corporate magazine

DESTINATION: EXCELLENCESummer 2008

A Quarterly Publication for the Team Members and Friends of Annett Holdings, Inc., Des Moines, Iowa

TMCConductsFuel Tests

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Driver of theQuarterSonnie Bost

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Race Update44

CONTENTSFEATURES

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6

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“Our people make the difference”

Insurance Agents & Brokers

300 Walnut Street ♦ Suite 200 ♦ Des Moines, Iowa 50309-2262 ♦ 800-767-1724

Competitive Costs!Excellent Service!

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2 Destination: Excellence Summer 2008

44Annett Goes Truckin’

Driver of the Quarter - Sonnie Bost

Employee Appreciation Week

Home Depot Honors Eric Dean

TMC Performs Extensive Fuel Tests

IN EVERY ISSUE

3

11

16

On the Move

Bridgestone Firestone Tires

Heard from the Road

Katie StienPublic Relations Coordinator

Years with the company: 1

Educational/Work Background: I graduated from Iowa State Universitywith a degree in Mass Communications. My work experiences have led me from public relations to broadcasttelevision. Before TMC, I worked in sales at a radio stationin southern Iowa.

Family/Hobbies: My husband, Jake, and I have beenmarried since November and we reside in Pella, Iowa. Weenjoy traveling, the outdoors, and rooting for the IowaState Cyclones. For hobbies, I enjoy traveling to rodeosparticipating in barrel racing and breakaway roping. Wealso love to go home and spend time with family andfriends.

What do you like about working in the truckingindustry? It’s an exciting industry because there is something new every day. My favorite part is the interacting that I get to do with the drivers from all aroundthe United States. Everyone has a story and it’s fun to be apart of it. �

On the Move

Summer 2008 Destination: Excellence 3

Jeff Floyd was recently promoted to Sales in

the Southeast Operating Center. Jeff has worked

his way up in the company with most recently

managing the Field Recruiting Group. Jeff has

been with TMC since December of 1994.

Steve Gelinas has joined TMC as the VP of

Sales for the Northeast ROC. Steve is from New

York and has spent the majority of his career

with Path Truck Lines. He then moved to

Gypsum Express where he has been the last four

years. His primary role will be to develop and

grow mutually beneficial relationships with cus-

tomers.

Brad Huff has joined TMC as a Sales

Representative in the Southeast Operating

Center. Brad is a University of Alabama gradu-

ate. He has worked for both ABF Freight

Systems and CRST in sales before joining TMC.

Brad will be based in Birmingham, Alabama.

GET TO KNOW ...

SIGN UP TODAY!Sign up for Driver Connection and find information on TMCnews, employee benefits, Road Scholar, driver pay settlements,driver forms & policies, a section for your family and more! The updated Fuel / ULSD sites and Transflo information isposted on our intranet site as well.

How do I sign up? Complete a Macro 32. You can immediatelylog in after sending it in (no confirmation will be e-mailed toyou). Your User ID is your Employee ID # or SSN. Youchoose your own password (at least 6 characters). After signingup, go to www.tmctrans.com to log into Driver Connection.

Thank you to every-one in Des Moineswho donated moneyto help DawnGooch in her battle against cancer.

TMC donated a freevehicle detail and atank of gas to theraffle winner. Marcy Noble, a new fleet manager,won the prize.

Together, we raised $2,193! These funds will helpDawn with the many medical bills she will have.

Dawn is a CSA in Des Moines. We are happy towelcome her back to work!

TMC Employees Raise Funds

Marcy Noble was the lucky win-ner of the vehicle detail. Theappearance bay did an excellentjob!


On June 20thMichael Annett

made his debut in one of the premier racing divisions, theNASCAR Craftsman Truck Series, with Bill Davis Racingand the Pilot sponsored #22 Toyota Tundra. Annett droveaway with an impressive sixth place finish in his firstNASCAR sanctioned race.

In just four NCTS starts, Annett has two top ten finishes,including a runner-up finish at the Kentucky Speedway.His impressive 2ndplace finish atKentucky gained valu-able spots for the #22truck in the tightCraftsman TruckSeries point’s battle.

