Tag Archives: #tmc

James Hawes Named TMC’s Trainer of the Month for August 2019

When it comes to life on the road, James is no stranger to the industry. He has been driving since 1998, with most of those years consisting of flatbed. \

“I’ve done a little bit of everything when it comes to driving, but I always end up coming back to flatbed,” he says.

James found his way to TMC in November 2013 after his wife sent him an application to apply to the company. “I was really interested in the trucks and the home time that was promised,” James says.

“This is one of the few companies I have worked for that is more family oriented than anything, and that’s really important to me.”

The Flint, TX, native moved into the training role shortly after starting with TMC. “When I was at other companies, I didn’t have the kind of training that TMC offers. I’ve been doing this for a while and I wanted to be that person who helps someone start a new career.”

James puts his trainees to work right away, but he keeps his style laid back and personable. “I try to get my guys out doing the job and learning as much as they can, but I like to keep it light and make sure I’m building good relationships with my trainees.”

So what is James’ favorite part of training?

“Always having someone else around to help with tarps!” he jokes. “But in all seriousness, seeing these guys make it to their own trucks. Getting that call and knowing that someone got their start because of the help you gave them is the most rewarding.”

Finally, James says he owes his success to him Trainer Coordinator, Jeremy Meyer, and Fleet Manager, Clint Pedersen. “This recognition really caught me by surprise, but it’s not just me out here. Jeremy and Clint both keep me running and are really the two people that make this possible for me.”

Driver trainers are vital to the TMC training department, and each month a trainer is chosen who demonstrates the outstanding qualities TMC looks for in a trainer. The Trainer of the Month recipient is chosen based on their safety record and the safety performance of their trainees, the number of drivers trained and the retention percentage of those drivers. Congratulations to our August 2019 Trainer of the Month, James Hawes!

About TMC
TMC Transportation is the nation’s largest employee-owned flatbed transportation company. TMC provides expert transportation services and supply-chain management solutions throughout the 48 contiguous states. Founded in 1972, TMC is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, and is known for its integrity, innovation, superior safety record and dedication to quality and customer service. The company’s claim-free, on-time delivery record is the best in the business and is consistently recognized by its customers.

Visit their website here, or see their jobs on SmartPhoneTrucker here.

Anthony Leech Named TMC’s Trainer of the Month for June 2019

Before joining the Black and Chrome in 2003, Anthony was working a job where he made tires. Craving a change of scenery and a new challenge to take on, he chose to enter the world of over-the-road trucking.

“I was going through training at a CDL school when a recruiter for TMC visited,” he says. “The company was just transitioning to Peterbilt trucks and they promised awesome home time, which were two appealing things for me.”

Although his love for the job came easy, the Panama City Beach native wasn’t sure that he would feel the same about training. “I was approached about it a couple of times, but I declined because I was nervous to try it out,” he says.

Now in his sixth year of training, Anthony is glad he took the leap of faith. “Getting to know someone new and showing them how TMC works has turned into another aspect of my job that I love.”

The camaraderie out on the road is something that also became more important to Anthony. “Some of my best friends are people that have been my trainees,” he says. “In fact, I have been a best man in two weddings for people I have trained.”

Anthony makes sure to focus on the basics when it comes to training. “You have to be aware of your surroundings and make sure you’re safe doing whatever it is you’re doing. As long as you keep the wheels spinning safely, you’ll find success.”

Over the road driving is a huge transition and shouldn’t be taken lightly. “Most guys get in the truck and doubt themselves,” says Anthony. “It’s my job to encourage them to keep going and keep learning.”

Finally, the relationships he has been able to develop with training coordinators and staff are some of the many reasons he plans to stick around. “I plan on retiring with TMC; I’m not going anywhere.”

Congratulations to our June 2019 Trainer of the Month, Anthony Leech!

About TMC

TMC Transportation is the nation’s largest employee-owned flatbed transportation company. TMC provides expert transportation services and supply-chain management solutions throughout the 48 contiguous states. Founded in 1972, TMC is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, and is known for its integrity, innovation, superior safety record and dedication to quality and customer service. The company’s claim-free, on-time delivery record is the best in the business and is consistently recognized by its customers. Visit them at www.tmctrans.com, or click here to see their jobs on SmartPhoneTrucker.

Be Happy … at TMC!

TMC has all the things that make drivers happy!

Blaine Butts Named TMC’s Trainer of the Month for May 2019

When it comes to the TMC way of life, Blaine is no stranger. He started his professional driving career just over nine years ago in June 2010, and a life on the road became the ideal lifestyle he was looking for.

“After a long career in manufacturing, I wanted to find something new and a job my wife and I could do together,” he says. “TMC gave me that opportunity, and it seemed like the perfect fit.”

Once the River Oaks, TX, native had two years of driving under his belt, he knew that training was the next step for him in his career.

