Prime Ways | Volume 2 Issue 2

VOLUME 2 ISSUE 2

Prime

GIVES BACK How associates are making an impact across the country

INSIDE THE ISSUE: DRIVING FORCE Dee Sova inspires other female drivers to succeed

PAINTING THE WAY Pittston’s body shop sets an example for other body shops nationwide

2740 N. MAYFAIR AVE. SPRINGFIELD, MO 65803 417-866-0001 WWW.PRIMEINC.COM MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER Clayton Brown RECRUITING AND MEDIA COORDINATOR Andrea Mueller RECRUITING AND ONBOARDING K risti Pinckney

2111 S. Eastgate Ave., Springfield, MO 65809 PHONE: 417-883-7417 / FAX: 417-889-7417 417MAG.COM EDITORIAL DIRECTOR K atie Pollock Estes EDITOR Rose Marthis CREATIVE DIRECTOR Heather K ane SENIOR EDITOR Savannah Waszczuk PRODUCTION EDITOR Claire Porter ASSISTANT EDITOR Adrienne Donica STAFF WRITER Stephanie Towne Benoit EDITORIAL INTERNS Asia K ey, Casey Struble EDITORIAL ART MANAGER Paije Luth SENIOR PHOTOGRAPHER AND DESIGNER Brandon Alms

PRIME COMPANY STORE SHOP IN-STORE Springfield, MO Salt Lake City, UT Pittston, PA

SHOP ONLINE

www.primeincstore.com

GIVE US A CALL 417-521-3814 (MO) 570-602-4793 (PA) 801-977-5903 (UT)

EDITORIAL DESIGNER Ryan Saunders EDITORIAL ART COORDINATOR V ivian Wheeler

Use your Prime Reward Points here!

DESIGN INTERN Dylan Lyle CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Matt Lemmon, Jana Bounds, Julie Sedenko Davis CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATORS & PHOTOGRAPHERS Brandon Alms, Ryan Saunders, V ivian Wheeler, Sean P. Lopez, Albert V illearreal ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Bernadette Pry PUBLISHER Gary Whitaker PRESIDENT/ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Logan Aguirre VICE PRESIDENT OF FINANCE Joan Whitaker VICE PRESIDENT OF OPERATIONS Megan Johnson VICE PRESIDENT OF SALES Ammie Scott PRIME WAYS

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contents

ON THE COVER Prime associates are making an impact with charity rides and mentoring.

PRIME WAYS | JUNE 2017

See page 18 to learn how Prime Inc. Founder Robert Low promotes camaraderie at work.

Marble Canyon, Arizona is a truckfriendly place to spend time outdoors.

18 PRIME GIVES BACK Drivers and associates across the country give back to their communities on and off the clock. We talked to a few to see how they are making a difference and why it’s important to give back.

26 DRIVING DIVA Dee Sova’s life changed forever when her daughter was killed by a drunk driver. She shares her story about how that life-altering day inspired her to raise awareness about the issue.

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PRIME WAYS

“Next to the military, Prime is the biggest familyoriented company I’ve ever been associated with.”

—Joe Hoover

8 DAY IN THE LIFE Teddy Mitchell is the man behind every piece of embroidered merchandise.

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A SIMPLE SALUTE Prime Inc. employs many veterans. Hear from three who are using their armed forces experiences in their daily work at Prime.

CALENDAR

14 EATING RIGHT ON THE ROAD Drivers share their easiest and tastiest recipes so you don't always have to opt for fast food.

Save the date for Father's Day, the annual Prime Picnic and other summer events.

Photos courtesy Shutterstock, Dee Sova, by Brandon Alms

Features

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PRIME FAMILY

Chat

Whether you’ve worked for Prime Inc. for decades or only a few months, it’s natural to be curious about company happenings. Here, people in the know answer your burning questions.

One way Prime gets behind Its healthy lifestyle initiative is by hosting multiple weight loss challenges a year. So, how did The Participants do?

“In 2015, participants lost 763 pounds. In 2016, more associates signed up for the challenges, and we accomplished more than 2,000 pounds in weight loss! These challenges are a great opportunity to decrease weight, remove inches and reduce body fat percentage.

They are also the perfect opportunity to participate in a friendly competition; bragging rights are earned, not given.”—Damian Probstfield, Senior Financial Analyst

How much rubber do we go through in our Ecotire Treading Department?

“It takes 34 pounds of rubber to produce one wide-base retread tire (Eco-FT). We can produce around 46,000 tires per year out of our Retreading Department. The Prime retread facility has produced more than 110,000 tires since its founding in late 2013.”—Brandon Cantrell, Ecotire Treading

Who is

Photos courtesy Shutterstock, Grace Aulisio

Grace Aulisio?

“Here it is going on the 10th year that I am with Prime, doing what I love to do. I am a recruiter, which gives me the opportunity to work with the future professional drivers of Prime. It can be challenging but is equally rewarding. One challenge that I face is finding the right people to drive our trucks. With Prime, safety pretty much comes before anything else; therefore, we want to make sure we are putting the right individuals in the driver’s seat. The rewarding part comes easily. It gives me such an awesome feeling when I can offer a career or training to someone. In many instances, the opportunity changes peoples’ lives for the better. I love when my recruits touch base with me after they have completed orientation, and you can hear the happiness in their voices. The texts, emails and calls I get thanking me for getting them to Prime always bring a smile to my face. I let them know that ‘they’ did it—I just started the process. It is also heartwarming when you are told that you have changed a person’s quality of life; now they have a career. I love meeting those that I have recruited and having little chats with them.

You just learn so much about these people!

Now a little about myself. I started in the retail industry right out of high school. I was happy and content until the company filed

bankruptcy a few years after a major acquisition. From there, I landed another retail position as well as a part-time position for Transcontinental Refrigerated Lines (TRL), a transportation carrier. TRL offered me a fulltime recruiting position, so I left the retail world never to look back. When TRL was faced with financial hardship, I feared another layoff was on the horizon.

But then, Prime came in and saved the day. After Prime acquired TRL, I was offered the opportunity to recruit and do what I love best: work with people. Everyone around me here in the Pennsylvania terminal is amazing, as are the orientation and recruiting teams.

Working at Prime is having a second family.

Outside of being a recruiter, I am a wife (married to Joseph Aulisio who retired from Prime three years ago) and a mother to Wendy and my son-in-law, John. One of my favorite things to do is spend time with my two precious granddaughters, cheering them on at basketball, soccer or any other activity. I also enjoy reading, seeing Broadway plays and eating pizza.

Doing what I love as a profession and having an awesome family to spend time with—it can’t get better than that!”

—Grace Aulisio, Recruiter

 How does Prime

work toward a better orientation experience?