Annett also finished11th at MemphisMotorsports Park andraced in the top ten for the majority of the race at O’ReillyRaceway Park in Indianapolis. With three laps remaining inthe event, Annett was battling series veteran RickCrawford for the third spot when Crawford crowdedAnnett causing him to spin out. He experienced some badluck at Nashville with mechanical trouble and did not finish the race.

Annett has three remaining races in his partial truck seriesseason. He is sharing seat time in the #22 Toyota Tundrawith Scott Speed. Bill Davis Racing plans for Annett torace a full schedule in the Nationwide series next year.

“This is the next step towards reaching my goal of racing

in the Sprint Cup Series,” says Annett of his move to thetruck series. “ I cannot thank Bill and Gail Davis, everyoneat BDR and Toyota for this opportunity. But I amextremely grateful for the continued support of MarkHazelwood and the 13,000+ employees of Pilot TravelCenters. They have been along side me since the begin-ning of my racing career, for both ARCA RE/MAX Seriesvictories and are along for the ride to the NASCARCraftsman Truck Series.”

Annett’s natural talent,competitive spirit andadmirable work ethicthat he credits to hisparents have fueled theyoung racer throughthe ranks. “Truckingis in my blood and Ithink it is pretty neatthat we now have anopportunity to go

truckin’ in my own way – wide-open and in the fast lane.The styles and methods of our type of ‘trucking’ in theNASCAR Craftsman Truck Series are a bit different thanour rigs on the open roads but the goals are the same – tobe the best and get to the destination ahead of schedule.On the back of every TMC Transportation unit it says‘Destination: Excellence’ and I will strive for that sameresult behind the wheel.”

For more details and to follow Michael Annett in theNASCAR Craftsman Truck Series visitwww.michaelannett.com.

MM ii cc hh aa ee ll AA nn nn ee tt ttGG oo ee ss TT rr uu cc kk ii nn ’’

“On the back of every TMCTransportation unit it says

‘Destination: Excellence’ and I willstrive for that same result behind the

wheel.”


TMC Adds Additional Vacation Time

One More Week for Veteran Drivers

TMC is exited to announce changes to its driver vacation policy. We have received requests from manyveteran drivers about the opportunity for a fourth week of vacation. We are pleased to announce thatTMC will be adding another week vacation at 20 years of service. We will retro this change back toJanuary 1st, 2008. This means that all drivers with 20 or more years of service, effective Jan 1st, 2008,will receive a total of four weeks vacation.

We know how hard you work everyday to perform your job in the professional manner needed in thiscompetitive environment. It is important that every employee gets a vacation to recharge their batteriesand enjoy a well deserved break with their families. Your dedication and hard work is appreciated andcommendable. We are excited to be able to recognize your longterm tenure with our company with fourweeks of vacation.


The day veteran driver Sonnie Bost learned he was namedDriver of the Quarter, he blew a steer tire and averted apotentially dangerous situation. In his 13 years as a driver, hehas never had a steer tire blow.

Bost’s quick thinking and experience behind the wheel helpedhim guide his unit safely to the shoulder. “I was just talkingwith my trainee about what to do if a steer tire blows,” Sonnielaughs. “I read an article in Destination: Excellence a fewmonths ago from Bridgestone Firestone about what to do inthe event of a blown steer tire. The steer tire pulled hard tothe right just like the article said it would and I reacted likethey suggested, by not stepping on the break and actuallystepping on the gas a little bit. It’s ironic that this happened atthis time.”

There is nothing ironic about Bost being named TMC’s Driverof the Quarter for the second quarter of 2008. A top-notchdriver trainer, Bost’s trainee retention record is outstanding asis his productivity and professionalism. Bost was also namedTrainer of the Year in 2006.

“Sonnie is a pleasure to work with every day,” comments hisfleet manager Kacy Curry. “He keeps a positive and profes-sional attitude in every situation. I never have to worry aboutSonnie because he is good at what he does and he will get thejob done.”

Bost puts 110 percent into his job and training others to dothe job right. “The first two weeks in the truck with me arelike boot camp,” he says. “I let my trainees do everything. Ifthey can make it through the first two weeks, then they willmake it through the long haul. When they are handed the keysto their own Peterbilt, they know they earned it.

