5 minute read
FMIC SPOTLIGHT - Truck Driver Spotlight
TRUCK DRIVER SPOTLIGHT
By Shawn Fulks, Loss Control Representative
Cecil Taylor: aka - White Glove Norman Clements: aka - Piccolo.
Cecil has been hauling for Calhoun Enterprise for the past ten years, while Norman has been with the company since 2017. Both drivers played a crucial role, along with other good drivers, in helping Calhoun bring home Forestry Mutual's Logger of the year award in 2021. This award is based on several areas, but loss ratio is a significant factor. The truck driver industry has hugely contributed to our loss ratio on the loss control side. It is our number one class code for money spent on injuries for a few years, with over 50% of the money paid out for injuries.
CECIL has been Driving Trucks for 35 years and has been driving log trucks for the last 25 years. Growing up on a farm helped give him his work ethic, which has carried threw the many years he has been driving. Cecil has not had a ticket in about 30 years. When asked what got him interested in driving, he stated his dad and uncle drove a truck and that he grew up on a farm. He has driven for several FMIC accounts, including M.M. Wright Inc. and Virginia Custom Thinning. He is married to his wife Teresa and has two sons, including one that continued the tradition of driving.
How did you get your CB Handle? "Well, as you can see, I'm dark, and the inside of the cabover I used to drive was also dark. I would pass other drivers, and they would not see me waving, so I started wearing a white glove. And the other drivers started calling me white glove, and it stuck ever since even though I don't wear the glove anymore."
What time do you get going in the morning? "A typical day starts around 5:30am, so I can be in the woods by 7 to get my first load. Some days may start earlier when I have a load to run from the day before."
I asked Cecil what made him successful in driving. He stated that a good work ethic and paying attention to his surroundings were big reasons for his success. He added that what he disliked about driving was the other drivers on the road. He stated everyone is always in a hurry and on their phones. It seems to him that very few driving people are aware of their surroundings.
When asked what advice he had for new drivers, he stated they really need to pay attention to what they are doing. Put down the cell phones. I followed up with a question, what do you like to do outside of driving? I love yard work and making my place look good.
NORMAN, aka Piccolo, age 69 started driving Log trucks in 1974 when he was hired to drive a new International 4300 truck for S.R. Jones & Sons Logging. He drove this truck for ten years, putting over a million miles on it. Norman worked for S.R. Jones from 1974 to 2017, and they bought him a new International Eagle in 1994, which he drove for over ten years, putting over a million miles on it. He went to work for Calhoun in 2017. And said he had averaged about a million miles every ten years since he has been driving, so he is closing in on 5 million miles under his belt with only one accident that was not his fault. He said years ago, a drunk driver was running from the law and ran into him, causing the accident.
When asked how he got his CB handle, he said his uncle gave it to him. As a kid, when they used to go to restaurants or stores, there used to be music machines at the tables or inside; they called them piccolo machines. He always had money to put into the machines because he loved music, and his uncle started calling him piccolo,and it stuck for the rest of his life.
How has driving changed in the past 20 years? "So much more traffic on the roads and cellphones. So many drivers on the road not paying attention." I asked Norman, What do you like about driving? "Making Money." I followed up with, what do you dislike about driving? "Late evenings and other drivers on the road."
Norman, do you have any tips or advice for other drivers? "Stay alert and look out for other drivers. I prevented an accident last week when a car merged right into my lane, and I had to miss them so they could turn into a store. I have prevented quite a few accidents through the years by paying attention." Also, he added that drivers needed to take their time and stay focused."
What is something about you not many people know?" "Well, one is my age. Most people don't realize that I'm 69 years old and the other is my bank account. (while laughing) What are your hobbies outside of work? "Saltwater fishing and seafood, there is nothing like it." ~FMIC
By Shawn Fulks, Loss Control Representative