“We are always aspiring for a positive orientation experience. Currently, we are working with a third-party organization that conducts satisfaction surveys on those that have recently attended an orientation. From the data collected, we can alleviate small concerns and strategically plan future orientation process enhancements. The experience that a person receives during orientation is extremely important to Prime. There are several aspects of the orientation process that are constantly tweaked to make it the most enjoyable experience.”—Jim Guthrie, Operations and Recruiting Manager PRIME WAYS

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LIFE | JUNE 2017

After spending a decade in the Permits Department, Shaun Ryker switched departments twice, landing finally in his current role as Director of Payroll.

A Task that Pays After 11 years at Prime Inc. in three departments, Shaun Ryker has found his home in the Payroll Department, where his job is so much more than just signing checks.

BY CLAIRE PORTER

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MOBILE BUSINESS, INTERNAL MOBILITY Although he’s at home in the Payroll Department, Ryker didn’t start out there. The Ash Grove, Missouri, native applied to Prime after graduating from college. “I didn’t know much about Prime,” Ryker says. “U ntil you actually get here, walk around, see what’s going on and get a feel for it, a description can’t cover what’s actually happening.”

Photos by Brandon Alms, courtesy Shaun Ryker

spotlight

ou probably think about your paycheck quite a bit—and Shaun Ryker, Prime Inc.’s director of payroll, is the one responsible for sending it to your bank account each week. Ryker oversees the Payroll Department, making sure there aren’t mistakes, resolving payment concerns and getting drivers paid seamlessly—and he does it all with a smile. “[Drivers] have got a pretty tough job,” Ryker says. “If we can find ways to make their lives easier, it’s pretty rewarding to see someone come in and see the relief that you can give somebody by helping them and being nice to them. They look at a steering wheel and a road all day; friendly faces mean a lot to them.”

Ryker was hired into the Permits Department in 2006, and there he secured license plates, registration, alcohol permits, hazmat permits and state permits for tractors and trailers—essentially making sure everyone on the road was legal in the eyes of the Department of Transportation. Ryker spent 10 years in permits before changing gears.

“We have a lot of good people at Prime—a lot of good managers,” he says. While in the Permits Department, Ryker sat by Steve Field, who later became the director of safety. When Field began adding to his team, he reached out to Ryker to join the Safety Department in March of 2016. Whereas Ryker’s previous role in the Permits Department was rooted in the present, his new role in safety involved looking ahead. “In the Safety Department, it was very focused on what do we need to do to make our eet safer, whether it’s counseling drivers who show risky behaviors or identifying what [risk] factors we need to be focusing on.”

When he's not in the office, Shaun spends time with his wife, Nicole, and his daughter, Caroline.

the company is and how open people are,” Ryker says. “The whole motive is how can we get better and what can we do for the drivers.

Look in the mirror. See what it is that I can do to make a difference today. It truly is that way; it’s not just lip service.” That motivation to push forward means every team is open After about a year in safety, Ryker moved to collaboration and suggestion. “If I think to the Payroll Department in January of something needs to be improved, I have the 2017 , a transition which required a new skill ability to get with the managers and staff evset—and a bit of a learning curve. “It’s pretty ery week during the staff meeting,” he says. humbling to realize what you don’t know in your department,” Ryker says with a laugh. “There’s an empowerment there that we’ll make a decision and move forward. The red Despite the challenges of a new department tape is about gone, and that’s a pretty refreshand new position, Ryker knows he’s making ing thing to feel when you come into work.” a difference in his co-workers’ lives. “We all In fact, Ryker spearheaded his own have a job for the same reason,” he says. “The project without a bit of red tape when he whole reason we’re here is for us to be able to worked in the Permits Department. A drivpay [the drivers] at the end of each week.” In fact, that direct impact was part of the draw. er told him about a Transportation Worker Identification redential (TWI ) program, “There’s not too many positions you can have that every single week you directly affect ev- which is essentially a security card with a background check allowing drivers to get ery single driver in the company,” he says onto ports. “I kind of looked into it some, sent that information up, and it fell right back down to me,” Ryker says. “They said, In each position, Ryker has worked closely with other departments—a result of Prime’s ‘ Here you go. K ick it off.’” And with that, Prime’s own TWI program was formed. at structure. “It’s pretty amazing how at

KINDNESS PAYS OFF

Photos courtesy Shutterstock, by Brandon Alms

A SMOOTH ROAD FOR PROGRESS

Time Flies 2006 Ryker was hired into the Permits Department, making sure all Prime vehicles were ready for the road.

A FAMILY MATTER The TWI program is Ryker’s favorite project that he’s worked on during his career, but the most cherished part of his 11 years with Prime is intangible. “One of the beautiful things about Prime is that it’s really family-oriented,” he says. The friends who encouraged him to apply for that first position in the Permits Department worked at Prime, and even his wife did some temp work in the Permits Department during her winter break from teaching—although, unlike a lot of Prime couples and families, Ryker and his wife did not meet at Prime. “We’re an oddball,” he says with a laugh, referencing the many husband-wife associates at Prime.

When Ryker isn’t hard at work at the Springfield headquarters, he enjoys being outdoors, whether it’s hunting or fishing, and spending time with his 2-year-old daughter, who will be a big sister in July.

Through all the moves, projects and new challenges, Ryker is grateful for the openness and exibility of Prime. “It lives up to all the hype, even once you get in here,” he says. “A lot of times, there’s a faç ade. But [Prime] really is what it seems like it is.”

Shaun Ryker, director of payroll, has moved throughout Prime’s departments in his 11 years with the company. Here are some of his highlights:

2008 Ryker and his team founded the TWIC program, bringing advanced technology and more efficient port entry to Prime drivers.

March 2016 After working alongside Steve Field, Ryker moved to the Safety Department to work for Field, promoting and advancing the safety of Prime’s fleet and drivers.

Fall 2016 In Ryker’s 10th year with Prime, he attended the 10-year dinner and received a plaque in recognition of his career with the company.

Winter 2016 While in the Safety Department, Ryker and a co-worker presented at the stakeholders dinners at all three terminals, sharing an update on the progress and trajectory of the Safety Department.

January 2017 Ryker moved from the Safety Department into his current role as Director of Payroll, a position that directly affects each driver in the company.

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A simple salute Shining a light on Prime employees who have served the United States through military service.

JOE HOOVER

CHRIS FITZGERALD

JAKE MORRIS

Military History: William “Joe” Hoover joined the U.S. Army in October 1991. During the next 20 years, he served as a combat engineer, a position that consisted mainly of clearing routes for Army convoys and in later years looking for roadside bombs and IEDs. During his time in the Army, Hoover earned eight Army Achievement Medals and a Bronze Star and was deployed to two tours in Bosnia, one in Kosovo and two in Iraq. He was also stationed in Germany and South Korea and domestically in Georgia and Missouri. Hoover retired with the rank of staff sergeant and went to work in the trucking industry.