“Sometimes I get trainees that think I am lazy,” he continues.“They think I make them do all the work. But really, I amteaching them reality. Yeah, it’s nice to have a co-driver and abuddy for a few weeks, but the reality is soon they will be outon their own and they need the self confidence to know theycan do the job without me there.”

A self proclaimed team player, Bost credits his success to theentire TMC team, including the fleet managers he has hadalong the way, the CSRs that get the freight and the safety

department. “I make good money here,” he says. “But it takesa team. I work hard to make money for my family and thecompany. I also want to make my fleet manager proud to haveme on his board. I think one of the keys to making it as adriver is to have open communication with your fleet manag-er. Fleet managers can make or break a driver. I make sure myfleet manger knows me and has a vested interest in me andmy family.”

Bost’s family is actively involved in his life on the road.Whether they are talking on the phone or sharing photos overthe internet, they are never too far apart. Staying connected isimportant to Sonnie and his wife. The couple has seven chil-dren – six boys and one girl. Sonnie and his wife work hard tomake the driving lifestyle work for them. “I get home everyweekend in the summer and stay out in the fall and winter,” heexplains. “I have the best wife. She does it all and during thesummer, I like to be there to help her out since the kids arehome from school.”

Sonnie’s wife plays a big part in his success. “My wife has noproblem calling my fleet manager,” he laughs. “If we have areally good month she will call and thank him for working sohard for us. She has also called my old fleet manager and toldhim that 5 days is way too long for me to be home!”

Family is undeniably the most important thing to Bost. It iswhat motivates him day to day. “I have to be motivated,” helaughs. “I have seven kids!” But on a serious note, Bost’s fami-ly extends far beyond the walls of his house. He considersTMC one big family and appreciates all of the relationships hehas gained along the way and the stability TMC has given himthrough the years.

Driver of theQuarterS O N N I E B O S T


Look Who’s Making MoneyMake extra money referring drivers you meet during thecourse of your regular work week. Just visit the RecruitingDepartment at our Ankeny terminal to get referral cards andto ask any questions about how to participate. It’s really easyand you can get paid good money for helping TMC findexperienced drivers who can meet our high standards.

You get $500 for any experienced driver referred by you,who we hire and who requires 2 weeks or less of over-the-road training before being assigned to their own truck. It is$300 for experienced drivers who require a longer trainingperiod than that. No referral bonuses are paid for studentdrivers or for 2nd seat (team) drivers.

All you have to do is send in some basic information (Name,address & phone number) about the driver you want to referon MACRO 28 from your Qualcomm. This will enter thatprospective driver into our referral tracking system and willinsure that you get paid when your referral gets into theirown truck.

TMC employees honored with a check for $2,000 for theirefforts in the Rehire Contest. Pictured from left to right:Dave Grove, James Niffenegger, and Julio Avila(below). (not pictured: Kathy Asbrock)

m i l l i o n s a f e m i l e sm i l l i o n s a f e m i l e sTMC is proud to announce the followingdrivers have received their million safe miles!

Congratulations to the following companydrivers and owner-operators:

David Anderson John JonesMaurice Townsend Richard CollinsRoger LevanKenneth WolfeWilliam DoughertyMark SkeenRandy Buhs

“The dedication to safety is evident by the

number of miles and the safe driving that ittook to achieve these miles,” said ToddBunting, Executive Vice President of Safety.“This is something that each individual canreflect on with a great deal of pride and self-satisfaction. These gentlemen are true profes-sionals in their approach to their jobs; every-one at TMC expresses their thanks andappreciation to these drivers for this achieve-ment.”

Members of this elite club receive a million milejacket, hat and plaque.

Congratulations drivers on your achievements!


Appreciation WeekAugust 16th - 23rd, 2008

TMC Transportation is celebrating Driver Appreciationweek August 16th -23rd. Throughout the week,employees will be treated to food, fun and prize draw-ings for items such as laptops, digital cameras, portableDVD payers and gift certificates to purchase NASCARtickets.

Events during the week include a golf tournament andcompany-wide barbecue held at all TMC terminal loca-tions. A family fun day at TMC headquarters in DesMoines, Iowa, will conclude the week.

In addition, every TMC driver will receive a hand-writ-ten thank you card from their fleet manager and a freedrink coupon from their favorite truck stop.

