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Celebrate the Season of Giving By Justyn Hardy, Public Relations Manager
The
Holiday season is truly magical. The hustle and bustle of shopping, decorating, and celebrating with loved ones... we often go about our daily lives without a care in the world, however, not everyone is quite that fortunate. Many individuals do not have the means to enjoy the magical festivities, and one of the most important things you can do this season is give back to those in need. Giving back to the community is very important to us at TMC. Starting as a small trucking company in 1972 in Des Moines, Iowa, TMC’s growth and adaptation into the largest employee-owned flatbed trucking company in the United States was in part fostered by our supportive community. With that, the pride that grew with the company emanated with Military veterans transitioning into the workforce, making TMC an optimum place for our nations heroes to call home. This year, we made contact with an organization called 180 Degrees, Inc., a Des Moines based transitional housing development that supports Military veterans in need. Upon learning their mission and struggles, we knew we needed to step in and provide the residents of this house with something to smile about, and to show them that there are people out there that care. There are 23 Military veterans currently living in the facility. Some have struggled with homelessness, post-traumatic stress, but all of them are looking to better their lives. The staff at 180 Degrees ensures that each resident has a hot meal, a warm bed, access to healthcare,
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counseling and job training so that they can succeed when they are ready to step out on their own. When the holidays roll around, however, morale tends to be low, as many of the residents do not have families or loved ones to spend them with. The general population of those suffering from homelessness, substance dependency and psychological issues is overwhelmingly comprised of Military veterans. Without support, particularly during the holiday season, their outlook can be bleak, and cases of self-harm historically spike. As Christmas neared, we paid them a visit and brought along some festive décor. We placed a colorful Christmas tree in their front room, strung lights around the house and adorned every nook and cranny with bows, bulbs and trinkets. The tree was decorated with ornaments handmade by members of our own TMC family complete with truck numbers, names, TMC accents and more. Brightening up their living quarters was just the first step in lifting their spirits and providing a family atmosphere. On Tuesday, December 12th, TMC delivered Christmas magic to the 180 Degrees house. As this wasn’t a typical delivery for us, we brought in some extra help from a few of our drivers who are Military veterans themselves. Joe Styblo (Army), Jeff Ackley (Marine Corp) and Noah Pryear (Army) are no strangers to the struggles of leaving the Military and re-acclimating to civilian life, and all were grateful to have the opportunity to give support to fellow veterans still combating similar issues. With the help of the Des Moines Police Department, Joe, Jeff and Noah loaded up a signature black
and chrome TMC truck at our headquarters with gifts and donations and set off for delivery. As they pulled the 18-wheeler into the quiet neighborhood on the east side of Des Moines, residents of 180 Degrees came out to see what the commotion was about. To everyone’s surprise, the veteran drivers and police officers got to work unloading the special freight. Of course, in true TMC fashion the freight made it safe and sound to its destination; right under the Christmas tree that had been put up the week prior. Next, the crew from Aposto, a local Italian restaurant, came to serve the residents and staff of 180 Degrees with a four course Christmas dinner. A vital part of the holidays in most homes is gathering around the dinner table and enjoying a meal with those close to you, and we were overjoyed to be able to provide that for these veterans. Laughter filled the room as everyone savored the food as well as the company, and the sense of brotherhood between our veteran drivers and the residents was encouraging. The icing on the cake, was quite literally the cake! Tony Lemmo, owner of Aposto, served up his mother’s made from scratch recipe Italian wedding cake for dessert that had everyone coming back for more. After the meal everyone gathered around the tree to open gifts. As a small token of appreciation for these veterans and their time serving our country, as well as an intention of providing a means of comfort for their working lives, TMC gifted each resident a solid pair of boots and a warm winter coat. Our friends at Allstate Peterbilt also donated brand new mattresses to the house.
constraints this year, he would not have been able to provide a Christmas for the veterans living in the house. And though TMC was pleased to provide gifts to these veterans, the season of giving isn’t about giving material items. It is about giving hope, support and a sense of togetherness. For those involved, the biggest gift of all was seeing the smiles on each one of their faces. This entire experience was very humbling, and a reminder that there are people in every community that are in need of support, particularly during the holiday season. All of us at TMC hope to have made an impact in the lives of these veterans, as we know they have certainly impacted each one of us. The three veteran drivers that assisted in this project, Joe, Jeff and Noah expressed deep appreciation for the opportunity to be involved, and look forward to returning to the 180 Degrees house the next time they are in Des Moines. To the veterans and staff of 180 Degrees... thank you. ‹
Special thanks...
