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TMC Moves The Wall That Heals Into Iowa TMC
had the incredible honor once again to move The Wall That Heals, this time into Living History Farms in Urbandale, Iowa. TMC has hauled the half-scale replica of the Vietnam Memorial along with it’s mobile museum once before into The Military Academy at West Point in November of 2015. This time, retired TMC driver and
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Vietnam Veteran, Roger Dannen (Army), and Tony Beres (Marines) were at the forefront in delivering this amazing tribute to Vietnam Veterans. Though Roger had officially retired this past June, when Team Welcome Home Iowa asked us to do the honors, we couldn’t think of a more deserving driver and veteran. Roger is a true Black and Chrome original. He drove for TMC for 27 years, holds the prestigious title of Wheel Master, has over three million safe driving miles under his belt and was even the very first
driver in the fleet to receive the keys to the new Peterbilt 579. On the morning of Wednesday, Sept. 28, a brigade of nearly 100 motorcycles escorted our truck carrying The Wall That Heals from the Iowa Speedway in Newton into Living History Farms, where it sat proudly on display from Sept. 29 through Oct. 2. “It was really special to be hand picked to bring The Wall That Heals into Iowa,” says Roger. “I know some
names on that wall, and it means a lot to me to see that and be a part of it.� First unveiled on Veterans Day 1996 by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial
Fund (VVMF), the mobile half-scale replica of the Vietnam War Memorial dubbed The Wall That Heals, has traveled to locations around the United States to share in spreading healing for Veterans and the fam-
ilies of those we lost in the war. In nearly two decades, the Wall That Heals has visited more than 400 cities, and TMC is honored to have been able to participate in bringing it to two of them. ‚
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Kevin Scott Named Top Three Finalist for the 2016 TRANSITION TRUCKING: DRIVING FOR EXCELLENCE AWARD
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evin Scott Named Top Three Finalist for the 2016 Transition Trucking: Driving For Excellence Award TMC is proud to announce that Kevin Scott has been named as a top three finalist for the 2016 Transition Trucking: Driving For Excellence Award. Kevin was in attendance at the ESGR signing ceremony on Friday, August 26th at the Great American Trucking Show where the top ten finalists were honored and the top three were announced. The winner, who will take home the keys to a Kenworth T680, among other prizes, will be unveiled in mid-December at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. During Kevin’s time as a professional driver for TMC, he has proved himself an outstanding asset to both the company and the industry as a whole. Mr. Scott has stood out from the crowd since day one with his sense of enthusiasm and dedication to the trucking industry. Kevin joined TMC as a professional truck driver in November of 2015, and has quickly made a name for himself. He currently ranks in the top seven percent of linehaul drivers here at TMC, thanks in part to his “can-do” attitude and intense drive to succeed. Kevin is a self-proclaimed “perfectionist” and is committed to doing the job safely and correctly. It hasn’t always been easy for Kevin, however. Coming from a less than spectacular upbringing in Brookhav-
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always admired: trucking. He immediately obtained his CDL and applied to only one company. “TMC is the only company I wanted to work for,” says Kevin. “I was drawn to the likeness and military values, and of course to the top-notch equipment. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.” Kevin is a true trucker through and through. He embraces the lifestyle and appreciates how it has allowed him to earn a comfortable living for himself, his wife and his 17 month old daughter.
en, Mississippi, Kevin has been on his own since he was 14 and described himself as a “troubled kid” back then. Things started to change for Kevin the day he turned 17 when he joined the Army. He spent two combat tours in Iraq, and upon returning to the U.S. he became employed as a licensed offshore engineer where he worked on massive aircraft and diesel engines on an oil rig. When his time in the oil fields came to an end due to layoffs, Kevin decided to pursue a career in the field he’d
“Choosing this career has given me a sense of pride. I enjoy the fact that when I am at work I am truly at work, but my time home is solely devoted to my family. Our goal at TMC is ‘Destination: Excellence,’ which goes hand in hand with the personal goals that I have set for myself, from my military career to my personal life.” We are honored to have Kevin as a vital part of our fleet and admire the way he represents TMC. We know Kevin would be an outstanding candidate for this award. He is truly a well-rounded driver who continues to live our motto, “Destination: Excellence.” ‹
Mario Cardenas HONORED AS TRUCKING’S TOP ROOKIE FINALIST AT GATS schools and motor carriers to have the chance to win over $25,000 in cash and prizes. The main purpose of the contest, however, is to increase pride and professionalism among new drivers, and promote the truck driving career choice during a severe shortage of drivers. Mario was born and raised in Mexico and moved to the United States in October of 2013. He is an outstanding asset to TMC and the trucking industry as a whole, and we are honored to have him as a professional driver in our fleet.