“At TMC, our drivers and owner-operators are the keyreason we are the premier open-freight provider in thenation. Each day, they deliver our customers’ freight in asafe and professional manner. We want to take amoment and say ‘thank you’ for everything they do forTMC and America,” said Harrold Annett, CEO andChairman of TMC Transportation.

For more information on Appreciation Week activitiesplease visit the Driver Connection.

Drivers - Watch for a card

and coupon in the mail!

Laptop Computer Accident/Incident free in the month of August

1 Year Subscription to SIRIUS RadioClean DOT Inspection for AugustWith SIRIUS Satellite Radio, you can listen to what you want,when youwant, wherever you are. It is 100% commercial-free music from every genre, plus sports, news, talk

and comedy.

Gel Tech Seat CushionMillion Mile Members GELTEC Medical Seat Cushions and Support Surfaces are made with a revolutionary “ultra”soft dry-polymer FlexGel™ formed into a unique geometric structure that allows it to behavemore effectively than foam, air, springs or other fibrous materials. It provides maximum comfort through complete pres-sure and shear relief.

$100 Gift Card to Tickets NowTrainers TicketsNow is an online marketplace for event tickets anywhere in country. The prize is

a gift card to the event of the winner’s choice. Any type of event can be purchased,from NASCAR to theater.

Portable DVD PlayerSafety Support Team Members

Various Prizes

Listed are some of the prizes we will be giving away for Appreciation Week. Each driver eligible in the categories listed acrosswill be automatically entered to win the prize for that category. Drivers can be entered in multiple categories.

life on the road what’s wrong with this load

Send entries to Katie Stien - [email protected] or mail to:

6115 SW Leland Ave., Des Moines, IA 50322

Send us your photos from the road. Youcould win a prize!

1st - Digital Camera2nd - $503rd - $25

Log onto Driver Connection and click onthe Appreciation Week page. There youwill find the “what’s wrong with this loadlink.” Click on it to view several photosof a poorly secured load. Tell us all thethings wrong with it and you could win aPilot gift card.



615 E. Lane St, Winterset, IA 50273800-246-1942 • 515-462-1942

Fax: 515-462-5985 • [email protected]

Custom Aluminum & Stainless Steel Fabrication• Cab Guards • Coil Racks • Toolboxes

• RGN Ramps • Trailer Accessories• Stainless Steel Fuel Tank Skins

Steel, Aluminum and Stainless Steel Repairs

Celebrating 16 years of BusinessRandy Simon, owner

Member of National Truck Equipment Association

SIMON WELDING INC.It is with great sadness that the TMCTransportation family says good-byeto friend and driver Trevor Spooner.

Spooner was at a stop in Canadawhen he suffered a heart attack.

Spooner, who began driving for TMCin 2007, is survived by his wife, Janet.Our thoughts and prayers go out to

his family.

IInn MMeemmoorryy ooff TTrreevvoorr SSppoooonneerr

Home Depot Honors TMC Driver

Congratulations Eric Dean on yourrecent award from Home Depot.

Dean is a TMC driver for the HomeDepot dedicated account in Norwood,Mass.

He received the award from HomeDepot on June 18threcognizing excellence in cus-tomer service.

Robert Powell,receiving managerfor Home Depot, recommended Ericfor this award basedon his excellent customer serviceand attitude.

Eric has been here since the start-up of this Home Depotaccount in December 2006,” says fleet manger Wayne Forni.“He is very well liked and respected by his fellow drivers andmanagement. Eric is always willing to give 100 percent of him-self whether it be helping fellow drivers or covering an extraload to make us a success with Home Depot.”

Thank you Eric for your commitment to excellence!

Pictured from left to right Wayne Forni TMCProject Mgr. Josh Perry Safety Eric Dean

TMC Driver Bill Kasper Home DepotDistribution Mgr. Ed Perreault Home Depot

Asst. Distribution Mgr.

This article sponsored by Bandag& Bridgestone/Firestone

Fuel EconomyIs there an answer to better fueleconomy?

The bad news is there is no one answer.The good news is there are lots of partialanswers.

What’s our best strategy?Interestingly enough, that hasn’t changed.

You probably remember infamous bank rob-ber Willie Horton, who, when asked why herobbed banks and no place else, responded,“Because that’s where the money is.”