• Luminary Creative • Aposto, Tony Lemmo & Amy McManus • Des Moines Bacon & Meat Company • Des Moines Police Department • Scott Hart & Ben Talarico • Allstate Peterbilt • G&L Clothing • TMC Employees
180 Degrees CEO, Tracy Jones, explained to us that due to budget
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n Saturday, October 21, TMC once again had the honor of participating in the annual World’s Largest Truck Convoy, a benefit put on by Special Olympics of Iowa. The starting point for the event was on the SW Connector, just off of Veterans Parkway in Des Moines, which is practically in our own backyard. We had 30 TMC drivers that participated in the convoy, and in true, timely fashion, they were the first to line up. Seeing the line of shiny black and chrome Peterbilts was a sight unlike any other, and the pride of TMC was on full display! Drivers from other companies all over the state soon followed.
$4000, all of which goes directly to the Special Olympics of Iowa.
for athletes, drivers and volunteers.
We want to thank the following TMC drivers and their families for their hard Million Mile driver, Eric Waltert, took work, dedication and participation the position at the front of the line to lead the convoy of over 150 trucks in this year’s convoy. Many of them that all came together to support the sacrificed time at home with their cause. families, and others had their families flown in from across the country for Five of our drivers had the opportuthe event! These drivers spent countnity to share their trucks with Special less hours in the appearance bay on Olympic athletes, and each raved Friday night and into the wee hours TMC’s Recruiting Department providabout their experience. The athletes of Saturday morning making sure that ed coffee and donuts at registration. commented that they enjoyed jamtheir trucks were in tip top shape for Once everyone was checked-in and ming out to music with their drivers, the event. Additionally, we want to the Iowa DOT gave a briefing on Driver blowing the air horn and waving to thank our dedicated staff in our tractor Safety, the first three positions in the people that they passed. and trailer shops, appearance bays and convoy were auctioned off. This was a big year for TMC, as we secured the The event was wrapped up at the Iowa load securement facilities for lending a first spot in the convoy with a bid of State Fairgrounds with a celebration helping hand!
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• • • • • • • •
Brandon Speck Carl Gibson Claude (Anthony) Brown Curtis Cole Daniel & Venus Koch David Contestabile Edward Dolsen Jr. Eric Waltert
• • • •
Gary Cooper James Ashton James Turner Jesse Edwards III and Jennifer Edwards • Jesse Galbraith • Johnny Kaczmarczyk • Jonathon Crump
• • • • • • • •
Joshua Jackson Joshua Smith Justin Hinkley Kyle Bailey Lynn Mundahl Matt Officer Matt Szalay Natividad (Jake) Velasquez
• • • • • •
Robert Boettner Robert Wilcox Scott Langager Shawn McGuirk Tommy Racine Tony Kimmerly
Interested in donating to the Special Olympics of Iowa? Click here for more information. Check out the local news story on the convoy!
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Holiday Fun As another year ends, TMC has once again aimed focus on charity giving and holiday fun. Festivities started in October and continued through the end of the year. Here’s a glimpse at some of the fun things that happened around the offices at TMC!
October Breast Cancer Awareness Month Employees were encouraged to wear PINK every Friday in support of breast cancer awareness. There was friendly competition between the terminals to see who had the most people in pink on each Friday. Those who participated were also encouraged to donate to the cause.
products. They also submitted “before and after” pictures so fellow employees could vote for their favorite. Our winner this year was Chad Reece, Dedicated Fleet Manager in Des Moines. Thanksgiving Lunch The annual Thanksgiving lunches were served at the Chrome Café and the Training Center in Des Moines for students, office employees and drivers who were in town. Who can say no to an extra Thanksgiving meal? Annual Food Drive Throughout the week of November 13, we collected a record number of non-perishable food items to donate to each area’s local food bank. Employees were divided into teams to up the stakes and encourage more giving, and the competition paid off. Overall, TMC donated a total of 21,818 non-perishable food and wellness items! The Des Moines Accounting/Payroll/Billing team, “Need 4 Feed,” came in the top spot of standing by donating 10,243 items! These were the biggest numbers we have ever seen.