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roudly representing TMC, Mario Cardenas traveled to Dallas, Texas on Friday, August 26th to attend the Mike O’Connell Memorial Trucking’s Top Rookie Contests press conference being held during the Great American Trucking Show. Mario was among the top ten rookie drivers nominated for this prestigious award. The contest, which is in its sixth year, was pursued as a suggestion from the Commercial Vehicle Training Association to highlight the opportunities in the truck driving profession. Drivers that have been in the industry less than one year are nominated by
myself help to move this country and contribute to a better economy.” Upon becoming a part of the TMC Family in June of 2015, Mario quickly became a top contender in the fleet. He holds the certification and revenue level of a tenured driver, always goes the extra mile and puts safety at the forefront. What really makes him stand out is his discipline, hard work and self motivation.
When Mario moved to San Antonio, Texas two years ago, he was looking for a challenge and a way to improve himself. He initially signed on with an insurance company, where he worked for just over a year. Feeling restless, he once again became motivated to do more with his life. He left the insurance company and enrolled in Roadmaster Drivers School, where he obtained his CDL with the aspiration of traveling around the country behind the wheel of an 18 wheeler.
Mario doesn’t necessarily fit the bill for a typical truck driver. He attended a four-year college, graduated with a 3.7 GPA and holds a dual degree in Business. Mario is very family oriented, and devotes much of his free time and resources to helping his family. He is even assisting his younger brother in paying for his college education. “My brother is the reason I wake up some days at 3 am without hesitation,” Mario explains. “I like to think that my efforts will benefit him somehow. College may not be cheap but thanks to trucking, I am able to alleviate some of that weight off his shoulders.”
“What made me want to become a truck driver was the opportunity to travel around the country doing something that many people do not appreciate,” says Mario. “I like to believe that professional drivers like
Mario is an inspiring individual and an absolute perfect representative of both TMC and the trucking industry. He goes above and beyond “Destination: Excellence,” and we look forward to aiding him in is future successes. ‹
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An Employee-Owned Company
Destination: Ownership National Employee Ownership Month
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TMC, October is a time to reflect on the value of each and every employee that aids in driving the company forward. October is National Employee Ownership Month, and TMC employees have good reason to celebrate. It has been three years since Founder & CEO, Harrold Annett, announced that TMC would become an ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan) company, and the journey has been more fruitful than anyone could have
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expected. We’ve seen continuous growth and impressive increases in stock price, as well as a boost in productivity company-wide. This year’s celebrations were particularly special due in part to the number 44. Not only does 2016 mark 44 years in the business, but TMC’s employee-owners also saw a 44% increase in stock price from 2014 to 2015. Throughout the month, TMC’s ESOP Communication Committee, made up of members from a variety of
departments throughout the company, organized weekly contests for employee-owners to participate in for the chance to win some great prizes. Each week’s contest featured one of four key points in implementing an ESOP: eligibility, contribution, vesting and distribution. 44 gift cards were awarded in each contest, and at the end of the month, we awarded the top prize of $440 to one lucky employee-owner. The ultimate goal, however, was to not only educate on what it means to
be an employee-owned company, but also to build excitement for TMC’s ESOP program and the future it creates for us. As we continue on the road to employee-ownership, we want to recognize, and most of all, thank all of TMC’s employee-owners for their hard work and dedication to making TMC the best in the business. “TMC is built on a culture of PRIDE. We should all be proud of the work we do for this great company, as well as being able to share in the wealth YOU are helping to create by achieving excellence day in and day out. Let us continue to work united as a team toward our destination of EXCELLENCE. Remember, as an ESOP company, the road ahead is ours to take. Lets get there together.”-Harrold Annett ‹
ESOP Fast Facts • As of 2015, we at the National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) estimate there are roughly 7,000 employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) covering about 13.5 million employees. • A Rutgers study found that ESOP companies grow 2.3% to 2.4% faster after setting up their ESOP than would have been expected without it. Companies that combine employee ownership with employee workplace participation programs show even more substantial gains in performance. • ESOPs can be found in companies of all sizes. With 160,000 employees, the largest employee-owned company is Publix Super Markets. • According to the NCEO, ESOP companies are four times less likely to lay employees off during a recession and historically fair better through a recession than non-ESOP owned companies. • A University of Pennsylvania study of ESOP companies found that the average employee tenure was "significantly longer" than their non-ESOP counterparts and that firms were more likely to adjust wages than the number of employees. It also found an increase in "job satisfaction, organizational commitment, identification, motivation, and workplace participation." • The U.S. Department of Labor released data on retirement plans with 100 or more participants that shows ESOPs generally provided a greater aggregate rate of return than 401(k) plans. The average rate of return over the 15-year period from 1996 to 2010 was 6.9% for ESOPs, versus 5.8% for 401(k) plans.