“Everyone in the training department runs such a good program, and I believe it’s the best in the world,” he says. “Wanting to train came from loving TMC and wanting to help be a part of our continued success.”

His first trainee was actually his wife, Lisa, and they drove as a team for seven years. He trained on and off during this period, but when Lisa decided to go back to school, Blaine took on training full-time.

When it comes to his training style, Blaine does his best to be a friend and mentor out on the road. He shares his own triumphs and challenges that he has faced over the years, and works very hard to build great relationships with everyone.

One way he does this is by having them come up with a handle, or a nickname to go by. Blaine’s personal handle is “Captain Jelly Bean,” and some other names his trainees have gone by are: Hush Puppy (his wife’s handle), Wicker Man, Deputy Sunflower, Wild Alaska, Hammerhead and Mr. Positive.

“I take care of my trainees the best I can, just like TMC does for me,” he says. “Being a trainer has also made me a better driver, and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to do the same.”

About TMC
TMC Transportation is the nation’s largest employee-owned flatbed transportation company. TMC provides expert transportation services and supply-chain management solutions throughout the 48 contiguous states. Founded in 1972, TMC is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, and is known for its integrity, innovation, superior safety record and dedication to quality and customer service. The company’s claim-free, on-time delivery record is the best in the business and is consistently recognized by its customers.

You can visit TMC’s website here, or see their jobs on SmartPhoneTrucker here.

Paxton Cottrell Named Trainer of the Month for April 2019

DES MOINES, Iowa, May 29, 2019 – Paxton joined TMC in the second half of June 2015. After driving for six months at another employer and not getting the home time he was looking for, he started to look for other options. “TMC could give me everything I was looking for, so I applied and have loved it here ever since,” Paxton says.

After being a part of the Black and Chrome team for about two years, someone suggested to Paxton that they thought he would be a good trainer. “I decided to give it a shot,” he says. “I found that it was fun to teach new drivers how to do things the right way.”

When it comes to his training style, Paxton takes on an instructional, hands-on approach. “Everyone learns differently, but I like to be working right alongside my trainees and walking through instruction whenever needed.” He also adds that it is important to remember where he once started. “I try not to forget how far I’ve come in the industry and all of the questions I used to have; that’s my motto when training.”

The teaching aspect of training is Paxton’s favorite part of the job. “Securement is my favorite thing to teach,” he says. “I also enjoy the camaraderie that drivers share out on the road, along with continuing to meet new people and forming new relationships.”

As for advice for new trainees, the most important thing is to take things slow. “Flatbed trucking has an on-going learning curve, and you won’t become an expert overnight,” Paxton says. “There are a lot of people out there who have helped me along the way, and still continue to do so. Never be afraid to lean on others and ask for advice, even when you’ve been on the job or a while.”

You can visit their website at www.tmctrans.com, or click here to see TMC’s jobs on SmartPhoneTrucker.

Sean Wilson Named TMC Trainer of the Month for March 2019

DES MOINES, Iowa, May 6, 2019 – Sean’s journey with TMC began 10 years ago when he started Orientation in June 2009. Over-the-road truck driving wasn’t exactly the career path he had in mind for himself, but it has turned into a lifestyle that works well for him and his family.

“Before starting at TMC, the economy was bad and I was unemployed,” Sean says. “I couldn’t find a job in my field, which was accounting, so I decided to do what I never saw myself doing.”

While attending a local driving school, the Hudson, NC, native started researching different companies to see what was out there. “I heard TMC had really good training, and I wanted to be home on the weekends with my family,” he says. “TMC sounded like a good fit right away.”

After driving on his own for a year, Sean decided to take on the role of a Driver Trainer. “I’ve trained at other jobs before, and I always enjoyed showing people the ropes.”

Sean takes a very hands-on approach to training. “I try to get them behind the wheel as much as possible to work on their driving and backing skills,” he says. “With securement, I show them how I like things to be done and let them do one side of the load while I do the other, checking on them periodically.”

This approach has proven to work well for him. “I try not to overwhelm them with too much information. Once they get a feel for how things are done, I let them do the job and give any tips along the way if I notice anything.”

For both him and his trainees, Sean says that having patience is most important. “New drivers can’t be in too much of a hurry; this is where mistakes happen,” he says. “For me as a trainer, I have to remember that this is a learning experience for them and it’s different for everyone.”

As for his favorite part of the job, Sean had a quick answer for that. “I enjoy hearing from my former trainees about their accomplishments. It’s nice knowing that I helped them get their start and they are doing well.”

You can visit their website at www.tmctrans.com, or click here to see TMC’s jobs on SmartPhoneTrucker.

