Hi Shawn. First, let me congratulate you on being TOTAL’s Trainer of the Year. That’s fantastic!
Thank you. It’s a great feeling. It’s unexpected for sure.
How long have you been driving trucks?
TOTAL is the first trucking company I’ve ever driven for. I’ve been here a little over three years now.
What do you think goes into being Trainer Of The Year?
Dedication, hard work, planning, all sorts of stuff. You have a job to do. Get up and do it. That’s all you can do really. Right? Strive to be the best at what you do each day.
How do you approach being a TOTAL Trainer?
New drivers need good training in all parts of trucking. They need to know about time management, how to get to and from, and the importance of picking up these loads and making deliveries on time. We have such a variety of people go through our OTR training and everyone has different personalities. Trainers have to get a feel for each new person that gets on the truck and adjust accordingly. You’ve got to familiarize yourselves with one another, get comfortable, and trust one another. You have to trust them behind this wheel as much as they have to trust the trainer. Each trainer has their own way of training within the program. These trainees are brand new CDL holders so there’s a lot to learn. Some people pick it up quickly, but some may need extended training. We do all we can to make sure there’s a good Trainer/Trainee match. Our #1 goal is that they are prepared to be successful on their own once they upgrade. When we’re in this truck we’re training and we’re on the road until we finish.
Is there a particular system behind your training process?
I just get up every morning and teach my students the way I operate. It’s repetitive every single day. I’ll teach them to prepare to arrive early as well as what to do if they are delayed and show up late. I stress the importance of a pre-plan, and to plan your schedule for a couple hours before your pickup or delivery. I just get up and do it and I explain why this is how you do it. Every single day I emphasize that there is a process to how this is done. There are no shortcuts. There will be obstacles, but that’s all part of it. You just do what you’re supposed to do, get it done safely, and in a timely manner. That’s it.
What do you think are the most important skills for a Trainer to have?
Patience, being able to communicate with different people, and most of all safety. That’s the best way I can sum that up.
You’ve been driving with us over three years. How long have you been a trainer?
I’ve been a Trainer going on two years. I was asked to become a Trainer a couple of times before, but I turned it down. I didn’t think I was ready; I didn’t know if I was going to be good enough. I hold myself to a very high standard. I felt I had to be confident that I was doing things the right way before I could teach someone else.
Usually, Drivers ask to become Trainers instead of being asked to become Trainers. That’s a credit to the way you operate out there.
Apparently so. I’ve actually had a couple of our Trainers come up to me and tell me I’m doing a great job. That’s a fantastic feeling honestly, because I didn’t really think I was going to make it in the beginning. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to adapt to the students’ needs or make them comfortable in my truck, or find the right way to make things click. This is pretty much our home for four to six weeks. You just have to try and foster a good relationship and communicate with one another. You’re pretty much roommates for X number of weeks.
Do you recall how many trainees you’ve had and if they all upgraded?
I’d say about 16. Those that stuck with training and upgraded. A couple with a language barrier moved to different trainers but I don’t know the outcome of those. If they did upgrade, it wasn’t with me.
What made you decide to change from a Driver to a Trainer?
Growing up I’d driven tractors with hay trailers and lived on a farm. So, I had that experience. And thankfully, I had some common sense. The only thing I really needed to learn was the ELD system. I struggled with that and my first week I really wanted to quit. It was very frustrating. When I was asked if I wanted to be a Trainer, I thought back on that experience. I said yes, because new drivers coming up need the proper training in every part of the job. That’s what inspired me to be a Trainer; to pass on all the helpful information that I’ve learned over the years and share it. Hopefully, they find it useful. I had one call me the other day after hitting ice coming down a hill. He remembered me teaching him to slow down, get off the accelerator, use the Jake brake, and just take it easy. I appreciate that.
What did you do before you became a truck driver?
I was in HSE offshore safety. I started from the ground up as a roundabout, and then I went up to a roughneck and worked in derricks for a while on land. Then I moved into construction and did that for 7-10 years. Then I was in safety for several years until the pandemic hit, and this is where I am today.
When you were thinking about other career options, what interested you about Trucking?
I liked the idea that you could travel and pretty much see the whole country. You get to see stuff that some people may never see in their lifetime. I’d never been to New York, Montana, Utah, or Oregon before trucking. My first trip was up to Troutdale, Oregon. It was during the winter and it was just beautiful. I made it there and back on time, ahead of schedule, and safely. Being a truck driver, there’s a lot you can see and a lot you can do.
What was it about TOTAL that made you think this was where you wanted to work?
That’s simple and it’s two words: TOTAL family. It just fits. Rusty was the recruiter who came to my CDL school. We spoke after class and we had a lot of similar interests. We connected through motorcycles, but he kept talking about the TOTAL family. He just went on and on about TOTAL. When I went home that evening, I made up my mind. Of course, TOTAL being a local company whose terminal was close to home was a bonus as well.
What do you think makes TOTAL different from other trucking companies?