November No-Shave November The men of TMC were challenged to grow out their facial hair all month long to raise awareness of men’s health issues. Participants were asked to donate to www.noshave.org in the amount they would normally spend on grooming
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December Military Care Packages We continued the tradition of sending care packages and holiday wishes to TMC family and friends on active duty. A total of 54 care packages were mailed this year, with 12 of them going overseas. This year’s care packages had a “Movie Night” theme. Boxes were filled with a blanket, movies, games, popcorn, and a ton of snacks and candy. Santa Visits TMC Santa Claus made a special trip to the TMC Des Moines terminal this year! Each child received a candy cane and a photo with Santa. They also got the chance to make crafts and decorate ornaments. Of course, milk and cookies were also served! Holiday Giving Raffles ‘Tis the season for giving! Employees had the chance to enter to win in two holiday giving raffles. The prizes included some extra holiday home time or a gift card for a shopping spree! The money received for tickets went to benefit Children’s Haven of Joplin and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. This year, we were able to donate a TMC record of $3,575! Ugly Sweater Contest What’s the best way to spread some Christmas cheer? Wearing an Ugly Christmas Sweater, of course! We held a friendly competition to see who’s sweater would be deemed the best of the worst. While everyone’s sweater was hideously festive, the winner was Jordan Olsen from Des Moines Logistics. ‹
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Driver Appreciation Week 2017
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nother Driver Appreciation Week is in the books! Though we appreciate our drivers every day of the year, this week is an opportunity to truly celebrate how much our drivers ROCK! At TMC, Driver Appreciation Week is historically a week full of food, prizes, and fun! TMC founder, Harrold Annett, kicked off the week of celebrations with a message to our drivers thanking them for the hard work and dedication they give each and every day to move both the company and America forward. New this year was our Facebook Live driver prize drawings. We evened the playing field and put the name of every TMC driver in the pot for a chance to win some pretty amazing prizes. Each day we live streamed the prize draw-
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ings on our TMC Facebook page for drivers, family members and fans to tune in and cheer on our winners. Among the items being given away were leather luggage bags from Peterbilt, custom Yeti coolers with the TMC logo, a variety of gift cards, and one lucky winner received a brand new 55” flat screen TV courtesy of our friends at Allstate Peterbilt Group! Of course Driver Appreciation Week isn’t the same without FREE FOOD! Each terminal had something delicious on the menu each day to keep our drivers fueled up. But, because we know our drivers are out there putting in the work and the miles and aren’t always able to stop by a terminal to partake in the free food and goodies, we sent several TMC representatives out on the road to bring Driver Appreciation Week to the drivers! Many were out at customers and
shippers to prepare meals, give out our custom 2017 TMC Driver Appreciation Week t-shirts and lend a helping hand in tarping and strapping their loads. To all of our drivers, there are never enough THANK YOU’s to go around to show all of our gratitude and appreciation for what you do. You continue to work hard and make sacrifices every day to keep TMC the best in the business. You all take ‘Destination: Excellence’ to a whole new level. On behalf of the offices, shops, and everyone here at TMC... TMC DRIVERS ROCK! And of course, a special thank you to our sponsors for appreciating our drivers just as much as we do! • Bridgestone • Pilot Flying J • Peterbilt • Allstate Peterbilt Group • Electronic Funds Source • American Driver Network • Truck Pro • PowerTrain • The Pete Store Take a look at all of the awesome photos from DAW 2017! ‹
Our TV winner, Seth Chamberlin.
The Best Is Yet To Come!
CELEBRATING JOHN AND FRANK'S RETIREMENTS Wheel Master, John Wheeler, will officially hang up his keys after 22 years with TMC. John has been a valued member of the Black and Chrome family, and though we are sad to see him go, we are so happy to have shared this journey with him. John is retiring with 2,792,654 safe driving miles and having seen nearly every state in the U.S. and Canada. He was most recently a driver on the boats division. John’s wife, Janice, had this to say; “Thank you, TMC and all the many pieces and parts to this company. For equipment, training, repairs, logs, permits, wash, trailers, tarps, fleet managers and all the behind the scenes workers and giving of yourselves each and every day to keep John doing what he loves to do, we thank you.”
"Frank is retiring after 16 years with TMC. He started on my team in 2009 and has accomplished 1,824,861 safe miles. Frank has done an outstanding job on boats and I will miss working with him. His attention to detail and safety have made him a great asset to the division. I wish Frank all the luck in the world in his future endeavors.” – Marty Coffey, Dedicated Project Manager
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Josh Deeds with Tim Heim, VP Operations (left).