Jeff Kelley Named Trainer of the Month for February 2019

DES MOINES, Iowa, March 28, 2019 – Jeff has always viewed trucking as a respectable position, as his dad was a truck driver. In fact, when he came to crossroads in his career, his dad encouraged him to pursue a job in the industry. “I used to be a preacher and when the economy went south, congregations were downsized,” Jeff says. “I wanted a new job to support my family and my dad had heard great things about TMC.”

While it wasn’t an easy decision to leave preaching, Jeff feels that he made the right choice. This is just one reason why he wanted to start training. “A lot of drivers are in the same place I was when I started: leaving home and doing something completely new and different,” Jeff says. “I want them to recognize that they made a tough decision, but that is was also the right one.”

When it comes to his training style, the Thomasville, NC, native says he takes a hands-on, laid-back approach. He mentioned that most of his trainees are already good drivers, and they just need to fine-tune their skills.

“I like the relationships I am able to develop with each person,” he says. “The best part of my job is when past trainees call me to tell me about their positive experiences, whether those be on the job or something in their personal life.”

After they leave his truck, Jeff encourages his trainees to come up with goals they would like to accomplish at TMC, and share those with their Fleet Managers. “Establishing positive relationships from the beginning is a great first step to success here, and if Fleet Managers are aware of personal goals, they are able to work better to help drivers reach them.”

At the end of the day, it all goes back to where he started with TMC that keeps Jeff motivated. “I’m thankful for my trainer, Jerry Hinson, for putting me on a good path at TMC when I was totally new to the industry. My Fleet Manager, Glenda Miller, is also awesome and I hope I can meet her in person someday.”

About TMC

TMC Transportation Designates David Perfect as Driver of the Fourth Quarter for 2018

DES MOINES, Iowa, March 14, 2019 – In life, perfection isn’t easy to come by, but for TMC’s 2018 Driver of the Fourth Quarter, perfect is his last name… literally! David Perfect has been a professional driver for TMC for eight years, and during his time on the Black and Chrome fleet, he has certainly been living up to his namesake.

A Chicago native, David came into the trucking industry a bit later in life, and quickly found it to be a perfect fit. David spent over two decades working for the Forest Preserve District of Cook County before he decided it was time for a change in scenery. He packed up and headed south to Manila, AR, where he had a brief stint in a steel mill before he figured it was time to retire. For David, however, retirement wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. Feeling restless, he remembered the one thing that could provide with him a new adventure; his CDL.

“My dad once told me that as long as you have your CDL, you’ll have a job, so I had always renewed and maintained mine that I acquired many years ago,” David says. “He drove an 18-wheeler locally in Chicago for 38 years, so I figured I would give truck driving a shot, and I never looked back. I love this country, and I am so thankful that I get paid to be able to see it.”

David is just about as proud as they come to be driving down the road with those three unmistakable orange and gold letters on the side of his shiny black Peterbilt, but it is the four words just underneath the logo that is what really drives him to put in 100% each day. Those words are: “An Employee-Owned Company”.

“TMC’s ESOP is incredible. Our owner is giving his company to us not only to ensure that TMC’s values and standards are upheld, but also to reward his hard working employees,” explains David. “I don’t have to drive any extra miles, secure any extra loads, but my ESOP account continues to grow year over year. I also do my best to keep an eye on the bottom line in my day-to-day, and encourage other to do so as well because there are things that we as drivers can control that affect those ESOP dollars; watching idle time and fuel usage, practicing efficient time management and preventing accidents no matter how small, because those things add up, and when all is said and done, we can all share in those savings.”

ESOP aside, David’s favorite aspect that comes with working for TMC is the people.

“I work with a bunch of incredible people and earning the designation of Driver of the Quarter is a great honor that I want to share with everyone,” he says. “We are a team here, all the behind the scenes people make my job fun and rewarding, which I think is imperative to being successful. Of course there are ups and downs, but I like to look at the big picture. I’m not in it for the load today or tomorrow, I’m in it for what’s to come in the next month or next year.”

Having just accomplished one million consecutive safe driving miles, success is something that David knows well. He has also recently decided to share his wealth of knowledge with future generations of TMC drivers by becoming a driver trainer. While he is showing his trainees the ropes to being a flatbedder, he is sure to teach them not just how to do the job, and do it right, but also what the benefits of the job down the road can be.

“David’s work ethic, attitude and teamwork are unmatched,” says Steven Fagg, TMC Customer Service Manager and David’s former Fleet Manager “He’s maintained a meticulous safety record, and is always there to help even in undesirable situations. He cares genuinely about TMC’s future, and represents Destination: Excellence in every way possible. I can’t thank David enough for his continued efforts of going above and beyond every single day.”

David looks forward to continue achieving his goals here at TMC, with the next ones being his 10-year safe driving award, hitting two million safe miles, and one day he hopes to be named a TMC Wheel Master, the most prestigious title the company holds.

