TMC’s Newest Wheel Master
TMC is thrilled to announce Curtis Rasnake as the 2021 Wheel Master award winner! Curtis Rasnake has been driving a TMC truck for 16 years and in that time, he has been awarded two Trainer of the Month awards, a Trainer of the Year award in 2015, Driver of the Quarter in 2014, and to top it all off, Rasnake now has TMC’s highest honor of 2021 Wheel Master. “I had goosebumps when I got the call,” said Rasnake. Rasnake has been eligible for Wheel Master since 2014 when he was recognized as Driver of the Quarter. “Ya know, it never bothered me that I wasn’t a Wheel Master, each year I saw who was being honored and I never disagreed with the decision. It goes to show how many deserving drivers there are at TMC.” Rasnake has had a huge impact on TMC with how successful of a trainer he has become during his tenure. He has trained over 100 drivers and his ability to connect with all types
of people has proven effective when getting new drivers ready to take on their own Black and Chrome truck. “Driving a truck can be very frustrating,” he said. “These new guys need to know to never take their frustrations outside of the truck and I let them know whenever they want to rant, they can pick up the phone and call me, I’ll listen to their frustrations.”
the trucking industry, but Rasnake is a perfect example of how to center your job around your family. “When you let your family participate in your career it becomes a lifestyle.” He said. Rasnake’s wife, Audra, has been his backbone over the last 16 years of his flatbed career. Audra welcomes trainees into her home and prepares home-cooked meals for Curtis and his trainees. It is not uncommon for Audra When Rasnake was asked about why to meet Curtis’s former trainees at he has stayed at TMC so long he simply rest stops and provide meals for them replied, ‘support’. whenever they may pass by their house in western Virginia. Audra often talks “I have always had great support to other drivers’ wives on the phone to while I’ve been here. When I was a give them advice and encouragement new driver, I had experienced drivers when their husbands enter the looking out for me. I can depend on industry. The bond Curtis and Audra everyone in the office and TMC is like share is very impressive. family to me. I have many coworkers that are now my friends.” Rasnake In Rasnake’s childhood, he and his spoke very highly of his fleet manager, family faced financial problems. Curtis Kevin Mattox, and credited him as a used those struggles to motivate him big reason for this award. and continue to give his two sons and granddaughter more than what he had Family time can often be difficult in growing up. PAGE 4
