how I wanted to honor God. When an opportunity arose to help build a Hotshot company from the ground up with my friend Aaron Cexton, we worked as employee drivers for a year and then launched Top Knot as our own Owner-Operator venture. We chose the name because every pack mule carries a diamond-shaped knot on top of its load called the “Top Knot,” and it reflected both our roots and our desire to build something with purpose. What began as a job became a transformative journey; reading, encouraging each other, growing spiritually, learning the realities of the industry, and discovering how difficult the owner-operator world can be for families. Through years of setbacks, partnerships, and refining, we built the version of Top Knot we once wished existed. One defined by values, authentic relationships, a culture of growth, and a belief that God uses our strengths, struggles, and even our quirks to prepare us for leadership and entrepreneurship.
Paul LeBrun
I’ve always wanted to work for myself, to operate my own equipment, make my own decisions, and build something real. I take pride in delivering reliable, high-quality service while investing in ideas I believe in, whether on my own or alongside a team. Joining Top Knot was an easy choice because our values align: grit, independence, teamwork, and a commitment to getting the job done right. Everyone at Top Knot shares the same vision for growth and accountability, and we push each other to improve every day. Working here has been more than a job, it’s an opportunity to grow, build, and be part of something that truly reflects who I am and what I stand for. It’s about taking pride in your work, supporting your team, and helping our customers succeed, mile after mile.
The Team Behind Top Knot
At Top Knot, our team is the backbone of everything we do. From our experienced, certified drivers to our round-the-clock dispatchers, every member is committed to keeping your operations running smoothly. We share a culture of accountability, grit, and teamwork, working together providing solutions tailored to the unique demands of the oilfield.
Safety, professionalism, and proactive communication guide our work every day, ensuring your loads arrive on time and your job-site stays productive. When you partner with us, you’re not just getting a service, you’re gaining a team that takes pride in every mile and every mission.
