'Fire in my belly' drove trucking firm

Dave Metzler's journey led him to establish Carlisle Carrier Corp.

After 11 years at a Colorado trucking fi rm, Dave Metzler was fi red in February 1978 following disagreements with company leadership.

It was a diffi cult split, considering the owner was like a father to Metzler, who today is president and CEO of Cumberland County-based Carlisle Carrier Corp.

From the day he was fi red, Metzler said, he had a passion to run his own trucking company.

The journey was diffi cult, but perseverance paid off, he said. Today, Carlisle Carrier is a major hauler for companies including General Mills Inc., Kellogg Co., and The Gatorade Co. But to get there, owners …