Trainer of July 2017 Goes to Doug McNeel

on Thursday, September 21, 2017 in Awards & Recognition

Doug began his career at TMC in December of 2012. He worked for a little over a year to get some experience under his belt before becoming a trainer in January 2014. Training new hires was certainly Doug’s forte, as he spent 28 years in the military and was a trainer there as well. “I always liked it, so I knew it was only a matter of time before I wanted to do it here,” Doug explains.

His military experience definitely helped him transition into his role at TMC. “All of the right tools and assets are always available,” he says. “There’s also that family oriented feeling, and you feel like you’re a part of something important.”

“Doug focuses on all of the company policies and processes, doing his best to instill these into the drivers he trains,” says Jeff Geist, Training Coordinator Manager. “He truly cares about TMC and the future of our drivers.”

“The military taught me many ways to train, but I have to figure out what works best for each trainee and modify my training to each person,” says Doug. “I take a more ‘coaching’ approach, and give them the guidance they need when they need it.”

Doug makes sure that all of his trainees know he can be a point of contact, even when they are no longer in the truck with him. “I expect them to call me with questions they have when they are out on their own,” he says. “To me, this is a 24/7 job, even when I’m not on the road.”

For those who hope to be a driver trainer in the future, Doug says having patience is a must. Being a people person and making sure you are training for the right reasons also helps. “This job is a lifestyle,” Doug says. “You have to be able to commit to this lifestyle or it won’t work for you.”

Doug McNeel, right, with Jeff Wisgerhof, VP Driver Training

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 July 2017 Trainer of the Month, Doug McNeel!