James Palmer Named May's Trainer of the Month

on Friday, July 9, 2021 in Awards & Recognition

James Palmer has been named TMC’s Trainer of the Month for May! Palmer, who has trained for four years, never expected to be a trainer but said he wanted to make a difference and help ensure new drivers were learning everything 100 percent right. The positive feedback from his trainees matches up with the passion we see in him to get the job done with excellence.

“I always said I wasn’t going to be a trainer, but seeing guys not doing things how I know we should, I wanted to make a difference and raise the bar,” Palmer said.

 Jeff Geist, TMC’s Training Coordinator Manager, said Palmer’s trainees have all reported excellent experiences.

 “The drivers he trains have a great safety record as well, which is a tribute to the quality of training James provides,” Geist said.

TMC almost missed out on employing Palmer. In 2014, he said he was already hired on with another carrier, but a visit by one of TMC’s recruiters to his driving school won him over just in time. Palmer was looking at future benefits, as well as his weekly compensation and benefits. TMC’s Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) got his attention. 

“The ESOP was just coming out and so that was a major thing that brought me here,” Palmer said. 

Palmer said there is a lot to teach when training new drivers, but besides the tarping and loading, there is one thing he always tries to instill in his trainees: professionalism.

 “My thing is, in everything you do, be professional. Everything has to match the truck. We drive these beautiful Peterbilts. The load, the tarp, the way you talk, and the way you look - that’s what I live by,” he said.

“He has been a great trainer to work with and his trainees have all reported excellent experiences with him,” Geist said.  

Palmer said he loves running into drivers he trained at stops all across the country. He also finds it rewarding when former trainees send him pictures, showing off their tarping they’ve done. He said training can be challenging at times, but it’s very rewarding to see what a difference it makes for someone entering the industry.

“I love my job. I love TMC and I love TMC culture. I am very proud to be a part of it,” Palmer said.