We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Tim Baldwin. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Tim below.
Tim, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.
One of the most important things my parents did right was instilling a strong work ethic. Growing up on our family dairy farm, hard work wasn’t optional—it was expected. My father had a natural way with cows and taught us that doing what matters most isn’t about comfort, it’s about commitment. He passed away when I was 11, but the lessons he gave us stayed.
After that, my mother kept the farm going while raising four kids. That example of perseverance shaped everything about how I move through life. I learned early that you don’t quit when things get hard—you get up, you figure it out, and you keep going. That mindset has impacted every part of my career, especially when it comes to leadership, responsibility, and follow-through. It taught me that showing up and doing the work, day in and day out, is what builds something that lasts.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I grew up on a farm in upstate New York, where hard work and early mornings were just part of everyday life. One of my earliest memories is riding in a car seat inside a tractor cab while my parents worked the fields. My mom was an EMT and taught car seat safety, so even on the farm, we did things right. That upbringing taught me to take responsibility, pay attention to details, and show up prepared—lessons that stuck with me.
In 2020, I founded Mountain Mule Transportation after seeing a real need for safe, dependable transportation in Southwest Montana. Rideshare options were inconsistent, especially for early flights, late-night pickups, and navigating remote roads in unpredictable weather. I started with one 4×4 truck—something rugged enough to handle Montana’s terrain but comfortable enough for guests carrying skis, fishing gear, or just looking to get to their lodge safely.
The name Mountain Mule comes from the spirit of the company. The mule was the original 4×4 in Montana—strong, reliable, and built to carry people and gear through the toughest terrain. That same spirit drives how we operate every day.
Today, we offer private transportation for airport transfers, weddings, corporate groups, hunting and fishing lodges, and custom travel throughout the region. Our fleet includes 4×4 SUVs, trucks, and vans, all maintained in-house and driven by people who know the backroads and take pride in delivering a great experience.
We also launched a podcast, Mountain Mule Media, to help connect travelers and locals to the stories and businesses that make Montana special. It’s a way for us to go beyond transportation and help build deeper relationships across the community—something no other transportation company in the region is doing.
What sets us apart is our consistency and the personal care we bring to every ride. We track flights, arrive early, and make sure every guest feels taken care of. I’m most proud of the trust we’ve built, and the way Mountain Mule reflects the values I was raised with—hard work, reliability, and showing up for people.
If you’re traveling in Montana and need private transportation you can count on, or you just want to get to know the community better, we’re here for both.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
One of the biggest pivots in my life was stepping away from farming. I grew up on a dairy farm, and for a long time, I thought that’s what I’d do forever. It was a good life in many ways—honest work, clear purpose—but over time, I realized the season had come and gone for me. I’d seen people stay too long, trying to hold onto something that no longer worked, and it made life a lot harder than it needed to be.
Walking away wasn’t easy. It felt like letting go of a part of my identity, like a death of the ideal I’d carried for years. But that decision gave me the space to try new things, build new skills, and meet some of the best people I now know. It opened the door to Mountain Mule and everything that’s come with it. Leaving farming didn’t mean I left behind what I learned there—it just meant I found a new way to carry those lessons forward.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
What helped me build my reputation is consistency, patience, and hard work. It takes time—there’s no shortcut to being known and trusted in your market. But more than anything, it takes people. Asking for help, offering help, and showing up for others has been key. Building community and connection isn’t just good for business—it’s the most important part of life. That’s what I’ve focused on from the beginning, and our client reviews speak for themselves. When you take care of people, they remember—and they tell others
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mountain-mule.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mountainmulemt/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MountainMuleMT/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/timothy-baldwin-1b1a51199/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MountainMuleMT
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/mountain-mule-belgrade?osq=mounatin+mule
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/38wTICmvV833Kl2eRALecX?si=6be3324e658c4e1a
Image Credits
biddle.photography