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NASCAR SPRINT
CUP SERIES RACE CORNER
M
ichael Annett's Team Honors Brandon Head at Charlotte
Remembering Brandon Head... Annett and his team honored Brandon Head, the 22-yearold son of TMC Transportation employee and short track racer Stephen Head, carrying Brandon's name above the right side window at Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 8. Brandon lost his 14year battle with cancer earlier that week. An avid NASCAR fan that was also a champion for cancer awareness, Brandon participated in Relay for Life, The Polar Plunge and Locks of Love. Stephen Head is the driver of truck #11429 and has been with TMC since April of 2015. Brandon's funeral has been set for later this month. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Head family during this difficult time. â&#x20AC;š
Get the latest racing updates on Michael Annett at MichaelAnnett.com, Facebook.com/MichaelAnnettRacing or Twitter.com/MichaelAnnett
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Martin Ott Named Driver of the Second Quarter For 2016
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ongratulations to Martin Ott for being named TMC’s Driver of the Second Quarter for 2016! Marty was born for the road. He comes from a long line of over-theroad truck drivers, and when he came to TMC back in 2003, he found his niche. After 13 years and nearly two million safe driving miles, Marty continues to embrace the lifestyle and it has certainly paid off for him. Originally from Pittsburgh, Marty has always been a hands on, “in the trench” type of guy. He worked in construction before getting into trucking, where he finds that really enjoys the challenges the job brings, whether it be the terrain, the weather or the diversity of loads. “I’ve pretty much been on every mile of every interstate in the United States,” says Marty. “Trucking is perfect for me because I’m not a keyboard person. My philosophy is to make the money while its there to be made because tomorrow isn’t guaranteed.”
Martin Ott (center) with Tim Heim, VP Operations (left) and Cory Jaeger, Fleet Manager (right)
Just one year into his trucking career, Marty was involved in a situation, which was not his fault, which left him with a severely fractured back. Rather than quit, once he was healed Marty got right back in the truck. He had to learn different ways to lift tarps and secure loads, but in the end Marty believes that experience helped him to become a better driver. In addition to being an exceptional driver, Marty is also a driver trainer. For the last 10 years Marty has been teaching incoming TMC drivers the ropes to the flatbed industry. He encourages his drivers to work smarter, not harder and to make the best out of every situation. He is a self-proclaimed jokester and is always trying to put a smile on his trainees’ faces.
Marty sums up the key to being a successful TMC driver in one word: repetition. “Every day do the best you can,” he says. “Don’t think about the past. Live in the present and look toward the future. Always keep an open mind, and remember that ‘it is what it is’ is one thing, but what you make it is another. Once you’ve mastered that, you can make every step count and be as efficient as possible.” 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. ‹
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Driver Appreciation Week 2016 neck wraps. A quick soak in water and they can help keep you cool for an hour or two. With temperatures being in the mid90s, it was definitely a big hit with the guys. We also brought plenty Gatorade and water to make sure our hard working drivers stayed hydrated.