Fact is, TMC and just about everybodyelse will tell you the biggest single controllingfactor in large truck fuel economy is yourdriver’s right foot. TMC estimates the mpgof the best drivers could be as much as 35percent better than the worst.

And that dwarfs any other thing you cando to save fuel.

That’s not news.No, but with fuel prices as high as they

are, the effects of speed are becoming moreand more important. Kenworth reports thatincreasing speed just 5 mph, to 65 from 60,can cut fuel economy by 6.4 percent.

If you run 125,000 miles per year and get7 mpg, that’s 1,221 gallons – not dollars,GALLONS – per tractor.

So what we’re seeing is that smaller factors are having a biggereffect?

Absolutely. A short time ago, one ofNorth America’s major LTL fleets reported itwas reducing its governed speeds from 65 to62, just 3 mph, and that it expects to save 3.2million gallons of diesel a year by doing so.

Another major fleet tells us that to them,a one-tenth mile per gallon change repre-sents a million dollars a year in their fuelcosts.

And, industry authorities are now tellingus that at many fleets, fuel is now the num-ber one expense, NOT driver wages, as ithas been for so many years.

So what part do tires play in thefuel picture?

Tires are much smaller than driver boots,but now that smaller percentages are moreimportant, they can make a big difference.

How can Bridgestone help?Right now, we are preparing the fourth

edition of our fuel economy guide, incorpo-rating our latest research.

A lot has changed. Trucks have becomemore and more aerodynamic and both trac-tors and trailers have shed a lot of excessweight.

Practically every engine is computerized.And fuel-efficient tires have become amature product. They’re a lot different fromthe fuel-efficient tires of 10 or 15 years ago.

In what ways?Today’s fuel-efficient tires are delivering

the kind of traction and tread life that earlyfuel-efficient tires could only dream of.

What about wide single tires?Wide single tires can be useful too, but in

our view, their fuel efficiency is exaggerated.Bridgestone, for example, offers Greatecwide base radials for both drive and trailerpositions, and these offer comparable fuelefficiency to other wide base tires.

But, Bridgestone also offers conventionaltires that are every bit as fuel-efficient aswide base tires. And with those, you don’thave to buy new wheels to get the benefits.

In fact, if fuel economy is a big concern,conventional tires are a better buy.

Then why have the wide singles?The major benefit of the wide single is

that it weighs less. And, if you can convertthat weight savings into moneymaking pay-load, it can be a way to go.

But if saving some weight doesn’t let youmake more money, wide singles probablyaren’t a very good idea.

And why still make tires thataren’t fuel-efficient?

There still are applications where treadlife, traction, durability, casing and sidewallstrength and retreadability are more impor-tant than fuel economy.

On/off-highway fleets, constructionfleets, refuse haulers and local delivery opera-tions often work in environments where tiresaren’t a good way to save fuel.

Is there a way we can compareone tire against another?

There is. Bridgestone offers a programcalled Tire Life Cycle Cost (TLCC) whichuses a rigorously scientific, tested method.It can help you calculate your total tire costper mile over the entire useful life of the tire,and show you what part of your tire costsrelate to fuel use and what part to tire life.

You’ll be able to run calculations basedon your own, tire experience, purchaseprices, tread life, maintenance costs, fuelprices, even retread costs and casing values.

Best of all, you can compare what you’recurrently using, including most major brands,against the best Bridgestone has to offer.

How can we get a copy?Your Bridgestone representative has a

copy of TLC and will run it for you. It’s tocomplicated to post on the Internet as acookie-cutter online program.

That’s because it’s based on solid science.And because it’s constantly being updatedwith new information as new Bridgestoneand competitive tires become available.

So, get in touch with your Bridgestonerepresentative and ask for a demonstration.

What other advice do you have?We’ll continue, in this series, to fill you

in on what we’ve learned about tires and fueleconomy. So watch this space. Meanwhile,“Don’t take any wooden nickels.” In timeslike these, there is no shortage of snake-oilsalesmen who want to separate you fromyour money with “sure-fire” “guaranteed”fuel economy schemes.

Make them prove the effectiveness ofwhat they have. Insist on SAE and TMCtests from independent laboratories. If theydon’t have them, ask yourself why. If America’s biggest fleets aren’t adoptingtheir products, ask yourself why.

