Meet Joe Netzley, TMC's Driver of the Third Quarter for 2020

on Wednesday, January 13, 2021 in Awards & Recognition

Joe Netzley has been with TMC Transportation since January 2004. Throughout his nearly 17 years at TMC, he has racked up more than 1.8 million safe driving miles. Joe grew up on a farm, and loved driving the big equipment around. You might think that Joe entered trucking early in his life, but trucking was actually a big career change. Joe began to look into truck driving as a career when the printing company he had been with for almost 24 years got bought out. Since the change, Joe has not looked back.

Joe went through CDL training in Ohio and had a great experience. When he joined TMC, his trainer, Thomas Steckler, made his new adventure even better. “[Thomas] was really good with me. He told me, ‘You will know by the end of training whether trucking is for you or not… you are going to go through ups and downs, but I did too,’” Joe recalls. Training with Thomas was the first indication that trucking would become a passion for Joe.

Joe started a family at a young age, and wanted to provide well for them. He wanted to achieve a successful career, and trucking helped him do exactly that. “I wanted to accomplish something for myself. When I was able to put ‘Million Mile Safe Driver’ on my door, there was a lot of pride. To now get Driver of the Quarter means a lot,” Joe explains. “I really wasn’t expecting this honor at all. I just show up every single day and do the best job that I can.” For Joe, Driver of the Quarter is a testament to the hard work and dedication that he has put into his career. “My dad always told me to do it right the first time and you won’t have to make adjustments.”

Joe is appreciative to many people, especially those in Silver Grove, KY who work with him day-in and day-out, as well as his dispatcher, Kristin Holdash. When asked about Joe, Kristin asserts: “Mr. Netzley is always willing to help a fellow driver, as well as his Fleet Manager, out whenever needed. He has built many positive relationships with our customers and peers. Joe takes great pride in the work he does and how he represents TMC. He shows up with a positive attitude every day and is a true joy to work with. Joe is the definition of Destination: Excellence and is a true asset to our company.”

While Joe has had great experiences with management, he explains that some of the best support systems are those who can relate and understand what the drivers are going through. “Trucking is a brotherhood. We are all out on the road, away from our families, trying to support them and get home safely… but as truckers we are together,” Joe explains. “People wonder how we sleep in such a tight space, how we do the trucking lifestyle… I just say ‘you got to do what you got to do’”.

For those who want to get into trucking, Joe’s advice is to go with flatbed. “Flatbed is number one. TMC is the only company I have been with and the others just do not compare. TMC’s appearance policy is important to me as a driver.  As a kid, I wanted my car to be all clean and snazzy; I respect and appreciate that they want the same for their trucks. TMC, by far, has the best equipment out on the road.” When asked about his favorite memories from his flatbed career, Joe mentions his travels through Tennessee. “I have a lot of memorable moments throughout my career, but I loved Tennessee. I don’t know what it is about it.” 

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Criteria for Driver of the Quarter recognition includes years of service with the company, safe driving record, and excellent customer service, professionalism, and overall quality performance. Once a driver is recognized as a Driver of the Quarter, they are eligible to receive the prestigious Wheel Master Award.