Military History: Christopher Fitzgerald spent five years in the U.S. Army from January 1998 to January 2003. A knee injury limited his time and rank in the Army, but while enlisted he served as a radio and communications security repair soldier, which entailed fixing, maintaining and operating communications tools. He was stationed in Germany with a rapid-deployment unit, and during that time he worked missions across eastern Europe. Following that he was stationed at the “Alternate Pentagon” in Fort Detrick, Maryland, which was a key strategic location following the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Fitzgerald earned the Army Achievement Medal, the Army Good Conduct Medal, a National Defense Service Medal, the Army Service Ribbon and the Overseas Service Ribbon during his military career.

Military Experience: Unlike our other two veterans highlighted in this issue, Jake Morris is currently serving in the Army Reserve. Since 2012, he’s been a military police officer, reaching the rank of first lieutenant. He served as platoon leader for a military police company for a year in Bakersfield, California, and is the executive officer for B Company, 1st 354—the unit he currently commands in Springfield, Missouri. His unit supports basic training efforts during the busier summer months. During his service, Jake has earned the Army Achievement Medal, the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge, the National Defense Service Ribbon and the Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal.

Prime History: Hoover went to work as a driver as soon as he was out of the military; his father had been in trucking for 30 years, and his brother was a 14-year veteran who eventually recruited Hoover to Prime in 2013. Now based in Springfield, Missouri, Hoover serves as a Prime Student Trainer for new drivers. The Texas native takes pride in staying on task and having the freedom to get from point A to point B with minimal oversight.

In his own words: “Prime tells me where to go, and then it’s up to me to do that. The big things are freedom and the people. Next to the military, Prime is the biggest family-oriented company I’ve ever been associated with.”

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PRIME WAYS

Prime History: Fitzgerald has been a programmer/ analyst for Prime since May 2014. Just as in his military career, Fitzgerald is tasked with designing and supporting the systems that keep Prime running and keep drivers and operational teams connected.

“My favorite part of the job is being able to create a process and then see it in action and then knowing that it is working to better the company,” he says.

In his own words: “Military life is where I give all credit to who I am today. It instilled discipline, respect, a sense of purpose, confidence and mental training I needed to be successful as a civilian.

It also provided me with the funds to go back to college and obtain two degrees [associate of arts and an associate degree in computer information technology].”

Prime History: Morris has worked for Prime since 2014 as an Intermodal Fleet Manager for the West Coast. His tasks have included training and development, carrier onboarding and implementing new systems. He works on training documents for drivers, in-house associates and customers as well as setting up drayage carriers for cross-country intermodal loads.

In his own words: “No two days are ever the same.

There is always something that you can learn or work on to not only better yourself, but the team as a whole. This applies to both the Army and the transportation industry.

Photos courtesy Joe Hoover, Chris Fitzgerald, Jake Morris

BY MATT LEMMON

The Roundup Woman's best friend, Piper, keeps driver Tiffany Hanna company while on the road.

PROTECTED PUPS Prime’s Springfield terminal provides a temporary dog kennel for drivers who bring their pets on the road with them—a great alternative to leaving canine companions crammed in a hotel room. BY ASIA KEY While you’re traveling the country this summer, make time in your schedule to soak up some sunshine at these truck-friendly outdoor locations recommended by drivers.

BY ROSE MARTHIS

Marble Canyon, Arizona

Ventura, California

Photos courtesy Shutterstock, by Brandon Alms

Photos courtesy Joe Hoover, Chris Fitzgerald, Jake Morris

“One of my favorite secluded yet absolutely beautiful places to stop is at Navajo Bridge where Highway 89A crosses the Colorado River at Marble Canyon, Arizona,” says Matthew Damm, a flatbed independent contractor. The canyon has two steel arch bridges side by side. The first was built in 1929, but it was designated for pedestrian traffic only when vehicles required a larger roadway, hence the new bridge. “The old bridge is open to pedestrians and offers a stunning view of Marble Canyon and the Colorado River below,” he says. “There is truck parking at the village of Marble Canyon about a half mile west of the bridge. There is also a motel, cafe, gift store and convenience store.”

Along the Pacific Coast Highway there are areas for RVs and trucks to pull off to the side of the road. Pay attention to designated spots, but Michael Delcour, flatbed independent contractor, recommends Route 101 in Ventura, California. “You can stop right alongside and swim to your heart’s content,” he says. The Trucker Path App can be a good tool for finding appropriate parking.

Pine Mountain, Georgia Refrigerated Independent Contractor Shirazzi Geye recommends the Pine Mountain, Georgia, area for its array of attractions in one spot. Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park is Georgia’s

largest park and is home to picnic spots, sweeping valley views and the Pine Mountain Trail—a great spot for hopping out of the truck for a hike.

The park has a pool and holds many events, so parking spots fill quickly, and park staff recommends drivers call ahead to ensure space to park.

Get even more time in the great outdoors at the Callaway Gardens, home to magnolias, azaleas and more.

Manhattan, New York When you visit the Big Apple, Tom Gardner, a refrigerated independent contractor, says to make time to visit Times Square and Madison Square Garden. “You can park your tractor at the Vince Lombardi Travel Plaza and then take public transportation into the location,” he says. Take in entertaining music performances, comedy acts and museum tours in the most famous town square in the country, and even if you visit The Garden when there’s not a concert or sporting event, you can take a tour of the venue for an insider’s look at the history of the arena.

Twin Falls, Idaho If you find yourself in southern Idaho, take Highway 30 through Twin Falls.

“There is scenic view parking where you can get many great pictures,” says James Sperry, a refrigerated company driver. Just a short walk from the Travelers Oasis Truck Plaza in Eden, Idaho, offers views of the Snake River and canyon around it.

I

t’s nice to have a companion on cross-country trips.

Luckily, Prime makes it easy for drivers to do just that.

Owner and dog lover Robert Low started providing temporary shelter for a driver’s best friend three years ago, and it turned out to be a great thing for Prime associates and pups alike. The four kennels are half turf, half concrete and 25 yards long. The locked pens stand at 6 feet tall to protect the dogs inside and to give owners added peace of mind while they take classes or rest at the hotel. To use the kennel, simply check in with Drivers’ Lineup and provide your name, truck number, telephone number and the name and breed of your four-legged friend, and staff will provide you with a key to the kennel. All they ask is that you provide food and water for your pet and check in daily.