Whether it bolts onto the engine, thebody or your axles, if the promise is toogood to be true, the product probably isn’t.


In January, three TMC employees and three drivers trav-eled to Ft. Stockton, Texas to perform fuel consump-tion tests at the Bridgestone/Firestone grounds. Theirexpansive testing grounds consist of several differenttest surfaces and tracks that other businesses and organ-izations have utilized. The facility is often used by Indycar drivers, NASCAR teams, and is also the site whereland speed records have been set. The track that TMCutilized was a seven-mile oval track where tires, speed,and Biodiesel were tested.

The main test conducted was the Technology andMaintenance Council / Society of AutomotiveEngineers 1321 Type II fuel consumption test. Thistest is the highest standard for testing fuel economy.The trucks were run at 65 MPH for six laps around thetrack, for a total of 42 miles on each run. Weather andwind speed were also recorded.

The test began with preparation of the vehicles, whichinvolved capping off fuel lines and adding a portablefuel cell to the trailer of each truck. Each cell was care-fully measured before and after each run to ensure theintegrity of the test. The next three days were spenttesting. The test began with an hour and a half warm-up period followed by a three- hour test run. The firstrun was a baseline test, which established the differ-ences between the trucks and drivers’ MPG.

After the first test was completed, the tires werechanged out again and another warm-up period was runfollowed by another test. The test consisted of one con-trol truck that used the same test components through-out the week (all tests were compared to this truck).There were two test trucks that had the testing tireschanged after each test. Each truck started after thewarm-up period and then took-off within three and a

TMC Performs TMC Performs Extensive Fuel TeExtensive Fuel Te

Above: TMC trucks on the 7-mile test track.Below: Bridgestone/Firestone technicians weighing TMC truck tires.

Below: The testing team at Ft. Stockton. Starting from the left: Bryan BryanKirkland Jr. and Thomas Shelton. Front row starting on left: Sam- Firestone


ests ests

ryant, Larry Steven, Jason Webb, David Nerad, Greg McDonald, Samone, Buddy Kirkwood, and Michael Harper.

half minutes of each other. The trucks drove sevenlaps each, and had to complete the test plus or minus13 seconds within the given time limit.

The testing at the Bridgestone/Firestone provinggrounds was a success thanks to all of the driversinvolved. Everyone from Bridgestone/Firestone wasextremely pleased with the professionalism of thesedrivers. The results from the test were based on theaccuracy and efficiency of what they did. The outcomeof the tests led to a change in TMC’s tire purchasingprogram.

A special thanks to: Sam Kirkland Jr.-unit #91611,Thomas Shelton-unit #91152, and Michael Harper-unit#91344 for driving the test trucks in Ft. Stockton.

TMC Employees: Bryan Bryant- Corporate FuelManager, and Jason Webb-EVP Asset Management.

Bridgestone/Firestone Staff: Dave Reed- Regional FleetSales, Buddy Kirkwood - Engineering Manager, GregMcDonald-Engineering Manager, Larry Steven-FieldEngineer, and Ronald Jones-Field Engineer.

Together, rail and truck transport consumes over 35 billion gallons of diesel fuel per year. Translated intoemissions, this represents over 350 million metric tons ofcarbon dioxide annually.

The EPA Smartway program was launched in 2004 tohelp the environment and reduce the overall fuel consumption and improve air quality. The programendorses fuel saving products, automobiles, technology,and fleets that are working toward reducing the overallemissions generated through the freight transportationprocess. TMC is now a member of the EPA SmartwayProgram.

To join the EPA Smartway Program, TMC had to esti-mate how much emissions we generate through the trucksthat we have on the road. This included many differentmathematical algorithms that are associated with:

By estimating these, and how much of an impact theyhave on our average fuel consumption and emissions gen-erated, we were assigned a score by the EPA. The goal ofthe program is to increase this score by the year 2010.The EPA will help us increase this score by introducingideas and products to our current programs and equip-ment specs. In return, this will reduce our overall carbonfootprint.