When he’s not behind the wheel, David enjoys spending time with his six grandchildren and taking them on yearly trips to the Wisconsin Dells and Disneyland. It is this job, however, that affords him these opportunities.

“My family is spread out a bit, so I feel lucky that I can travel to see them while doing my job,” he says. “TMC’s family oriented structure makes it easy to always feel at home.”

Criteria for Driver of the Quarter recognition includes years of service with the company, safe driving record, excellent customer service, professionalism and overall quality performance. Once a driver is recognized as a Driver of the Quarter they are eligible to receive the prestigious Wheel Master Award.

Congratulations, David, on this well-deserved distinction!

About TMC
TMC Transportation is the nation’s largest employee-owned open deck transportation company. TMC provides expert transportation services and supply-chain management solutions throughout the 48 contiguous states. Founded in 1972, TMC is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, and is known for its integrity, innovation, superior safety record and dedication to quality and customer service. The company’s claim-free, on-time delivery record is the best in the business and is consistently recognized by its customers.

You can visit their website here, or see all their jobs on SmartPhoneTrucker here.

Rance Moon Named Trainer of the Month for January 2019

DES MOINES, Iowa, March 8, 2019– After driving a van for a few years, Rance Moon was looking for a change of pace; something that would keep him productive out on the road, but also give him the home time he was wanting. Upon joining the Black and Chrome fleet in October 2016, Rance was reintroduced to the trucking industry “the TMC way.”

After getting his footing in the open deck industry, he was approached about becoming a driver trainer, but his interest wasn’t there initially. “I kind of keep to myself,” Rance says. “After speaking to my trainer, Mikel Whitehead, I decided to give it a try.”

Now in his second year of training, Rance is thankful that he took the leap of faith. “I’ve learned a lot while doing this job, and my ‘book of secrets’ has filled up quickly,” he says.

When Rance is on the job, his goal is to work efficiently, while keeping safety at the forefront. “I always tell my trainees to keep in contact with me if they need help, but I do my best to teach them how to be independent out on the road.”

Training has even taught Rance some things about himself. “I didn’t realize how much patience I had until I started, and I enjoy it a lot more than I expected to. I’ve also learned to speak up and deal with different situations.”

Finally, the Fortson, GA native says the whole experience has been extremely worthwhile. “I’ve met a lot of great guys along the way,” Rance says. “I want to be able to hear from my trainees down the road that they retained what I taught them. That’s how I know I did something right.”

Doug McNeel Named as TMC’s Trainer of the Year for 2018

DES MOINES, Iowa, February 21, 2019– Congratulations to Doug McNeel, TMC’s Trainer of the Year for 2018! Doug has been a professional truck driver with TMC for a little over six years, four and a half of which he has been training. He received the Trainer of the Month award back in July 2017.

After having a conversation with Doug, one can’t help but think he was destined to work at TMC. After serving in the Navy for 28 years, the Nebraska native retired to Spring, TX, where he currently resides. During his time in the Navy, he worked as a Torpedo Man Chief, and his given nickname was “TMC.” Driving for TMC was Doug’s first job after his military retirement, and it has turned out to be a great fit.

“TMC’s structure is similar to the military’s. They have the best equipment and a very family oriented feel,” he says. Doug also had training experience while in the Navy and always knew it was something he wanted to pick up again in the future.

To Doug, truck driving is more than a career; it’s a lifestyle. He strives to instill in his trainees to love their job and to make every day enjoyable.

“With the right mindset and good time management, there are plenty of ways to make driving something you can incorporate into your daily life,” he says. Doug suggests picking a place to layover during the weekend to take in different sights, or taking the opportunity to visit family who might live in other places around the country.

“Doug is just the kind of driver we want building the future of TMC,” says Jeff Geist, Training Coordinator Manager. “His detailed training and leadership ensures we continue to grow our fleet with the best prepared and safest drivers in the industry.”

When looking to the future, Doug just wants to keep doing what he’s doing. He says his Fleet Manager, Amanda Torres, is especially great to work with, and she plays a factor in his success as well.

“I want to do the best I can and do what’s best for the company,” he says. “It’s easy with the team I’m on; everyone makes the job enjoyable and I want to keep coming back each week.”

At the end of the day, Doug is grateful for where truck driving and driver training have brought him.

“The people I get to meet, train and become friends with are what I enjoy most,” he says. “The friendships I’ve made are priceless, and it’s great to see guys that you’ve trained see success as well.”

If Doug isn’t out on the road, you can most likely find him back in Texas spending time with his six grandchildren.

“Most Fridays when I get home, I’m off to the skating rink, and I always look forward to that.”

Driver trainers are vital to TMC’s fleet and an important part of maintaining the company’s excellent customer service and safety record. Congratulations, Doug, and thank you for helping to shape the future of TMC!