ONE MAN’S TRASH…

Sometimes a bumpy ride can cause damage to the delivery, but these drivers don’t dump refused freight. They donate it. BY ASIA KEY

T

he drivers at Prime Inc. understand that a struggling family who can’t remember the last time they’ve had a meal would appreciate a bunch of apples, or ground beef, or baby formula—even if the package these foods came in somehow became dented or torn. Refused freight can be anything the receiver considers damaged and can include fresh produce like fruits and vegetables, refrigerated items like yogurt and biscuits, frozen foods like ice cream and TV dinners, or even organic milk and baby food. As long as the food is safe for consumption, Prime associates deliver refused freight to wherever there is a need. Food banks, soup kitchens, churches, rescue missions, homeless shelters and fire stations often receive this refused freight. South entral Regional laims Associate Donna Ewing encourages drivers and in-house staff to donate damaged freight instead of dumping it because she recognizes the great need in the community. “To feed the homeless and families that are down on their luck should be important to everyone,” Ewing says.

PRIME WAYS

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day in the life

The Common

Thread Prime Inc.’s top-notch uniforms and custom apparel are united by one thread: Teddy Mitchell’s craftsmanship.

B

ehind every uniform, patch and hat that reads “Prime” is Teddy “Ted” Mitchell. Mitchell has been the one-man operation for Prime-related embroidery for more than 15 years. His handiwork includes the Safety Award Patches, personalized Prime wear and much more.

Woven throughout Mitchell’s day are the operations, machines and people that make his craft possible.

M orning “If my friends from work were writing this, they’d say ‘ 8 :05 , he drinks his fourth cup of coffee,’” itchell jokes. itchell’s office, a workshop lined with 13 Barudan Embroidery Machines, has two long tables in the middle piled with unaltered clothing. The job is nonstop; Mitchell starts on his 15 0 pieces for the day, give or take 30 custom orders Prime Team members can request.

“The level of excitement for these is very high,” Mitchell says, looking at the bomber jackets awarded to the drivers who have gone one, two or even five years without an accident. He prioritizes the special, single pieces that often symbolize someone’s career.

Mitchell juggles customer service, research and his work. The automated machines begin churning away at special requests. Mitchell checks his emails for more requests, Prime events or updates from Barudan on the latest advancements in embroidery technology.

N oon “Every day at 12:30, we go over and play basketball,” Mitchell says. “It is really cool that Robert [ ow, ] is out there every day.” At the Prime headquarters, the gym and lounge are filled with people greeting itchell and wearing his work.

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PRIME WAYS

Every day the one-man embroidery shop, run by Teddy Mitchell, churns out more than 150 pieces of Primebranded apparel and custom embroidered apparel, like the jackets pictured here.

Mitchell makes the rounds at the headquarters: the Prime day care where his kids went, the gym where he plays basketball and the store where his work hangs for sale. “Everywhere I go, I see everything I do,” Mitchell says. There will be plenty more, too, as a line of Prime team members is starting to queue at his workshop.

E vening The day comes to a close, but Mitchell’s 5 5 -hour weeks have demanding deadlines.

Events such as the Driver Advisory Board meetings need corresponding apparel to be finished as soon as possible.

Mitchell entered the embroidery craft nearly 20 years ago when the luggage company he worked for landed large contracts with airlines that needed matching uniforms and luggage. Years later, Mitchell has mastered the machines, checking their oil, thread, software and functionality. Mitchell’s industry knowledge comes from the designers and salespeople of Barudan—and from his own experience.

Mitchell meets as much of the demand of nearly 7 ,000 Prime team members as possible. He then lays out tomorrow’s work on his table. “The job is nonstop, but it means a lot to these people,” Mitchell says.

Mitchell reconvenes with his wife, who works in leasing. They go home for family time, which includes watching his kids’ basketball games and playing golf. The lights in Mitchell’s shop are rarely off, and his passion for the people he serves is the same.

MITCHELL’S TOP PROJECTS TRICK MY TRUCK APPAREL When Chrome Shop Mafia entered the TV realm, a huge demand for branded apparel came Mitchell’s way. Mitchell and a trainee went on and off 12-hour shifts for a month to meet the need.

1 MILLION MILE SAFETY AWARDS Across the wall at Prime headquarters is the hall of fame featuring those that have driven a million miles with no incident. For every award, there is a jacket custom-made by Mitchell.

2006 KENTUCKY DERBY Robert and Lawana Low had a horse, Steppenwolfer, that ran in the Kentucky Derby.

Not only was Mitchell part of the group that went to watch Steppenwolfer, he also made a few hundred hats and shirts.

1-YEAR SAFETY AWARD JACKETS The first year at Prime with no driving incident is a rite of passage for many. Drivers come in on the exact anniversary and hope for their jacket to get finished the same day. Mitchell loves not only the enthusiasm but also the custom options available. Nicknames like “Wolfman” or “Snowflake” can be added along with extras such as the American flag.

Photos by Brandon Alms

BY CASEY A. STRUBLE

customer spotlight

Growing Together

Prime’s Tanker Division distributes AAK products around the country, including a variety of oils and vegetable fats for food ingredients.

On this page, we’ll introduce you to some of Prime Inc.’s long-standing customer partners. This issue, we talked to Eric Allie, Tanker Division Sales Coordinator for the Northeast Region, and Brett Levander, Director, Supply Chain AAK USA and Canada, about the relationship with AAK, a Swedish company that distributes refined vegetable oils.

BY ROSE MARTHIS

Illustration by Ryan Saunders

E

ric Allie compares the relationship between Prime Inc. and AAK to marriage: They’ve been together in good times and bad and have grown a lot together, he says. Prime has had a long-standing dedicated relationship with AAK for years and the constant support has allowed both companies to grow exponentially. There has been a 60 percent growth in volume since 2010. AAK is one of Prime' s top three tanker customers, meaning the number of trucks carrying AAK ’s products nationwide has continued to increase year after year. The company has facilities in Port Newark, New Jersey; Louisville, K entucky; and Richmond, California. The locations are especially beneficial for the ortheast regional eet, where some of Prime’s drivers solely move loads for AAK .

One of AAK ’s main products is the foodgrade line, and that is where Prime comes in.

Prime’s tanker division transports palm oil, coconut oil and oil blends across the country to food manufacturers. AAK is the world’s leading producer of specialty vegetable fats, and its products are used for food ingredients, confectionary fats, technical products and feed and in cosmetics. The 13-year relationship between Prime and AAK has seen both high points and low points. When Hurricane Sandy hit the Northeast in 2012, AAK ’s production

plant was ooded. “I caught a ight about a month after and worked up there on sight to help,” Allie says. “The exibility that we can offer shows the comradery between the two companies.” Levander agrees, noting that

“We work together to win, but more importantly we work together to solve problems.”

— BRETT LEVANDER, Director, Supply Chain AAK USA and Canada people are the most important asset to both companies. “It’s the strength of the relationship between people that form the foundation of success,” he says. “We work together to win, but more importantly we work together to solve problems.”