Well, I’m not that familiar with other trucking companies. I will say I’ve been with TOTAL for over three years now and I don’t have any regrets. There were days in the beginning when I wasn’t sure I was going to make it or not. There will be challenges in trucking regardless of who you work for. I just push those off to the side and I make the best of it. The support staff are here to help, and I have no regrets. I’ve had no serious issues since day one. When anything has come up, all I did was make a phone call and get in touch with the right person. It may not have been taken care of right then, but it was taken care of.
What do you like most about working for TOTAL?
Again, being able to see the country, see things that I never thought I’d ever see. If you’re taking a 34 somewhere, you can go out and do some sightseeing. If your truck is in the shop for some reason and you’re down for a couple of days, you can take a few days off and see the town. I like the way it feels to work for TOTAL. You know, you need to feel good about who you work with. Throughout the years, at any company I’ve worked for, I’ve had to enjoy what I’m doing. To enjoy my job, I also need to like the company. That’s what it comes down to.
How do you feel about our equipment?
I have no complaints. After however many miles, we upgrade to newer trucks. The truck I had when I first came in was an older model truck. It had 353,000 miles when I got it. When I turned it in it had about 600,000. It was getting up there, but I’ve had no real issues whatsoever. Knock on wood, the truck that I have now, I think it’s a ’23 and the only thing it’s gone through is just regular routine maintenance. And that goes for my older truck as well. You know, normal wear and tear, and flats. I have no complaints as far as the equipment goes; none.
How do you manage the balance of work and home life?
It becomes second nature. Don’t burn yourself out. When you’ve been out a couple of weeks and it’s time to go home just communicate with your Fleet Manager. Communication is the key thing. Just let them know ahead of time and they can get you home. Then, just take a breath, get your mind out of the truck for a few days. Then get back after it again. Anytime I’m in Jackson, even if I have a load to pick up the next morning, I’ll run home and spend the night. But I’m back up early the next morning and I’m gone. And that’s my little break. That’s my little getaway even if it’s just an overnight stay. I call it a pass-through.
How do you prefer to communicate with your Fleet Manager?
I prefer a phone call, even when I don’t have a student on the truck driving. I’m just a verbal person. I always have been, but I realize sometimes we have to use text or email. I had one FM who was starting to get aggravated with my frequent calls. I would call when I was three hours out from a delivery, asking what he had for me next. Pretty quickly, he understood I was just trying to be as efficient as possible.
He understood you’re being proactive.
Exactly. That’s what it takes. That’s why I prefer a phone call. I can’t just sit here and wait for a text message or email to come back. I need an immediate response. I’ll call, “Hey, I’m 2 hours out. What do you have for me? Are you working on something?” It doesn’t go smoothly all the time, but it really helps.
Is there anything that you’d like to say about our Fleet Managers and their support for our drivers?
They’ve been great. John, Nick, Drake, Bob… they were all awesome. My new FM Keanja has been as well. I have no complaints whatsoever, they’re just a great group of people. Our dispatchers are doing an awesome job as well. They get to us as soon as they can. Anybody that has not been in the office should spend some time there and see what they’re doing. It’s chaos in there sometimes.
I think many drivers haven’t seen that side and sometimes get frustrated if they can’t get through right away. Do you have any tips for forming a stronger relationship with your fleet manager?
Just communicate as much as you can. Remind them about your home time, let them know if you hit delays. Be proactive. Help them help keep you rolling, be on time and be dependable. Communication is key.
Do you have any suggestions for new drivers to have a productive and satisfying career in trucking?
First of all, always be safe. That is the number one thing that I try to teach every single day. Just be safe. That, and keep your mind on work when you’re at work. You can’t be distracted by what’s going on at home. Focus. Focus on what’s going on with the truck and what’s around you. Don’t burn yourself out. Spend the time out here and then take your home time. When it’s over, get back out there and get after it. Make the best of it. Some days it’s just a breeze and before you know it you’ve been out here three or four weeks. Also, the grass isn’t always greener. If need to change companies, don’t burn bridges. Give them at least 2 weeks’ notice and finish out your commitment. You never know when you might want to return.
Do you have a family at home?
I’m married and the kids are grown. Since I’ve been gone in the past working on the road in the oilfield my wife is used to us being apart. But as time goes on, it’s sometimes hard to leave home. If I may… Baby, I love you. Thank you for your support. You’ve been there for me. You were there back when I was offshore away from home, and now while I’m out here on the road in this truck. I love you and thank you.
Is there anything else that you’d like to say to your fellow drivers in the industry?
Just be safe out there. Focus on the job. Focus on the task at hand. Keep a clear mind and communicate. I know I’ve said it many times, but communication is the key thing. Be patient with your Fleet Managers, and Dispatchers. I know sometimes that’s easier said than done. They have a lot on their plate. I’ve seen it firsthand. I’ve been in there visiting when I’m at these terminals. Remember, we are all on the same team. For me, this is a family—my TOTAL family. That’s the way I feel about this company. Be safe out there.
That’s fantastic. We really appreciate your time. Again, congratulations, we’re lucky to have folks like you.