Meet Paxton Cottrell, April 2019's Trainer of the Month!
on Wednesday, May 29, 2019
in
Awards & Recognition
Paxton joined TMC in June 2015. After driving for six months at another employer and not getting the home time he was looking for, he started to look for other options. “TMC could give me everything I was looking for, so I applied and have loved it here ever since,” Paxton recalls.
After being a part of the Black and Chrome team for about two years, someone suggested to Paxton that they thought he would be a good trainer. “I decided to give it a shot,” he says. “I found that it was fun to teach new drivers how to do things the right way.”
When it comes to his training style, Paxton takes on an instructional, hands-on approach. “Everyone learns differently, but I like to be working right alongside my trainees and walking through instruction whenever needed.” He also adds that it is important to remember where he once started. “I try not to forget how far I’ve come in the industry and all of the questions I used to have; that’s my motto when training.”
The teaching aspect of training is Paxton’s favorite part of the job. “Securement is my favorite thing to teach,” he says. “I also enjoy the camaraderie that drivers share out on the road, along with continuing to meet new people and forming new relationships.”
As for advice for new trainees, the most important thing is to take things slow. “Flatbed trucking has an ongoing learning curve, and you won’t become an expert overnight,” Paxton says. “There are a lot of people out there who have helped me along the way, and still continue to do so. Never be afraid to lean on others and ask for advice, even when you’ve been on the job or a while.”
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 April 2019 Trainer of the Month, Paxton Cottrell!