Written By: Tenicka Chaney
...Athletes Make the Best Truck Drivers
The trucking industry offers remarkable opportunities for careers and small businesses, playing a crucial role in driving the U.S. economy forward. Responsible for moving 72.2% of the nation’s freight by weight, it generates nearly $800 billion annually and employs over 3.5 million truck drivers. Beyond the economics, the industry thrives on qualities like resilience, focus, and discipline—skills athletes develop throughout their careers.
Dominic Castiglione exemplifies this connection. A former hockey standout, Dominic transitioned from the ice rinks of Long Island to the helm of Sal C Machinery Movers—a 44-year-old logistics and rigging company that his father started in 1981—showing how athletic grit and discipline translate into leadership and business success.
A Competitive Foundation: Hockey as a Gateway to Resilience
Dominic’s journey began in Brooklyn, where the concrete landscape offered little in the way of organized sports. His introduction to hockey came through roller hockey played on the streets of Brooklyn, where parked cars marked the boundaries of play. The competitive nature of those scrappy games laid the foundation for Dominic’s lifelong passion for the sport.
When his family moved to Long Island, the suburban environment gave him access to ice rinks and leagues, opening up opportunities to refine his skills. By 1990, he joined the NY Junior Islanders as a peewee, diving into the world of travel hockey. It was no longer just a game—it became a driving force in his life.
Hockey demanded discipline and shaped Dominic’s character. Competing at increasingly advanced levels, including High Junior B hockey, equivalent to collegiate play, he learned the importance of strategy, teamwork, and perseverance under pressure. His performance at a Hershey, Pennsylvania tournament, where he scored two short-handed goals, demonstrated his ability to rise to the occasion when the stakes were high.
As Dominic’s hockey career progressed, he faced a life-changing decision. To continue pursuing the sport professionally, he would have to relocate to Canada—a move that meant leaving behind his family and roots. Instead, Dominic chose to stay home, prioritizing the bonds and values that shaped his identity.
Dominic went on to attend Nassau Community College, where he worked for his father’s trucking business on the weekends. His early professional experiences throughout his early adulthood included various roles in logistics and construction, ranging from smaller shops to larger enterprises. These roles gave Dominic a wealth of life experience in a short time, allowing him to acquire new skills and perspectives while continuing to play hockey on his college team.
A Turning Point: Tragedy and Commitment
Dominic’s career trajectory shifted dramatically with the loss of his brother, Sal Castiglione, from complications during thyroid cancer surgery—a tragedy that inspired him to step into the family business full-time, leaving other pursuits behind. Sal C Machinery Movers had been a cornerstone of the Castiglione family for decades, specializing in rigging and machinery moving.
By the age of 29, Dominic began transforming Sal C. Machinery Movers into a modern operation. He expanded the company’s scope, attracted new clients, and introduced innovations that positioned the business for growth.
Operating Like a Championship Team
Sal C Machinery Movers operates like a championship hockey team, where every player and piece of equipment has a crucial role. The company’s fleet includes rollback trucks, pup trailers, and extendable double-drop trailers, along with specialized vehicles like air-ride equipment for fragile cargo and rolling tarp flatbeds for oversized loads.
Beyond its fleet, Sal C Machinery Movers provides tailored services to meet complex logistical challenges. With capabilities such as 100-ton hydraulic gantries, crane operations, vessel cleaning, and advanced warehousing solutions, the company serves industries ranging from construction to renewable energy. Registered in 48 states, Sal C Machinery Movers has earned a reputation for precision and reliability. Sal C Machinery Movers remains a proudly family-owned and operated business to this day, supported by a dedicated team of employees and contractors. The operation is guided by Dominic Castiglione as COO, while his father, Salvatore Castiglione, serves as President and his mother, Catherine Castiglione, holds the role of CFO. Dominic’s sister, Dana, plays a significant role in the business, efficiently overseeing daily operations as Office Manager.
Expanding Horizons: Offshore Wind and Warehousing
Recognizing the evolving needs of U.S. logistics, Dominic embarked on an aggressive business development journey to expand the company’s sales efforts and market reach.
Dominic ventured into renewable energy logistics, particularly offshore wind infrastructure. Through a long-standing relationship with another family-owned business just 10 minutes from his office, Tom Montalbine—then President of Roman Stone, a concrete manufacturer established in 1903—invited Dominic to attend a supplier forum hosted by NYSERDA in Albany. The forum aimed to advance the use of New York-based and American businesses within the offshore wind industry. From there, Dominic caught the momentum of the industry and began positioning Sal C Machinery Movers as a key player.
Breaking into this sector required persistence, networking, and vision. Through supplier days, forums, and conferences like Oceanic Network IPF and the American Clean Power Association’s Wind Power Conference, Dominic secured contracts that enabled the company to play a critical role in transporting cement mattresses—components essential for subsea cable protection. His operations have supported every offshore wind project in the U.S.
To meet industry and state regulatory requirements, Dominic also expanded partnerships with veteran-, woman-, and minority-owned businesses (SDVOB and MWBE-certified entities). These collaborations range from subcontracting additional trucking firms for larger contracts to building capacity for sales, business development, and grant writing.
To further enhance company capacity, Sal C Machinery Movers entered the warehousing industry, integrating storage with trucking to create seamless operations. Warehousing is a growing sector, projected to hit $326 billion globally by 2027, driven by the demands of e-commerce and complex supply chains. Dominic leveraged advanced systems to optimize freight handling, streamline inventory management, and position Sal C Machinery Movers as a leader in this area.
Hockey at Heart
Although his days of competitive hockey are behind him, Dominic’s connection to the sport remains central to his life. He often visits local rinks in Hauppauge with his wife and children, teaching them the values hockey instilled in him: resilience, teamwork, and composure under pressure.
Dominic envisions merging his professional expertise with his passion for hockey by hosting a day of competition and education. His goal is to inspire youth and adults to explore career opportunities in trucking and logistics while celebrating the lessons sports can impart.
Vision for the Future
As Dominic steers Sal C Machinery Movers into its next chapter, his focus remains on innovation, community engagement, and family values. Plans include expanding warehousing operations, adopting cutting-edge technologies, and developing training programs for truck drivers and auto mechanics.
Through renewable energy projects and logistics evolution, Dominic is shaping the future of the trucking industry while honoring the Castiglione family legacy. From the ice rinks of Long Island to the machinery yards of Deer Park, his journey is a testament to resilience, adaptability, and teamwork. Whether chasing a puck or redefining an industry, Dominic’s story proves that teamwork is the key to success.
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- Interviewer and Writer: Tenicka Chaney
- Videography/Photography: Dominique Ehrlich and Haley Ladin
- Brand Partnership/Public Relations: Emerald Marie
- Producer/Director: Sports Power Infrastructure
- Executive Producer: Local Content
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