Allie says AAK is such a valued customer partner of Prime’s because the companies’

partnership demonstrates how long-standing relationships between two companies allow both to ourish. “We’ve seen since the inception of the business the amount of growth on both sides outlines how dedicated customers can help that,” he says. Levander has also seen the relationships get stronger by working with the same associates since he started in 2011.

And even when the people he does work with changes, consistency is there. For example, the drivers who load from AAK ’s facilities have been able to improve the way both companies do business by working closely with the people at the sites, he says. “Prime drivers are the best in the business,” evander says. “They are the touchpoint to the customer for my company in many cases. I am confident in the training and leadership and commitment of the Prime organization that develops the best representation for my company on a daily basis.”

On the surface, the partnership is between Prime Inc. and AAK . But when you really look at the relationship of the two companies, you’ll see the true partnership is between the people who work for both. Cooperative team members and collaboration have allowed both companies to be challenged to grow, innovate and improve, a fact that is not lost to those in leadership roles. “I’m always proud to say we’re partners,” Levander says.

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TRUCKS & TECH | JUNE 2017

how we roll

For the Love of the Team

BY SAVANNAH WASZCZUK

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PRIME WAYS

Photos by Vivian Wheeler

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ow a team of husband-and-wife drivers, and then a random phone call to him eventually Jeremy and Tammy Somerville credit Prime being the first person I talked to in the morning Inc. for their relationship. “We actually met and the last person I talked to at night,” Tammy at the main terminal in Springfield,” Jeremy says. And as their relationship continued to blossays. “But I had a girlfriend at the time, so I wasn’t som, they decided to go for it. “We had talked really looking for anything back then.” But by the about running team together before,” Tammy says. time the two randomly crossed paths again in “I said, ‘If you’re serious, I’m going to get out of this Pittston two months later, things had changed. truck.’”

“She was there getting her own truck,” Jeremy The two were married in October 2015, and says. The two chatted again, and this time they they’ve happily spent their honeymoon period exchanged phone numbers before they headed seeing the country from the cab of their shared out in separate directions. big rigs—the latest a 2017 Freightliner that tied for As time progressed, so did the couple’s conver- first place in 2016’s Pride and Polish Competition sations. “It went from me getting a random text in Springfield.

A SOUND DECISION Jeremy is originally from Seattle, and now it’s the city that they each call home. That’s why it was an obvious choice to deck out their truck with the theme of a Seattle sports team. “First we were thinking about the Seahawks, but I noticed about 10 trucks with Seahawks,” Jeremy says. “Then [Tammy] said, ‘How about the Sounders?’” The decision was made—the entire truck is outfitted with the logo and colors of the Seattle soccer team. All of the custom work was done by Stripes and Stuff of Springfield, Missouri.

TURN IT UP The couple tricked out the truck’s dash to fit their preference, which included the addition of a custom after-market stereo system that makes the cab feel like a night club. “It’s made the side of the sleeper flex and rattled the load bars,” Jeremy says.

WHEEL APPEAL Everything on the Somersvilles’ truck is a step above, and that includes the shiny stainless steel lugnut covers that make even the wheels sparkle on their way down the highway.

WITH THIS RING Tammy and Jeremy have matching Prime Inc. rings that they received from the company as a thanks to two years of being on time. “The women get to pick white gold or gold, but the guys don’t,” Tammy says. She chose white gold. “Yeah, but my diamond is bigger,” Jeremy says with a laugh.

GREEN AND BLUE ALL OVER

Photos by Vivian Wheeler

In addition to a custom paint job in blue and rave green, the Somervilles’ truck also features several Seattle Sounders logos. But the team-affiliated fun doesn’t stop there—the Washington-based team is supported by the Emerald City Supporters, and the back of the truck’s sleeper reads “Eternal Blue, Forever Green,” which is from the Emerald City Supporters fight song. “The entire line goes eternal blue, forever green, Sounders till I die,” Jeremy says. The taillight cover is also adorned with a Seattle Sounders plate.

SOUND ASLEEP The truck’s interior is also decked out with the couple’s favorite soccer team. “We brought the outside inside,” Jeremy says. “I think that’s why we won the Pride and Polish competition.” Jeremy drives the day shift, and Tammy drives the night shift, and whoever isn’t behind the wheel gets some rest in the cab’s cozy bed that sits adjacent to a 32-inch TV. All of the interior is outlined in custom LED lighting.

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news with nick

By applying a new coat of perfectly matched paint, John Muskey can make trucks look as good as new after an accident.

Treading On

Painting Pros The success of the paint and body shop at Prime’s Pittston terminal is making drivers happy and opening the door for more shops to open across the country.

BY JANA BOUNDS

Photos by Sean P. Lopez, courtesy Shutterstock

S

ince 2015 , the Pittston, Pennsylvania, terminal has housed an innovative concept for Prime Inc. With an eye toward convenience, efficiency and cost savings for drivers, the terminal is home to the company’s first in-house paint and body shop. Shop Foreman Sean Lopez says the facility operates on a first come, first served basis and is open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week.

“If the driver comes in early enough and the job is not that big, we can get them in and out in the same day,” he says. The shop can do nearly any paint or body work for a truck. “Bigger jobs such as hoods, doors and sidewalls will take longer, and decals will need to be ordered,” Lopez says.

The shop has all the paint codes for trucks, and advanced technology can easily handle matching for a truck with a unique

paint job. “In the rare case that a code does not match, we have a camera attached to our mixing room, which will get us close—if not spot on—to the original,” he says.

It’s been win-win for everyone, opez says. Drivers have been pleased with the convenience and results. “We take pride in getting their trucks looking like new again, and we try our best to fulfill our company’s policy of doing our best, doing what’s right and treating others the way we want to be treated,” he says.

The success of this body shop has paved the way for one to open in the Salt Lake City terminal, which is currently under construction, and Lopez believes it should be up and running sometime this year.

Drivers interested in using the paint and body shop can call the Pittston Body Shop at 570-602-4770 with any questions.

EcoTire Treading Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Prime Inc., creates quality remanufactured tires that are easy on your wallet and the environment.

BY SAVANNAH WASZCZUK

A

ny driver knows that fuel and tires are the two biggest expenses of a career behind the wheel. Of course, there’s still no real way to control the price we pay at the pump, but in 2014, Prime Inc. started EcoTire Treading Company, a truck tire retreading and remanufacturing business, to help with the cost of tires. “EcoTire Treading is a wholly owned subsidiary of Prime Inc. that recaps their used truck and trailer tires,” says Nick Forte, Prime’s National Fleet Maintenance Manager. “When a tire comes to the end of its life, and all the rubber is worn off, you’d typically have to buy new ones,” Forte says. “But we take them to our remanufacturing facility and essentially put new rubber on them so they can get new tread and be used again.” These remanufactured tires have a lower rolling resistance and cost around $500 each, which is about $400 less than the cost of a new tire.