At
TMC, our drivers are the backbone of the company, and while we always appreciate the hard work that they put in day in and day out, National Truck Driver Appreciation Week is really a time to celebrate! Taking place September 11-17, TMC spent the week honoring our drivers with gifts, giveaways, activities and plenty of free food. Each day of the week every terminal provided a free meal and handed out custom TMC Driver Appreciation Week 2016 t-shirts. We also had several upper management staff hit the road to bring the festivities to drivers at several of our most visited customers. One of our Operations Managers, Kyle Miller, had the opportunity to get out of the office and on the road to experience first hand what it is like to be a professional truck driver for TMC, and to show a little appreciation to some of our hard working drivers. Here is what he had to say:
Being available outside of the office and meeting drivers at work has been a huge success. Our drivers are the best in the industry and giving them an opportunity to bring up any questions or concerns they have has been very rewarding. I made some new friends and also rekindled with some that don’t get to our headquarters in Des Moines very often. I look forward to seeing many more the next time I venture out.” Throughout the week we held several fun contests for our drivers to participate in. At TMC, we’re well known for our high appearance standards, so one benefit we had was when drivers were coming through our Des Moines headquarters, they were able to take a load off, yet still leave with a clean truck. Throughout the day on Tuesday several office employees volunteered their time to clean trucks and ready them for inspection. We also held our Truck Cleaning Competition in the Appearance Bay with two teams of office employees going head to head. Each was given a dirty truck and one hour to clean it. At the end of the hour, each team’s truck underwent a rigorous appearance inspection, and the cleaner truck won a
“The best part of my job is visiting with drivers and helping them to have a better day than before we found each other. I went out on the road to some of our major shipping locations to visit with our drivers and lend a hand. I’m so grateful for this opportunity because I have gained a vast knowledge of what our drivers deal with on a daily basis. I’ve learned trade secrets that those in the office don’t always see or hear about and I’ve also met some really hard working, good people. During my visit to Lowe’s in St. Joseph, Missouri, we introduced our newest item to improve driver comfort; thermal
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Operations Manager Collin Winter serving driver
Truck Cleaning Winners
VP of Operations Tim Heim and Driver Eddie Parrish
year of bragging rights for the victorious team. Team TM&C (Three Men & a Chick) made up of Mike Harris, Steve Sopata, John Walsh and Regan Ingle beat out the Dream Team of Chris York, Kyle Miller, Josh Kintz and Ryan Matthews. It was a close call, but ultimately Team TM&C had the cleaner truck. However, we feel they had a slight advantage, given that three out of the four are former TMC drivers! At the end of the week, our friends from Allstate Peterbilt Group paid a visit to Des Moines and raffled off some amazing prizes, including a 55” HDTV! We would also like to thank PowerTrain and Marathon Brake, The Pete Store and Electronic Funds Source for providing lunch for our drivers throughout the week! ‹
Allstate Peterbilt Setup
To open up Driver Appreciation Week 2016, we asked our drivers, “What drives you?” These are just a few of the inspiring responses. “What drives me is the destination of excellence and how I have seen it grow; how we are taking it beyond. I am very proud to be a part of the history for the 12 years I have been here at TMC. Thank you family, my home away from home.”-Ronald Hart Jr., #10755 “My family drives me. From the time I pull out on Sunday I'm counting the miles back home to them. Knowing that I have the financial freedom to make life easier for my kids drives me.”-Scott Whitaker, #92550 “One of the driving forces for me is having the backing and support of a company like TMC behind me. Thank you all who have made this opportunity happen for me,
and the support team that keeps the wheels moving!”-Brian Black, #10881 “It has been a while since that question was asked especially in this industry and being a first generation truck driver. My family drives me to keep going when things get tough and slow out here, the good equipment and nice trucks we drive, and knowing for sure there is money in the bank come Friday. Feeling appreciated from your Fleet Manager and Ops Manager for the hard you do everyday being away from family and all is very rewarding.”-Mario Rios Jr., #10101 “My family has always driven me to be a better man, especially my wife. She has supported me through my
