Breaking: Former Arrow Trucking CEO Pielsticker released from prison early because of COVID-19

Former Arrow Trucking CEO James Douglas “Doug” Pielsticker has been released from federal prison nearly three years early because of a coronavirus outbreak at the Texas prison where he has been serving his 7.5-year sentence for tax evasion and conspiracy to commit tax fraud.

Pielsticker, 51, will remain on home confinement until May 2021, according to a Tulsa World report.

While at the helm of Tulsa-based Arrow Trucking, a flatbed carrier, Pielsticker stranded nearly 1,000 drivers all over the country without working fuel cards on Dec. 23, 2009.

Instead, trucking associations, rival carriers and former Arrow dispatchers worked tirelessly to get drivers home after receiving little communication from Pielsticker and other executives except to turn in their trucks at the nearest Freightliner dealerships.

Pielsticker pleaded guilty in February 2015 to embezzling millions of dollars from Arrow Trucking, which he used to pay for his elaborate wedding and purchase expensive vehicles, including a Bentley.

This is a developing story.

If you are a former Arrow Trucking driver, contact FreightWaves’ Clarissa Hawes here.