Because they’re made by a Prime subsidiary located near the headquarters in Springfield, Missouri, quality control is top-notch, and the entire process allows Prime to be eco-friendly. “We’re not just taking old tires and throwing them in the landfill,” Forte says. “We’re being good stewards to the environment as well.”

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Jewels Franks's basil and tomato bow tie pasta is easy to make and leaves virtually no dishes to clean.

WELLNESS | JUNE 2017

be well

Eating Right on the Road

J

ewels Franks just celebrated her oneyear Prime anniversary. Driving a reefer is a world apart from her former career as a massage therapist. Her physical work, along with coaching and playing volleyball, took a toll on her body over the years. “I’ve been watching people driving trucks all my life, and I love a challenge,” she says.

Another challenge on the road is staying healthy. Franks got to a point where she just couldn’t eat another burger or hot dog. “I just snapped,” she says. “I was done.” She decided to start

cooking healthy meals in her truck. Her goal is to have zero dishes to clean. Franks even cuts her food with a pocketknife. “I’m a trucker,” she says. “My job is priority.

My second priority is eating healthy.

You’re too tired to think about dishes.”

One of her favorite meals is basil and tomato bow tie pasta. “I make it quite a bit because it’s so easy and filling,” she says. “It’s very tasty, light and delicious.” The meal is made in a lunchbox oven, available at most truck stops. The food tins are sold in packs of three for 8 8 cents at Walmart.

“My job is priority.

My second priority is eating healthy."

—Jewels Franks

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Photos courtesy Shutterstock, Jewels Franks

Jewels Franks defies truck stop food with healthy fare made right in her lunchbox oven. Here she shares her easy-to-make favorite: basil and tomato bow tie pasta (with optional chicken).

Meanwhile, Randee Lewis shares how he stays fit with a daily routine of exercise and healthy eating on the truck. BY JULIE SEDENKO DAVIS

Basil and Tomato Bow Tie Pasta Ingredients 1 cup dried bow tie pasta Water 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 pinch dried minced garlic Salt and pepper 2 plum tomatoes, sliced Mushrooms to taste, optional cup pre-cooked chicken breast, optional (pre-grilled marinated chicken is available at Walmart) 12 fresh basil leaves, or 2 teaspoons basil in a tube ¼ – ½ cup shredded mozzarella

Photos courtesy Randee Lewis, Shutterstock, by Andrea Mueller

To Prepare Heat oven to 35 0° F. In lunchbox tin, put dry pasta in and cover with water by about ¼ inch. Open lid occasionally to stir pasta. Once cooked, set aside. In a separate tin, heat olive oil, garlic, salt and pepper.

Cook until garlic darkens and becomes fragrant. Add tomatoes plus chicken and mushrooms, if using. Cook until tomatoes are soft and warm and the skin starts to peel. Add basil and cook until warm. Add pasta to sauce and stir to mix. Cover top of pasta with shredded mozzarella then put in oven until cheese is melted.

Randee Lewis has been a Prime driver for the past five years, recently making the switch from atbed trucks to reefers.

Athletics, exercise and working out have always been part of his life. e was determined that wouldn’t change when he was on the road. “It makes a big difference if you eat healthy, but you do have to exercise as well,” Lewis says.

Lewis gets a lot of pointers from Prime’s fitness coach as well as from YouTube and Instagram. He uses the My Fitness Pal app, which gives him a guide to the number of calories he should take in according to his ideal weight.

Over the years, Lewis has managed to find a rhythm to his life. Here, he shares a typical day of meals. e recommends eating every two to three hours and working out three times a day (b ut only for four minutes! ). It’s a routine that’s helped him maintain a healthy, active lifestyle as a truck driver.

Breakfast Lewis focuses on quick, easy things he can make on the truck. “Yogurt is small—you can keep quite a few in your refrigerator,” he says. “Sausage links you can buy in a pack of 20. They can last about a week, and you can make them right in your microwave.” ewis says it’s okay to eat a little more for breakfast. “You don’t want to come to your last meal and consume too many calories as you get ready to lie down.”

His meal: reek yogurt, 100-calorie portion Two eggs cooked in the microwave or a skillet. He also suggests Egg Beaters from the carton sausage links or 4 turkey bacon strips 1 banana Water to drink If there’s no time for breakfast, Lewis makes a quick protein shake. e sometimes uses this as a late snack after dinner if he’s had a heavier workout.

Protein shake: 1– 2 scoops whey protein, your choice of avor. ewis uses two scoops if he’s had a good workout.

8 ounces almond milk Ice, optional if you want a thicker shake ewis blends all the ingredients in a utriBullet, but he says you can use any cup with a blender on top.

Snacks Lewis varies his morning and afternoon snacks but makes sure whatever he’s snacking on has protein. Some of his go-to options are protein bars—half or whole.

There are plenty of brands, but Lewis prefers the Builders Protein Bar. He often reaches for pistachios and divides a jar into sandwich bags based on the jar’s suggested serving size for easy, portion-controlled snacking throughout the day. If he hasn’t had a protein shake for breakfast (s ee recipe above), ewis will sometimes whip one up as a late afternoon or evening snack.

“It makes a big difference if you eat healthy, but you do have to exercise as well.”

—Randee Lewis

Randee Lewis's lunches always include protein, plenty of veggies and a carbohydrate, like sweet potatoes.

tions for a healthy and filling meal. is lunches always include protein. is suggestions include 8-ounce pre-cooked grilled chicken patties available at Walmart and microwaved per the package directions; one serving of blackened salmon available in the frozen section (t hese usually come two per box); or beef fajitas, divided according to the box’s suggested serving sizes. ewis makes sure to get a full serving of vegetables, but he says you can eat as many veggies as you like. Some of his favorites are crinkled carrots, steamable broccoli from the frozen section, green beans and peas. His lunches include a carbohydrate, like red potatoes from the frozen section; sweet potatoes from the produce department microwaved or cooked in a toaster oven or skillet, or cut up with salt and pepper and cooked like French fries; or white or brown rice cooked in a microwaveable bowl. For a little fat, Lewis will cut up one avocado into four quarters and eat one quarter per meal, saving the rest for another meal. To avoid any unnecessary sugars, Lewis washes down his lunch with water instead of a sports or soft drink.

Dinner Lewis repeats his lunch menu without the carbohydrate unless he’s had an extra-hard workout that day. He will double up on vegetables if skipping the carbs.

Lunch For his midday meal, ewis has plenty of suggesPRIME WAYS

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the workout

leading by example From bullied to buff, Prime driver Larry Hinex changed his life and hopes to motivate others to change theirs, too.

