Milwaukee native Ed Hennings took the wrong path growing up. At age 18, he blew off his schooling and joined in with the neighborhood kids trying to make “fast money” by selling drugs. Not long after, he was convicted of reckless homicide and sentenced to 20 years in prison.

According to Hennings, the incident happened when he and his uncle were returning to the spot where his uncle had been jumped. Hennings was carrying a gun when three men approached them. An argument ensued, and one of the men got in the face of his uncle.

The court said this man started pulling up his sagging pants. Hennings believed the man was reaching for his gun. So Hennings pulled out his own gun and shot the man.

Is There Reform After Murder?

Hennings could have been put away for life. He was charged with First Degree Intentional Homicide, which carries a mandatory life sentence. This was brought down to reckless homicide, and, in 1996, Hennings was sent to prison for 20 years.

After taking another man’s life, can there be room for redemption? For reform?

That’s ultimately a much larger question that we’ll leave up to the reader. But the story of Ed Hennings argues that the answer might be “yes.”

Go Time Trucking

Hennings had a lot of time for reflection in prison. Upon his release, he was determined to make things right.

He started several businesses – a barbershop, his own shoe line, and Go Time Trucking. Go Time Trucking employees many drivers with backgrounds similar to his own.

The company shows that truck driving might not be the “fast money” of selling drugs, but it’s a legitimate way to earn money and make an honest living.

Hennings even trains his drivers who wish to go on to become owner-operators one day and own their own trucks.

Furthermore, Hennings speaks to high schools to warn kids not to take the same route that he did. He tries to inspire people to turn their lives around before its too late.

There may be no taking back what Hennings took, but he’s undeniably turned his life around, and trucking has been a large part of his road to redemption.