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What drives you? tough times and never judged me for my mistakes. She is responsible for my CDL and coming home to her and my children is all the motivation I need to be safe, productive and the best driver I can be. Thanks for the opportunity to share TMC”. -Aaron Williams, #10742 “What drives me? To strive for and achieve excellence. To deliver all loads expeditiously and safely to the best of my ability. And to show customers the reason why TMC is the best company to ship freight through.”-James Meadows, #10394 “What drives me in this company is knowing that I have an excellent company that I am proud to say I work for that makes feel confident in knowing that my job is secure. I am working hard for my three daughters and wife and thankful to be able to spend time with them on the weekends, and also now finding out over the weekend that I am going to be a grandfather, which makes me very happy!!! But I am thankful to have been given the opportunity to work for such a great company and people and in that makes the drive well worth it.”-Daniel Green, #10213 “The well being of my family is the most important reason I'm here. Closely following, I enjoy working for TMC. We have a strong core and the company goes out of its way to help us with everyday needs, and when emergencies arise everyone does everything they can to support each other. I train for TMC because I enjoy promoting our company as a whole and I like the peace of mind that I'm doing my part to release safe and courteous professionals into the industry”-Robert Harris Jr., #11254 “What drives me is to be proud to work for a company that takes pride in our veterans, our home time is awesome and the opportunities the drivers have is outstanding. I can balance work and home time without issues. I take pride in what I do and love it. Thanks TMC for opportunity to work for such a great company.”-Stephen Moricette, #92517
“What drives me every morning would be the fact that people and customers depend on us. From delivering a John Deere tractor so a farmer can harvest his crops to feed the people or the raw materials we are bringing to places that are being made into other products. People also depend on us to bring items to keep America’s infrastructure up to date by bringing parts to bridges, ships and or small communities that depend on that load to fix their problems. Another reason that drives me would be the lifeline of America. Lastly, what keeps me moving is been the third driver in my family and trying to achieve all that my father and uncle have accomplished. With well over 2.5 million safe miles, following in my heroes’ footsteps is another thing that keeps me rolling every day.”-Brandon Savoy, #11535 “I am driven by multiple things. The pride I take in working for TMC, how I perform my job safely and to the highest level, my appearance and keeping a positive attitude and always helping TMC drivers and drivers from other companies. TMC has given me the tools to perform my job at the highest level and that alone speaks highly of this great company and pushes me to be nothing but the best in what I do. I will always take pride in the Black and Chrome. Pride is what makes TMC the great company it is and that’s number one. Family at home and on the road drives me to the person I am and that’s why I’m proud to be a TMC driver and proud to say truck number 11387.”-Jacob Gordon, #11387 “I served this this country for 20 years in the United States Marine Corps, and I feel that I am still serving by keeping America moving by rolling down the highways for TMC. Semper Fi!”-Lynn Mundahl, #10569 “What's drives me? Simple. Self worth, pride, and family. Weekly I leave my loved ones knowing I am looking to have a good running day, week, or year with the intent to secure a piece of my America for my family. Being a driver and keeping values at hand are what I think will ensure I do attain, not only my goals, but the ones set by TMC Transportation.”-Damion Wallace, #10410
DRIVERS: We hope you had an enjoyable Driver Appreciation Week. Once again, we want to express our gratitude. YOU drivers are what keep this company moving forward. Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication. We can’t wait for next year! 12 > TMC Newsletter | Fall 2016
UFP Eastern Division Names TMC Transportation As
2016 "Carrier Of The Year"
UFP
Eastern Division, a division of Universal Forest Products, Inc., announced in late October that TMC Transportation has been named as its Carrier of the Year for 2016. To select the winner, the transportation group of UFPI ranked the top 100 carriers in six categories, including on-time pickup, timely status updates and ease of doing business. TMC had the highest overall score, and the highest score in four of the six categories. “TMC Transportation edged out the competition for the award in 2016. Their consistent service, quality of drivers
and honest communications set them apart from the rest,” said UFP’s Transportation Manager Phil Lower. “Our customers have come to us and said, ‘Thank you for using TMC.’ That is a sure sign that TMC is a partner, not just another trucking company. They had a great year with UFP in 2016, and we look forward to working with them in 2017 and beyond. “ TMC provides UFP with transportation services throughout a number of eastern states, including Alabama, Wisconsin, Ohio, New York, Massachusetts, and North and South Carolina. ‹