Illustration by Ryan Saunders; Photos courtesy Larry Hinex

BY JULIE SEDENKO DAVIS

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H

Illustration by Ryan Saunders; Photos courtesy Larry Hinex

is name is arry inex, but growing up in Shawnee, Oklahoma, kids often called him “Tubby,” “Fat Boy” and other names. They said he’d always be fat. Instead of being angry, Hinex used those experiences to better himself. He decided not to spend his life being overweight. “Ever since then I had a fire in me that’s been blazing,” says Hinex, a flatbed driver with Prime Inc. “It’s still in me today.”

That fire was stoked just months before high school graduation when inex’s father died. A construction worker, his dad suffered two heart attacks and a stroke.

“Seeing my dad in that casket, it did something to me,” Hinex says. “He didn’t take time to take care of himself. I decided I’m going to take time to care for myself, no matter how hard it is.”

Resorting to comfort food is common when life is hard, especially for drivers spending their lives on the road. “Every time things go wrong, they pull over to TA or Pilot and get Twinkies or chips,” he says. “You can’t resort to that. You have to change your mindset.” Being healthy isn’t a phase, Hinex says; it’s a lifestyle.

“You don’t just do it when you want to do it,” he says. “Even when life is tough, I stay on my diet, I go to the gym. It’s programmed in my mind.”

“You’ve got one body, one mind, one spirit. Hold yourself accountable to take care of it.”

—Larry Hinex

A former personal trainer, Hinex isn’t used to the risk of obesity that too often comes with trucking. Many drivers don’t care anymore, he says. But Hinex has one piece of advice for drivers: “Love yourself.

Just love yourself. Be healthy. You’ve got one body, one mind, one spirit. Hold yourself accountable to take care of it.”

 Larry Hinex uses social media, including his Instagram account, to share inspiration through photos of his own fitness journey.

 Even when he's on the road as a flatbed driver for Prime, Hinex catches an Uber to a nearby gym for a workout.

Hinex used the taunts of his childhood bullies to motivate him to lead a life of fitness and health.

time. He allows himself a cheat meal Start with the basics, Hinex says. “A lot every seven to 10 days. “I might get a couof truck stops have big parking lots. Just ple slices of pizza or a spaghetti plate,” he get out and walk 20 to 30 minutes. Get says. “It’s normally in the middle of the your heart rate up to where you break a day when energy levels are high.” good sweat.” After walking for a couple Looking at Hinex, it’s obvious he’s of weeks, add bodyweight exercises like come a long way from being called “Tubpushups or dips using the truck’s step board. “Pick a number, maybe 25 or 30, by.” But those childhood experiences still impact the man and father he is today. and commit to doing that three days a week,” Hinex says. “Then walk. As you get “You can tell a child to eat vegetables, but if you’re eating Boston cream cake, what stronger, increase the reps.” inex sometimes takes ber to a near- do you think they’re going to do? ” he asks. by gym. He’ll use Google Maps to find one. “K ids go by what they see—by actions.

“I park no more than 5 to 10 minutes from Anything your kids see they emulate.” a gym,” he says. If there’s no fitness cen- Together, the Hinex family makes sure they lead an athletic life. His wife does ter nearby Hinex makes do. “I just break rossFit and runs track, and the kids enmy chains out,” he says. “Tarps. Bungees. joy playing basketball.

Pushups. I know how to train using my When a person is out of shape, workbodyweight as resistance.” ing out can seem intimidating. “Don’t Raised in a black community, Hinex lived on chitlins and other soul food. worry about what others think,” he says.

“That’s full of grease and high levels of “Worry about what you see. What you think of yourself. You know you have a cholesterol,” he says. “The way we’ve problem, and only you can fix it.” Hinex been raised and taught to eat, you gotta believes any truck driver can do it. “They change it.” If people train hard but don’t eat right, the effort is wasted. “The work- can change if they want to change.” To help, he started a YouTube channel called outs you do are going down the drain.”

Deizel Da Motivator.

Chicken is a big part of Hinex’s diet. He His final encouragement? “Every day, stocks up with a couple of bags of Tyson life is a fight,” Hinex says. “Love yourself. chicken, a bag of kale, spinach, green You gotta believe in yourself. Be a warrior, beans, sweet potato chunks and rice. But a conqueror.” he knows no one eats perfectly all the PRIME WAYS

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Prime

GIVES BACK

BY SAVANNAH WASZCZUK • ILLUSTRATIONS BY RYAN SAUNDERS

W

hether they’re sitting at a desk or propped up behind the wheel, each and every one of Prime Inc.’s associates puts in long, hard hours each week. That’s why it’s even more impressive to learn about the number of them who choose to spend their free time giving back. Charity motorcycle rides, volunteering for Big Brothers Big Sisters and joining the national fight against human trafficking are just a few of the ways Prime associates are making a difference in their communities and around the globe.

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For the Kids himself was fortunate growing up, but he There’s nothing better than being a kid knew there were many children who weren’t. on hristmas morning. After finding the That’s why he started reaching out to fampresents that magically appeared under ilies in need. “Years ago I always adopted a the tree overnight, there are a few minutes family around Christmastime,” Davis says. of crazed excitement before you tear one open, and for the first time ever you see this “I thought all kids should have a gift to open on Christmas, if for nothing else just to give brand-new gift that you know is yours to them hope. I knew that it would only be a keep. For a few moments, you forget about week, or maybe even a day, before the new everything else in the world. You get lost in wore off. But at least they could build memthe excitement, all because of one new gift. ories off that—they could build hope for a As Prime Inc.’s Regional Sales Coordinator Todd Davis grew older, he re- better day.”

As time passed, Davis became even more alized that not every kid has such a magical passionate about giving back. “I started to Christmas morning experience. Sure, he

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As he gets older, our interactions are different. Now it’s all about being a good role model.”

— TODD DAVIS

Photo courtesy Todd Davis

Todd Davis has been volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters for almost three years and has been Tayshaun Wells's big brother the whole time. They usually spend their time playing basketball, working on homework or out eating Tayshaun's favorite food, chicken wings.

ask myself, what can I do to give more? ,” than just once a year at Christmas. “I’ve been volunteering with Big Brothers Big Davis says. “I still believed that a Christmas gift on Christmas morning was important, Sisters for two-and-a-half years,” Davis says. And he’s been great with the program. but what more could I be doing? How “We matched Todd with a kid that matched much more of an impact could I provide? ” with his interests,” says Chelsea Dykman, This led Davis to Big Brothers Big V ice President of Programs at Big Brothers Sisters of the Ozarks, the Big Brothers Big Big Sisters of the Ozarks. “His little was Sisters affiliation located in his hometown missing a positive male role model in his of Springfield, issouri. As the nation’s largest donor- and volunteer-support- life, and Todd filled that void.” Throughout this time volunteering with the organizaed mentoring network, Big Brothers Big tion, Davis has had had one Little Brother: Sisters was just the place to hook Davis Tayshaun Wells. “When I first started, I up with a child in need—a child who could started out with a different approach,” benefit from his time and attention more

Davis says. “We did homework together, and we had play time.” But as Tayshaun has grown, so has their relationship. “As he gets older, our interactions are different,” Davis says. “Now it’s all about being a good role model. He is a great athlete—a lot of his life is geared around sports. So I’ll go and watch a lot of his games.” Davis also helps support Tayshaun in his studies, and he takes him out to eat—often to enjoy his favorite food. “He absolutely loves wings,” Davis says. “Any time I’ll say, ‘ Hey, man, you hungry? ’ he’ll say, ‘ Yeah. You want to get some wings? ’ I think we’ve hit up every place in town that serves them.”

