Meet Your September 2018 Trainer of the Month: Richard Michael!

on Thursday, November 1, 2018 in Awards & Recognition

Since getting in a truck with his own trainer in January 2011, Richard has always enjoyed learning new things on the job. When he became a Driver Trainer himself in August 2014, he learned to love the job even more. He says looking back on his own experiences has helped him stay consistent in his teaching methods.

“I have always genuinely enjoyed helping others, and that is one of the reasons I wanted to start training,” Richard says. “I want TMC to continue to grow and be successful, so I do my best to share as much knowledge as possible with my guys.”

Richard encourages his trainees to ask questions, even if it is the same question more than once. “You have to be a mentor for your guys and be there for them, even after they are done training,” he says. “Be patient and vigilant, teach good driving habits, and always make sure they find the resources that they need.”

For drivers who are interested in training, Richard says not to rush into the decision. “I waited three and a half years to make sure I felt that I could do the job well enough to teach someone else,” he says. “Wait and make sure you are ready and comfortable to take on the role.”

At the end of the day, Richard is thankful for his co-workers and the camaraderie he has found at TMC. “The training staff and coordinators are great, and I consider them friends as well as colleagues,” he says. “TMC is a great company to work for, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”

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 September 2018 Trainer of the Month, Richard Michael!