Curt Pernak Named Driver of the Quarter

on Tuesday, March 17, 2026 in Awards & Recognition

When Curt Pernak was getting his CDL, his driving school encouraged him to apply with TMC because he wanted to drive flatbed. But over the nearly 15 years he’s been driving for our company, he has shown that he truly belongs at TMC because of his deep commitment to hard work, safety, excellence, and doing the job right—all the values that define TMC. “He just understands trucking and TMC at its core,” says Kyle Miller, who has been Curt’s Operations Manager for several years.

That’s why we’re proud to recognize Curt as the Driver of the Quarter for the fourth quarter of 2025.

Going the Extra Mile, Every Day

Curt is known for his great work ethic and his commitment to getting every detail right, every time.

“Curt is a great guy that does everything the right way at all times,” says Cody Plum, his fleet manager. “Curt has 1.5 million safe driving miles due to his great work ethic and paying attention to the detail at task at all times.”

Kyle agrees. “Curt is the guy that does everything exactly right, every single day. He holds everyone else, in the office, shop, as well as other drivers to the same standard. He constantly calls out ways to improve processes.”

Curt’s strong work ethic comes naturally to him. He likes to be busy—it’s part of why he chose to be a flatbed driver. “I like that it’s exercise and I’m not just stuck driving, opening and closing the door,” he says.

He also enjoys the variety that comes with being part of TMC’s Linehaul Division. Because he delivers for many different customers, he gets to drive through different parts of the country every week. “It’s fun to travel the country and get paid to do it,” he says.

Being a Linehaul driver also means that Curt never knows what he’s going to be hauling from one day to the next—which is the way he likes it. “I get to haul all kinds of crazy stuff—there’s always new stuff that I’ve never hauled. Houses, cargo containers, bomb shelters, big huge coils, all kinds of oversized stuff,” he explains.

Focused on Safety and Securement

Curt takes pride in his ability to secure any load safely, even if it’s something he’s never seen before.

He explains his approach to load securement simply: “If you wouldn’t let your family drive next to your truck, you probably shouldn’t drive it down the road.”

His concern for those around him on the road is a key part of why he makes sure every load is secured properly. “You can over-secure, but if you under-secure, you’re in trouble—and not just because of the DOT, but because that’s the way it needs to be,” he says. “You don’t want stuff falling off the truck and hurting somebody. That’s my biggest concern—to make sure my stuff is safe and things are done right.”

From Driver to Trainer

For more than a decade, Curt has been training new drivers, teaching them the TMC way of doing things and helping them refine their skills so they can succeed in their own truck. Over that time, he’s trained more than 50 drivers.

Curt says he can tell a big difference in his trainees before and after their time with him. “From day 1 to the last day, it’s drastic,” he notes. In particular, he enjoys helping drivers who are new to trucking master the skills they need to be safe and successful behind the wheel. “A lot of guys have never driven a truck before—which is good because they don’t have bad habits,” he says. “I don’t have to fix problems they already have.”

Curt encourages other experienced drivers who are considering becoming trainers to think of the impact they can have on new drivers. "Become a trainer to pass on what you’ve learned and teach someone the right way instead of showing someone the wrong way,” he says.

Home Time

Curt’s disciplined approach to life carries through to his free time. He likes to make the most of his weekends, and he says the time management skills he’s learned as a driver serve him well during his home time. “If I want to spend time with friends and family, there’s not a lot of time. You gotta learn how to manage your time—which, obviously, I’m good at,” he laughs

At home in Michigan, Curt enjoys fishing and competing in mountain bike races.

We’re proud to have Curt as part of TMC’s fleet and honored to recognize him as Driver of the Quarter. Congratulations, Curt!