Pictured from left to right: Aurelia Evans (Transportation Specialist, UFPI), Debbie Schloemer-Ogle (Transportation Specialist, UFPI), Brent Hale (Transportation Specialist, UFPI) Tom Rubbo, (Business Development, TMC Transportation), Dee Odom (Transportation Specialist UFPI), Ryan Andresen, (Vice President, MCO Transport) Kyle McGinnis (Sales Manager, MCO Transport) and David St. John (Operations Manager, St. John Trucking)
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O
n Saturday, October 8th, TMC had the incredible honor to once again participate in the annual World’s Largest Truck Convoy, a benefit put on by the Special Olympics of Iowa. The starting point is quite literally right here in our own back yard on Veterans Parkway in Des Moines. From there, the convoy of trucks representing companies from all over the state head east to the Iowa State Fairgrounds for an awards ceremony and wrap up party. Saturday morning started early with coffee and donuts for everyone provided by TMC’s Recruiting Department at the registration. After a Driver Safety briefing by the Iowa DOT, the first three positions in the convoy were auctioned off. TMC drivers and staff pooled their money and secured the second spot with a $3000 bid, all of which goes
directly to the Special Olympics of Iowa. This year, TMC decided to make an impression and go big. With a total of 20 trucks in the convoy, we doubled the amount of trucks participating from years prior and participated as a Silver level partner. Watching a fleet of shiny black and chrome Peterbilts roll down the road, one after another, was awe inspiring. The most important thing, however, was what it meant for those participating in the Special Olympics of Iowa. This event alone was projected to raise over $40,000 in funding for the athletes. Our own James Ashton had the opportunity to share his truck with a special athlete named Jerry. Jerry was thrilled with the experience and spent the ride waving to passersby with a big smile plastered on his face. When it came time to get out of the truck, Jerry wanted to stay! We want to thank the following 20 TMC drivers and their families
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for their hard work, dedication and participation in this year’s convoy. Many of them sacrificed time at home with their families, and others had their families flown in from across the country for the event! They spent countless hours in the appearance bay on Friday night and into the wee hours of Saturday morning making sure that all 20 trucks were spotless. • Allen Glass • Joe Styblo • Carlos Burris • John Alo • Curt Gibbs • John Melnick • Daniel • Johnny Richmond Kaczmarczyk • David • Justin Stephens Contestabile • Kyle Bailey • Eric Waltert • Matt Szalay • Faron Peery • Mike Harris • James Ashton • Ronny Farley • James Wagner • Stephen Smith • Jesse Beasley Check out our Special Olympics Convoy 2016 photo album on Facebook for some more great photos!
In Memoriam:
Don Norton It
is with great sadness that we announce the loss of a TMC retiree and Wheel Master, Don Norton. Don passed in August while on a family trip in Colorado. He was 67. Don retired in November of 2015 after 24 years with the company. Over his lengthy driving career with TMC, Don has racked up some amazing awards. In 2001, he earned the title of Driver of the Third Quarter, and in 2002 he was presented with the highest honor a TMC driver can receive, the coveted Wheel Master award.
Don (center), Dedicated Operations Manager, Clynt Coburn (left) and Fleet Manager, Ed DePaulo (right) upon retiring last November.
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•
safety •
AWARDS Congratulations to the following drivers who surpassed safe driving milestones during the third quarter of 2016. Thank you for your dedication to excellence!
5 Years Safe Driving Michael R. Akers Robert A. Boone Michael L. Bresett Royce L. Cain Phillip M. Campbell Thomas G. Cole Eric T. Dean Sean P. Empen Adam P. Gordon Donald R. Harrell Jr. Ragland E. Higgins Craig A. Hine Bryon K. Jones Thomas J. Jordan Carl W. Lewandowski Brian K. Palmer Stephen T. Pedersen Danny S. Pritchett Russell K. Schild John W. Strickland Jr. Jon A. Thompson Robert S. Thompson Anthony J. Whitaker
10 Years Safe Driving • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Ronald A. Carr Garry R. Channell Fanuel Chimuka Kevin G. Davis Carwell E. Gardner Jr. David K. Grammer Paul Hawkins John L. Hedrick Douglas L. Hefner Brian P. Johnson Andijuar D. Loving Matthew C. McCavitt Lorin R. Mendenhall Joseph L. Page Jr. Scott A. Quayle Curtis R. Rasnake Jr. Commie W. Southers Jr. Richard B. Vaughn
15 Years Safe Driving • • • •
Douglas E. Brookins Daniel C. Myer Rocky L. Smith Randy J. Varese
20 Years Safe Driving • Robert A. Saunier
25 Years Safe Driving • Brian M. Eley • David Theisen
30 Years Safe Driving • Leslie D. Bohlken
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One Million Miles • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Thomas D. Young Jason G. Krotine Todd P. Crum Rick T. Nelson Terry W. Harvey Charles Prout Cory A. Fox Tony Reyes Mark W. Martin Paul T. Kellner Christopher Andrews Peter D. Willingham Tom E. Shirley Rodney D. Norwood Charles A. Farley Mark R. Maneese
million miles
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Congratulations to the following drivers who reached one or more MILLION safe driving miles during the third quarter of 2016. Great work, gentlemen!
