Congratulations to TMC's Trainer of the Month of March, Scott Whitaker!

on Tuesday, April 28, 2020 in Awards & Recognition

Scott came to TMC in March 2009 with his sights set on seeing the open road. After doing factory work for most of his working career, he was ready for a change of scenery. “I was really impressed with TMC’s equipment and the home-time policy,” he says. “Being home on the weekends was really important to me, and still is.”

After driving on his own for a year, Scott decided to try his hand at training. “I enjoy helping people and I felt like I had that to offer,” he explains. Scott describes his training style as laid back and hands-on. “It’s hard to stand by and watch new guys, but I also know when I need to step aside and let them do something themselves.”

Safety is one of the biggest aspects of training that Scott focuses on. “I always drive like my kids are right there beside me, and that is the type of mentality I try to teach my drivers as well,” he adds. “As long as you are driving to keep yourself and others safe, everything else will follow.” When his trainees get in their own truck, Scott encourages them to call if they ever have questions. He even hands out his numbers to drivers that he doesn’t train.

Hearing about his trainees’ success is most rewarding to Scott, and it’s his favorite part of the job. “I’ve always been kind of quiet, but training has brought me out of my shell a little bit,” he says. “A lot of these guys are my friends now, and it always makes me happy when I see them succeed.”

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 March 2020 Trainer of the Month, Scott Whitaker!