TMC Receives SmartwayCertificate


Idle timeMPGGallons purchased per yearTruckload weightAerodynamicsAlternative FuelsEngine Year

Trailer TypesTire CompoundsLubrication TechnologyTrailer CapacitySpeed ManagementMiles per year


Anthony Haines of Littlestown, Pa., has been a professional driver since he graduated from high school. Anthony started driving with TMC inNovember of 1996. Since that time, he has accomplished 11 years of safe driving with the company. Anthony enjoys spending time with his wife,

Sandra, and the rest of his family. When he does have spare time, he enjoys hunting.

Q. What have you learned since you started driving?Haines: I’ve learned so much about not only the trucking industry, but also about meeting new people. Driving really makesyou grow as an individual because of all of the experiences you have interacting with people. I’ve got to meet people from allaround the nation. In addition, you learn pretty quickly about geography! There is so much beautiful country to see and bydriving I’ve had the opportunity to see a lot of it.

Q. What challenges do drivers in this industry face?Haines: Today safety is a challenge and a concern, especially with competition. So many drivers want to hurry, get to theirdestination, get a paycheck and go home. You have to be careful and not be in a hurry. You have to be cautious loading, onthe road, unloading, and even once you’re home. You’ve got to watch your truck and your surroundings at all times. It’s allabout safety and defensive driving.

Q. Do you have advice for drivers dealing with customers?Haines: When dealing with customers, the best thing to do is remain calm. If you go in there being pushy and agitated, you’lljust end up waiting longer. Be patient and courteous. Follow their policies and rules and if you can help them, do so. Youhave to be customer-friendly because customer service is key.

Q. Do you have advice for new drivers?Haines: Driving is a job. However, it’s a job that if you put your heart into it, you will love it. I’ve hauled everything throughdifferent jobs and driving a flatbed is my favorite. Just remember to follow the rules of the company, rules on the road, andyou’ll love it too.

Q. How do you deal with being away from your family?Haines: My advice is to take your spouse/family with you on the road. If you share your life with them, they may learn tolike it too. Today, everyone has a cell phone, so you’re really never out of touch. Sometimes it’s hard because you don’t alwaysget that physical presence, but if you talk to your family everyday, it makes it a lot easier. It’s always hard being away, but nowit’s easier than ever.

Is there a TMC driver you think should be featured as a Veteran Driver? Let us know! Send an e-mail to [email protected] or Macro 25: Free Form 73 from your Qualcomm

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Veteran Driver’s Corner

Anthony HainesAnthony Haines


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The Trainer of the Month Award is given to a trainerwho has actively trained for 9 out of the last 12 months.The Training Department will nominate drivers. Therecipient is chosen based on the number of driverstrained, trainee retention, trainer and trainee safetyrecord.

January 2008-David Myers

February 2008-Seymour Cook

March 2008-Chad Ganoung

April 2008-Michael Vasbinder

May 2008-Keith Weaver

Congratulations to these trainers!

trainer of the month

“The beautiful thing about learning is thatno one can take it away from you.”

6115 S.W. Leland Ave.Des Moines, IA 50321

TMC Transportation Public Relations Department 1-800-247-2460Erin Monahan, Public Relations Manager, Ext. 3566

Katie Stien, Public Relations Coordinator, Ext. 3567

Heard from the Road ...

On June 25th, Gray Dougherty accidentally left $60 cash in the ashtray of his loaner at Joplin. Later that day, Ed Dougherty

and Chris Teel found the money and returned the cash to Gray. Gray Dougherty and TMC commend these two drivers for

their honesty.

“John Stamy #91078 could teach proper securement. It’s nice to see a man with pride. Let him know it doesn’t go unseen.”

David Valdez #23062

To Whom It May Concern:

My name in Jon Klemm. I was traveling westbound on state Route 224 in Lodi, Ohio when I came across one of yourtractors sitting at the side of the road. At the time, the driver seemed to be in trouble. When I approached his truck to see ifeverything was alright, he very politely informed me that he and his truck were just fine. He then informed me that he hadjust pulled off to the side of the road to answer his cell phone.

I cannot express to you how much safer this makes me feel seeing that even one driver pulls off the road to answer aphone call. I do not know this man’s name, truck number or anything else.

I am an employee of Blue Beacon Truck Wash number 30 in Lodi, Ohio. I am almost positive I have had to deal with thisdriver in my truck wash on several accounts. To sum up, I would like to commend this driver with all I have for having thecourtesy of pulling off the road for this phone call.

Sincerely,Jon Klemm

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