Driver Trainers: Driving TMC Foward

on Thursday, November 17, 2016 in Awards & Recognition

TMC Transportation is known for its top notch, thorough flatbed training program. Our program is recognized as one of the best and is one of the few on-the-job truck driver training programs in the country approved by the Department of Labor as a certified Heavy Truck Driver Apprenticeship program. Upon completing new driver orientation, drivers will head out for several weeks of over-the-road training with one of our certified driver trainers where they will receive hands-on experience with the flatbed industry before receiving the keys to their latest-model Peterbilt.

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/safety performance of their trainees, the number of drivers trained, and the retention percentage of those drivers.

Congratulations to our recent Trainers of the Month!

Trainer of the Month: August 2016
Kyle Willinsky

“Put your effort into teaching, so your students will put their effort into learning,” says Kyle Willinksy, our Trainer of the Month for August 2016. 

Kyle was in the Navy for four years before he started driving for TMC Transportation. He then moved to Georgia and obtained his Class A CDL. When Kyle was a driver trainee, his trainer, who went on to become his mentor, was the reason he decided to give driver training a shot.

Pictured: Kyle Willinsky (right) and Jeff Geist, Training Coordinator Manager (right).

“Kyle has a proven track record of training our new drivers to be safe and successful here at TMC. He focuses on treating his guys like a friend and goes the extra mile to help them understand why we do things the TMC way,” says Training Coordinator Manager, Jeff Geist.

When it comes to driver training, Kyle prefers to keep things simple and honest. “If my trainee does not understand something, I will break it down to their level and make sure they understand before moving on,” explains Kyle. “It is important to gain your trainee’s trust before you can work as a team.”

In the future, Kyle hopes to gain more knowledge and share it with his trainees. “This industry is something that needs hard work and dedication. It is not an overnight thing.”

Trainer of the Month: September 2016
Philip Summerville

Our September 2016 Trainer of the Month, Philip Summerville, has been training new drivers as part of TMC’s driver trainer program since August 2012.

Throughout the years, Philip has learned a lot. He has excelled at being both a flatbed over-the-road driver and a trainer. “Be honest with yourself and everyone around you,” he says. “Having an open-mind and being open to advice and criticism will help you learn the ropes of the industry.”

“Philip feels that communication has the biggest impact when training new drivers. He coaches guys to communicate and ask as much questions as possible while keeping safety the first priority,” says Training Coordinator Manager, Jeff Geist..

When it comes to training new drivers, Philip encourages them to ask questions and gives them as much hands-on experience as possible.

Philip’s fleet manager, Steven Fagg, praised Philip for his hard work day-in and day-out. “Philip is one of those guys who get the job done and always puts a 110%, even when he’s doing something that may not be so rewarding. Thanks for being a great representative for TMC and congratulations Philip!”