Congratulations to Driver Trainer of the Month, Anthony Leech

on Tuesday, August 6, 2019 in Awards & Recognition

Before joining the Black and Chrome in 2003, Anthony was working a job where he made tires. Craving a change of scenery and a new challenge to take on, he chose to enter the world of over-the-road trucking.

“I was going through training at a CDL school when a recruiter for TMC visited,” he says. “The company was just transitioning to latest-model Peterbilt trucks and they promised awesome home time, which were two appealing things for me.”

Although his love for the job came easy, the Panama City Beach native wasn’t sure that he would feel the same about training. “I was approached about it a couple of times, but I declined because I was nervous to try it out,” he says.

Now in his sixth year of training, Anthony is glad he took the leap of faith. “Getting to know someone new and showing them how TMC works has turned into another aspect of my job that I love.”

Soon, the camaraderie out on the road became an important aspect of training for Anthony. “Some of my best friends are people that have been my trainees,” he says. “In fact, I have been a best man in two weddings for people I have trained.”

Anthony makes sure to focus on the basics when it comes to training. “You have to be aware of your surroundings and make sure you’re safe doing whatever it is you’re doing. As long as you keep the wheels spinning safely, you’ll find success.”

Over the road driving is a huge transition and shouldn’t be taken lightly. “Most guys get in the truck and doubt themselves,” says Anthony. “It’s my job to encourage them to keep going and keep learning.”

The relationships he has been able to develop with training coordinators and staff are some of the many reasons he plans to stick around. “I plan on retiring with TMC; I’m not going anywhere,” Anthony asserts.

Driver trainers are vital to the TMC Training Department, and each month a trainer is chosen who demonstrates the outstanding qualities TMC looks for in a trainer. The Trainer of the Month recipient is chosen based on their safety record and the safety performance of their trainees, the number of drivers trained and the retention percentage of those drivers. Congratulations to our June 2019 Trainer of the Month, Anthony Leech!