Two Million Miles • Samuel Galarza • Ronald W. Hodges • Hans J. Tiffany
Heard from the Road “I'm in Baytown, Texas at the Pilot Flying J. Your driver in 10762 pulling a boat trailer can really handle his truck. He deserves a pat on the back.”-Robby Tarver, Truck Driver
“Big thanks from this Harley rider to driver Charles Locklear that was at 601 and 200 in Concord around 11 a.m. on 8/29/2016. Super courteous!” – Rob Lopes, Twitter User
“TMC driver Humberto Avila was delivering in Front Royal, VA this morning and helped several drivers untarp and put their equipment away. It was very hot and he could have stayed in the truck, but he chose to help several carriers out. We appreciate Mr. Avila displaying the TMC culture among fellow truck drivers.”-Josh Perry, Safety Manager
“On August 3rd, TMC driver Curtis Cole assisted a motorist near Chicago that had pulled onto the shoulder due to a car fire. Curtis grabbed his extinguisher and kept the flames low while assisting in getting the woman to get out of her car with her purse and leaving her other belongings, making her realize that it wasn’t as important as getting away from the fire. The car eventually burned up, but thanks to Curtis’ due diligence, no one was seriously injured. Interestingly, Curtis is a volunteer fire fighter in his hometown and knew exactly what to do to keep the situation under control. Thank you Curtis! We are proud of your act of kindness!”-Pat Barr, TMC Operations Manager
"Your trucks are an everyday sight in our area. We are really impressed with the rigs. They are always clean and your drivers are the most friendly, courteous and well mannered on the road. They should be commended. They represent your company professionally. Keep it up!" - Jack Snodgrass, La Farge Silver Grove
“Thank you to Matthew Watson, truck #10266, for the help he extended to us during our trip home from Oklahoma. We experienced a blow out on our trailer pulled by our motor coach when passing his rig on I-40 in Tennessee. Matt not only changed the tire at the next truck stop, but ensured all the tires had consistent air pressure. He refused our offer of money. TMC has a thoughtful and kind man in this employee, who went out of his way to help two women driving a motor coach. We arrived safely tonight due to Matt's efforts."-Kate Podvia, Facebook User
“Our customer called today to get an ETA on one of our partner carriers. While on the phone he mentioned several times that our driver on this load, Quentin Harris, was by far the best of all he has seen on this project and one of the best he has ever worked with. I called him back to give him the ETA and he made a point of saying it again. Wanted to make sure driver was commended for doing a great job and representing TMC so well. The customer thanks him, I thank him and the salesman on this account also sends his thanks for all his hard work.”-Christopher Essig, TMC Logistics Specialist
“I just wanted to take a minute to compliment one of your drivers, Al Ayala. He was at my store, Home Depot #3484 with our DC delivery this morning and was extremely patient as we only had one person to unload him and he was fairly new with his forklift license. Al was more than willing to help guide him in unloading the truck, and did so with a friendly demeanor and a smile the entire time, even though we had held him up longer than usual. I just wanted to say thank you and make sure that he was recognized for it!”-Tracey P., Pro Desk Supervisor
“I was at JW Aluminum in St. Louis, MO. I got there with 5 hours left on my clock and it took 3 hours before they started loading me. After I got loaded I was running out of hours to make it to the nearest rest stop to park for the night, and I still had to strap and tarp my load. Fellow TMC driver, Robert Philpot, who I had been talking to the whole time I was waiting to get loaded because he was next in line, took the time to help me tarp my load even though it was his to turn to get loaded. He also gave me pointers how to tarp and secure my load properly and safely. With his help I was able to get out of the shipper with enough time to get to the nearest Pilot and park safely for the night! He is truly a team player and deserve a recognition."Christian Abellera, TMC Driver
"I got a call from Judy Thomas this afternoon wanting to express gratitude for our driver, Kevin Brooks. Last Thursday on I64 just near the Virginia/West Virginia border, Judy’s car had caught fire. Kevin pulled over and offered his assistance before any first responders were able to get there. She said he was very smart about it, put out his triangles and tried to use his extinguisher, but the car was too engulfed. He stayed with her for quite a while to make sure she was OK and taken care of. He was on his way home to Beckley, just an hour down the road. She was so grateful for his help, she said she didn’t know what she would have done if it wasn’t for him. She also mentioned that his truck was immaculate and he was extremely professional. She noticed the name on the side of his truck and asked about it, and Kevin had nothing but great things to say about TMC and how we take care of our drivers." - Justyn Hardy, Public Relations Manager
