At just 13 years old, Tucker Johnson is not your average teenager. While most kids his age are focused on school and hobbies, Tucker is already deep in the trenches of the well drilling industry, preparing to one day take over his family’s business, Johnson Well Drilling. His passion for the industry, instilled by his father, is evident in every task he undertakes—from operating drilling rigs to mixing mud and ensuring water levels are just right.
When we first met Tucker at the 2024 South Atlantic Jubilee, the young man spent 30 minutes in our booth working hard to complete an intricate drilling rig drawing for our doodle contest. While he worked away, he spoke proudly of his company and his aspirations in the industry with the maturity of a much older driller. It was then that we at The Driller knew his story was one worth telling, and the legacy of Johnson Well Drilling was certainly in good hands.
Tucker finds time in between his schooling and drilling apprentice work to fit in leadership-building hobbies. An Early Start to a Fruitful Future
Tucker's involvement in the family business began at an early age. "When I was eight, I drilled a well for East Point Golf," he recalls. According to his father, Tucker has been actively involved in various capacities since he was just five years old, helping with manageable tasks and learning the ropes along the way.
During this time, his father taught him the importance of leadership and work ethic, principles that Tucker has embraced wholeheartedly. "A boss tells you what to do, and a leader will help you get through," Tucker shares, echoing his father’s wisdom. As Tucker explains, a major part of being a strong leader is being someone people can look up to, “I always tell my dad I want to be like him. He told me he wants me to be better than him. And, you know, I look up to my dad since he is a lot more experienced and is a great role model.”
Leadership, for Tucker, is about setting an example and working alongside others to achieve common goals. Whether he’s handling heavy equipment or digging out unwanted mud, Tucker understands that success in this industry requires more than just technical skills—it demands respect, teamwork, and a commitment to doing the job right. Tucker also emphasizes work ethic as he believes it is essential for success in drilling, “One day, we were out there in the morning before we all got started and my dad told me his dad said that he would never get a drilling rig like he does now and he said he'd never make it but look at where he is now. It’s all because of my dad’s work ethic.”
Tucker Johnson showing off his drawing and his #FutureDrillers shirt at The Driller booth for the 2024 Jubilee.The Future is Bright in Drilling
Tucker's vision for the future of Johnson Well Drilling is rooted in innovation and a dedication to community. He dreams of upgrading equipment and incorporating new technologies to enhance efficiency, all while maintaining the high standards of service that his father has established. Tucker also explains how his creativity could help him design new drilling rigs and how some technology can be beneficial for drillers and their communities.
But Tucker’s connection to the community goes beyond just business. Johnson Well Drilling has a long history of giving back, from donating to local sports groups to drilling wells for churches and city projects. "My company has donated money to local sports groups for youth around the area that my company is in," Tucker explains, proud of the role his family’s business plays in supporting the local community. As a football player with years of previous experience in baseball as well, Tucker sees how sports can impact an individual’s dedication and work ethic greatly at a young age, “When we're out there and somebody says, “I can't do it,” It's an excuse we shouldn’t tell ourselves. Out there on the football field, that's what they tell us. Push yourself, push yourself to where your body reaches its limit. I would like to use this knowledge to strengthen my work ethic and our team’s work ethic on job sites.”
Despite his young age, Tucker is acutely aware of the challenges and responsibilities that come with running a drilling company. He speaks with maturity about the dangers of the job and the importance of paying attention to every detail on the job site. "One wrong move can kill somebody out there," he says, a sobering reminder of the stakes involved in the work he does. As Tucker shared with The Driller, fear is something he faces from time to time when in the field, “If it's a situation where it's really, really dangerous then, yes, I will be nervous. Because you never know when something can happen out there…When I go out there to work, yeah, it's exciting. You get to see all this machinery work, and it’s exciting until you see that things take a little turn and start to go wrong because out there, it may be going good, but things can take a big turn real easily, and you will never know until you see it or until it's too late.”
Looking ahead, Tucker is excited about the future, both for himself and for Johnson Well Drilling. He plans to use his skills and experiences, both in the field and in his personal endeavors, to strengthen his work ethic and lead the company to new heights.
His advice to other young people interested in the industry? "Have good leadership skills, be a good role model, earn respect, make it to where other people want to look up to you and want to be like you."
As Tucker Johnson prepares to carry on his family’s legacy, it’s clear that the future of the drilling industry is in capable hands. Tucker explained how features like this article also help encourage young aspiring drillers. As he explained, being featured in The Driller meant much to himself and his father. He shared his father's reaction: "When he first heard this, he was very excited because this is The Driller, you know. It isn’t just some regular magazine; it’s for the real drillers in our industry. And honestly, it's an honor. It's really hard most of the time out there, but then we get to do stuff like this, and it all makes sense."
With a strong work ethic, a clear vision for innovation, and a deep commitment to his community, Tucker embodies the qualities of a true leader in the making.