Josh Deeds
Named Driver of the third Quarter For 2017
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labama native, Josh Deeds, has been named as TMC’s Driver of the Third Quarter for 2017. Josh has been a professional truck driver with the company for over eight years and recently achieved one million safe driving miles. For Josh, the freedom he has out on the road and the capability to be his own boss is the biggest draw to the trucking industry. He also loves having the opportunity to travel for a living, and has been to all lower 48 states and Canada. Josh found TMC to be a great fit from the beginning. “Great pay, great equipment, and the benefits of being an employee-owned company is really what keeps me
at TMC,” he says. “I like the fact that doing my job right on a daily basis affects the success of the company, and it is us, the employees, that earn the reward.” Being a successful truck driver doesn’t always come easy, but according to Josh, a few simple actions can make a big difference. “It is important to always be aware of your surroundings, get out and look when backing, practice safe following distances and make time management a priority.” “Josh is a very hard worker, very reliable and is always willing to help others,” says Glenda Miller, Josh’s Fleet Manager. “He does a great job of being safe out on the road and is a great asset to TMC.”
Josh also enjoys taking part in shaping the future of TMC drivers. He often visits driving schools and talks to prospective drivers about the career TMC has to offer while sharing with them his journey with the company. Additionally, Josh has been a driver trainer on and off during his time with TMC. “I enjoy teaching, and it is very rewarding seeing my trainees succeed and provide for their families.” Josh resides in Alabama with his wife and enjoys attending NASCAR races. He looks forward to continuing his career with TMC and hopes to one day be named as a Wheel Master. 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 to our 2017 Driver of the Third Quarter, Josh Deeds! ‹
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•
safety •
AWARDS 5 Years Safe Driving Kenneth J. Akers Richard W. Bethge Robert A. Boone Raymond Butte Travis G. Cody Harry K. Colquitt Martin V. Covert David Gallardo Edward W. Giles Iii Rory A. Griffis Edward S. Hendrix Jeremy W. Hopkins Robert J. Keat Walter F. Kemp Michael T. King Michael E. Levine Kevin L. Nichols Lloyd A. Radford Carey R. Shepard Steven A. Sherrill Avid M. Somers
10 Years Safe Driving • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Jason K. Anderson Terry L. Crouch Todd P. Crum Christopher S. Cunningham Charles A. Farley Antonios Giagkas Erabat D. Gomez Jason B. Grove James C. Haston Jr Gary J. Irving Erik M. Latta Mark R. Maneese Dagoberto Mendoza Stephen R. Smith Bart W. Stevenson Thomas D. Young
Rory A. Griffis (pictured with John Young, Safety Manager, left)
One Million Miles • Brent D. Ottenbacher • Robert F. Buchanan • Michael L. Gent • Jeffery S. Tutor • Kevin G. Davis • Alvin B. Kenney • Michael J. Ryan • James L. Grzybowski • Jerry R. Propst Jr
Michael T. King (pictured with Elijah Cope, Safety Manager, left)
15 Years Safe Driving • Robert J. Carbaugh • Samuel Galarza • Dewayne Ivins
million miles
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
Jerry R. Propst Jr (pictured with Brock James, Operations Manager, right)
• •
Willie L. Edwards Jr Jason E. Perry
25 Years Safe Driving • Larry J. Stevens
Jason E. Perry (Pictured with Todd Bunting, VP Safety; Kyle Miller, Operations Manager; and Chris York, Fleet Manager)
Mark D. Skeen (pictured with Drew Parker, Safety Manager, right)
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• • • • •
Joshua M. Deeds Boyd A. Parks Jr John Shotts Sr. Terry L. Crouch Timothy A. Majors
Two Million Miles • Bruce A. Casler • Mark D. Skeen • Rocky L. Smith
Heard from the Road Jeffery L. Lane, #11144
Cole M. Wolbeck, #92679
A driver from PGT Flatbed Company called in to compliment how professional one of Jeffery’s loads looked recently. Great job, Jeffery!
Josh Perry received a call from a citizen in NY who complimented Cole’s great driving habits. The citizen said that surrounding traffic was very unsafe, but Cole handled it well. He also noted Cole’s clean truck. Great work, Cole!
Michael L. Pennington, #10376 & Keith Scarbro Mike and Keith helped to switch up loads at Allied Tube & Conduit. Christina Shockley wrote in to say that both drivers were pleasant, easy-going and more than happy to help. She also added that they are welcome back anytime. Great work representing TMC, Mike and Keith!