Heard from the Road "Sunday, September 18th I was traveling east on Interstate 40 headed for a vacation in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. I was driving approximately 60 mph. Suddenly I saw in my rear view mirror a car rapidly headed for my auto’s rear end. After a severe jolt from the collision of our being crashed into the rear of my car, I pulled over to the shoulder of the road. The auto which struck me stopped some 30 yards ahead of us. At that time another young man, one of your drivers, parked his truck and walked back to see if we were okay. We later learned his name was Zachary Kent who drove truck #11091. When the Sevierville, Tennessee police arrived, your driver told them that he witnessed the entire accident. The statement he gave corroborated our information. I am writing you to inform you of this action. Mr. Kent was compassionate and kind. He didn’t even have to stop but he chose to. I feel he should receive some sort of recognition for his courageous effort. I felt you should know. I am very appreciative.”-Rebecca Jordan, Motorist
“National Gypsum posted a intra-company letter about carriers bringing products and service to customers. The article talks about how a driver from TMC, Enoch Wagley, was mis-directed to a delivery location. Enoch had to re-tarp and deliver to a job site. He was offered $100 but passed and suggested it go to charity. I told Enoch great job on this and that we appreciated him representing himself and the company in such a positive manner. Enoch said it wasn’t a big deal and I explained to him that it was and we need more people like him around us.”-John Leach, TMC Dedicated Fleet Manager
“The trainees that I have coming out of orientation from Des Moines enter the truck with a good understanding of securement before heading out on the road. It makes our jobs as trainers a little easier. Thank you to Mike Fischer and the rest of the Training Department.”-Joshua Cavallo, TMC Driver Trainer
"At Charter Steel in Saukville, WI on Friday around 9pm I was securing a load of slinky coils when three big guys come walking up, one with winch bar over his shoulder. I was hoping they were not angry at me, but as usual two TMC guys (Andrew Enriquez, #91524 and Bobby Wilcox, #10703) and one from Western Express had just come to help. We were done in a short time and visited with each other in that time as well. The Western Express guy was impressed too because the two TMC guys had just finished helping him secure his load. This seems to be an on going thing with TMC. The heart of people just offering to help. I'm glad I choose TMC when I got my CDL almost a year ago."-Wesley Barber, TMC Driver
“Dear TMC Family, My name is Olga, and I am the wife of one of your drivers, Oleg Mervyak. I would like to take a moment to express my utmost gratitude and appreciation to the TMC Company & Family for everything they have done for me and my family. The last few weeks have been quite stressful for us with the impending birth of our 3rd baby girl and not knowing whether Oleg was going to be home in time for the delivery. TMC has gone over and above my expectations to ensure that Oleg returned home in time for the birth. First of all, TMC made sure their Des Moines service shop had my husband’s truck serviced under 24 hours so that he could be on his way home in time. Then, Oleg's dispatcher Cory personally took it upon himself to make sure that he made it home a few days before the scheduled delivery. Not only that… the first thing I received while yet in the recovery room was a beautiful bouquet of flowers delivered from the TMC Family. As a truck driver’s wife for only the past two years, I must say that I am very pleased with the way TMC has treated my husband and our family right from the get-go. This company has delivered everything they have promised us and more, right from the beginning. My husband made a very wise choice in choosing to work for this company. I doubt anybody will find a truck driver’s wife as happy and content as me, or as proud to have a husband working for such an amazing company. This letter is to express my sincerest gratitude to everyone involved in getting Oleg home safely and in a timely manner: Cory Jaeger, Erica Eilers, Des Moines service shop, and the TMC Family as a whole. Guaranteed there have been stressful times, however, every day of this journey has been worth it for sure!”-Olga Mervyak, TMC Driver’s Wife
"Kurt Atwater helped me strap and finish tarp my load at Irving Forest Products in Dixfield, ME. He took time out of his own day to help me without me asking. I just wanted to say what a great guy and big help he was to me and I'm sure to many other drivers. He deserves a great big pat on the back for going out of his way to help other drivers and be a big part of the team here at TMC."-Daniel Hoke III, TMC Driver