King of Freight Founder Advocates for Compassionate Hiring Practices as a Path to Recovery and Community Rebuilding

WICHITA, KS / June 18, 2026 / Michael Ricklefs, former founder and principal of King of Freight, is speaking out on an issue he has long acted upon quietly: the value of giving people recovering from addiction a genuine second chance in the workforce.

In an era when a single difficult chapter can permanently close professional doors, Ricklefs has taken a different approach offering employment opportunities to individuals working to rebuild their lives, not as a charitable gesture, but as a reflection of his core belief that addiction is a disease, and that recovery requires more than willpower. It requires opportunity.

“Business ownership is not only about profits, growth, or numbers on a spreadsheet. It is about people — and sometimes, a single opportunity can mean everything to someone trying to become a better version of themselves,” said Michael Ricklefs, Founder of King of Freight.

Ricklefs is known across the Kansas logistics industry for building King of Freight from a local Wichita operation into a nationally scaled freight enterprise, a journey covered extensively by The Wichita Eagle. What has received far less attention is the human dimension of how he has led, extending accountability and compassion in equal measure to the people around him.

For some individuals he has hired, a job offer meant more than income. It meant dignity, stability, and the chance to demonstrate to themselves and their families that their story was not over. Out of deep respect for the privacy of those individuals, no names will be shared. These are personal journeys, not stories meant for public recognition.

Ricklefs has also spotlighted others who share this ethos. His company’s recognition of leaders like DeAires Peterson reflects a broader commitment to elevating people who break barriers, in freight and in life.

Many individuals who have struggled with addiction have faced loss, trauma, or circumstances that pushed them toward destructive choices. Ricklefs does not excuse harmful behavior, but he draws a clear line between accountability and abandonment. “We should hold people to standards,” he has said, “but we should also be willing to stand beside those who are genuinely trying to change.”

His broader professional biography, detailed in recent press coverage reflects a leader whose community impact extends well beyond freight logistics. The legacy of expansion he built at King of Freight was always paired with investment in the people who made that growth possible.

Some of the hardest-working, most loyal, and most grateful individuals Ricklefs has ever worked with were people who once believed they had no future left. That reality has shaped not just how he hires, but how he leads.

For Ricklefs, this is not a program, a campaign, or a public initiative. It is a personal conviction that kindness costs nothing, and that one opportunity, extended at the right moment, can change the entire direction of a person’s life. More about his work and background can be found at michaelricklefs.com.

About Michael Ricklefs

Michael Ricklefs is the former founder and principal of King of Freight, a Wichita, Kansas-based logistics company where he grew into a nationally recognized freight enterprise. Throughout his career, he has been recognized for combining operational excellence with people-first leadership. Full coverage of his professional background is available via AccessNewswire and The Wichita Eagle.

Media Contact
Michael Ricklefs
Wichita, KS
Kennedyg@kingoffreight.com
(316) 530-5146
Website: michaelricklefs.com