Nathan J. Lilly, #11045 Mike Fischer, Load Securement Instructor, saw Nathan on I-65 in Henryville, IN at a rest stop. Mike said that Nathan’s truck appearance and securement were excellent. Great work, Nathan!
Stephen T. Head, #11429 Stephen assisted a truck that had slid partially into a ditch and was blocking traffic in Ogdensburg, NY. With Stephen’s help, the DOT was able to open the road quickly and they were very appreciative. Great work, Stephen!
Charles E. Foor, #10152 A citizen called in recently to compliment Charles on his professional driving. The caller said that surrounding traffic was horrible, but Charles handled it well. Great work, Charles!
John A. Pratt, #10976 John stopped to assist a pregnant woman who had been involved in an accident. He waited with her until EMS arrived and helped her contact family members so they could meet her at the hospital. The woman and her husband were grateful for John’s assistance. Great work, John!
Vincent J. Howell Jr, #10393 Kevin at the Boathouse at Grand Lake said that Vincent did an excellent job. He helped with unloading and was an awesome driver. Great work, Vincent!
Roosevelt Searles. #11287 Aaron Williams (10742) was having a rough morning before making a delivery one morning. When he got to the consignee, Roosevelt came over and helped him unsecure his load and fold tarps. Roosevelt also helped Aaron reattach his mudflap after Aaron told him that his wrench broke earlier that morning. “His positive energy made me very optimistic about the rest of the day,” said Aaron. “He reminded me that TMC is not only a great company, but also a brotherhood. We look out for each other without needing compensation or expecting a thank you. I greatly appreciated his help.”
"A driver for Landstar named called me and shared how impressed he is with TMC drivers and how they take care of their equipment. He said every TMC driver that he has encountered has driven in a safe and courteous manner, and he sees so many clean trucks that he had to pick up the phone and share.” – Mark Sickmiller, Driver Development Manager
Eric T. Menasian, #11044 Edward Parrish (11014) ran with Eric last week and said he was a great help and gave him new ideas and advice. He also displayed great teamwork not only with other TMC drivers, but drivers from other companies as well. Keep up the great work, Eric!
"I drive for Central Oregon Truck Company and it is only my second time hauling coils. I had a TMC driver come up and help me with my securements, then another driver helped me lift up my tarp up on the load. I want to thank those drivers again for being so helpful.” – Facebook User
Brandon K. Atkins, #92537 Kaleb Koch (#10443) wrote in to say that he saw Brandon help several drivers secure and tarp their loads. He went out of his way and made Kaleb appreciate being a part of TMC. Karl Wedekamm (#11472) also wrote in to thank Brandon for helping him tarp his load and giving him tips on securement. Great teamwork, Brandon!
Steven W. Mullins, #10817 Steven helped Vince McDonald (10837) secure a load that Vince had never pulled before in a dedicated run. Steven also let Vince follow him to the cosignee where he was also going. Vince really appreciated the help. Great teamwork, Steven!
Patrick Moore, #10511 “I’ve run into Patrick a few times over the last year. Every time I see him, he is always helping other drivers, myself included. He’s a good example of what the flatbed brotherhood is all about!” –Edward Parrish, #11014
Jacob B. Ehrlich, #10228 Billy Crawford (#92656) wanted to recognize Jacob for showing true teamwork. Jacob helped Billy tarp at Bekart, Van Buren, AR. They then unloaded at the same place and Jacob helped Billy unchain and fold tarps. Billy said that Jacob had an awesome attitude. Great work, Jacob!
Demetrius C. Posey, #10319 Demetrius helped Richard Russell (#10882) tarp and secure his first load at International Paper Mill in Cayuga, IN. Demetrius also helped Richard back into a tight dock at Georgia Pacific in Cumberland City, TN. Richard said that Demetrius had a very good attitude about the company and gave him a lot of good advice. Great work representing TMC, Demetrius!
Ernest E. Richardson, #11640 Jimmy A. Foster, #11113 Jimmy was the first on scene of a roll-over accident recently. He helped a U.S. Foods driver out of his truck that was laid on its side and he also helped to direct traffic until local law enforcement arrived. Great work, Jimmy!
“I received a call from a Landstar driver that was following Ernest. He said he was doing a phenomenal job driving. Ernest had an OD load with a combine on and he was slowing for traffic at bridges and taking his time. The Landstar driver said TMC drivers are typically all good, but this guy was really good; especially given the type of load he was pulling and the types of roads he was driving on.” – Josh Perry, Safety Manager
An Employee-Owned Company