In addition to dozens and dozens of wings, Tayshaun also gets a positive role model out of their relationship, and Davis gets something for himself as well. “It reminds me of how priceless it is to recognize the innocence in life,” Davis says. “It’s so easy to get caught up in our everyday lives.

You don’t need to get caught up in those things. You need to be appreciative of what you have and what you can give. It’s amazing how much I’ve learned. I’ve gotta say, it’s been as much of a blessing for my life as it has been for my little guy’s life.”

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A love for kiddos was also one of the reasons independent contractor and driver Thomas iller began giving back. is experience was a bit more personal, though. “I had a 4-year-old cousin that was diagnosed with a rare liver cancer,” iller says. This cousin—Sam Biggs—passed away. But the family keeps his memory alive with an annual motorcycle ride and poker run for the Sam Biggs emorial Foundation.

The annual motorcycle show and poker run was started in 2014 after Sam was diagnosed with cancer. “Every year, some friends and I would get together with our girls and do what we call ‘ Daddy’s Day Ride,’” iller says. “It was something that my daughter ackenzie and I would do with some friends and their daughters.

Well, that year we came up with the idea to charge for the ride to raise money for Sam’s family.” And it wasn’t just the dads doing the work. “It was the girls who really started it,” iller says of his daughter and her friend, Alexis Scroggins. “Having these two 12-year-old girls get it before most adults do is what pushed me so hard on that. That was a huge, huge motivator for me. Just to see their eyes light up when somebody would give a $ 5 bill. There’s an incredible wow factor to that. We raised almost $1,000 that first year.”

The event has grown a lot since 2014.

There are several industry-affiliated businesses involved now, including Peterbilt of Springfield and Springfield Freightliner

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Sales Inc., who act as sponsors. And when it comes to involvement, many Prime associates participate—a lot of them pay to ride.

“There are easily 5 0 people who regularly ride bikes here, maybe more,” says Larry Bowman, Prime Inc.’s local operations associate, who’s worked for the company for 30 years. Bowman reignited his personal love of riding after he turned the big 6-0, as he puts it, and he’ll quickly admit he loves any reason to get on his motorcycle—even if it’s just to ride into work. But when he’s riding for a cause, he likes it even more.

“It just feels good to give back to people,” Bowman says.

While Sam’s ride raises money for childhood cancer awareness and research and can potentially touch the lives of many families around the country, Bowman and the other riders also hop on their bikes for other causes—several that are closer to home and organized by the guys themselves. There was a driver, Chad Daniels, who was killed in Baltimore. “We organized a ride for him around here,” Bowman says of himself and some Prime associates.

“We put the word out to get some riders together, and we rode to raise some money for his family.” And when Prime associate Charlie Smith died overnight in his sleep, Bowman and the other riders held a similar ride to raise funds for Smith’s family.

“He’d worked here for many, many years,” Bowman says of Smith. “We had that big ride for him to raise money for his wife and

his kids. We did it pretty quickly after he died, because we wanted to make sure we could help out right away. We’re not really able to give them a huge check, but we can give them that little bit to help them over.

Every little bit helps.”

We’re not really able to give them a huge check, but we can give them that little bit to help them over. Every little bit helps.”

—LARRY BOWMAN When they aren’t busy with events they organize themselves, Bowman and the other riders cruise for even more causes—they ride for the Special Olympics in Joplin, issouri, and they also ride in an area veterans’ parade. Whether it’s helping other associates or helping the community, all of these associates like to give back. “It feels good,” Bowman says. “Especially when it’s for people closer to us like Charlie and Chad Daniels.”

Photo courtesy Thomas Miller

Riding for a Reason

Alexis Scroggins; her dad, Donnie Scroggins; Brylie Chrisman; Thomas Miller; and his daughter Mackenzie gather every year to ride in a memorial event the girls organized for Thomas's cousin, Sam Biggs.

Photos courtesy Thomas Miller

Photo courtesy Thomas Miller

The Fight Against Human Trafficking Thomas iller’s desire to give back doesn’t stop after he parks his motorcycle in the garage. In fact, he has been involved in several other organizations throughout the years. A lot of this involvement was widely recognized in 2013 when he was nominated as a member of America’s Road Team, a national public outreach program led by a small group of professional truck drivers who share superior driving skills, remarkable safety records and a strong desire to spread the word about safety on the highway. There were 3,200 drivers nominated that year, and iller was one of the 15 selected. iller dedicated 0 to 40 hours a month to America’s Road Team duties during the two years in which he was a member. “One day I may be at a high school teaching high school students how to safely drive a truck, and the next I may be on Capitol Hill testifying in front of the F SA (Federal otor Carrier Safety Administration) about something,” iller says of his experience.

Although he’s no longer on the road team full-time, he dedicates about 30 to 40 hours a year to the organization. “It’s kind of like the army,” iller says. “You have two years of active duty, then you’re in reserve.”

An organization iller first learned about through America’s Road Team and is still passionate about today is Truckers Against Trafficking (TAT), a nonprofit that educates, equips, empowers and mobilizes individuals in the trucking industry to fight human trafficking. “I was pretty impressed with the organization and all the efforts that they put into combating trafficking,” iller says.

Four years after learning of TAT, iller was invited to work an event with the or-

Thomas Miller shows off the show trailer for Freedom Drivers Project (top). Inside, Miller demonstrates to Minnesota lawmakers what it is like to drive a truck on a simulator (middle).

After the demonstration, Miller met with Nate Wick, America’s Road Team Captain, at the Minnesota State Capitol (bottom).

ganization’s Freedom Drivers Project—a mobile exhibit created to educate the trucking industry and the general public about the realities of domestic sex trafficking at the Arkansas State Fair. “As I learned the stories represented in that trailer, I had so many different emotions running through me,” iller says.

A moment that still stands out in iller’s mind is meeting a young lady who shared her story with him. “She proceeded to tell me about her experiences in a biker gang where her ‘ boyfriend’ allowed her to be the property of the club,” iller says. “ ow she was passed around and abused by nearly every member of that chapter. She ended our conversation by thanking me and us for doing what we were doing, and she said, ‘ Please don’t stop.’” As a father of two

daughters himself, iller was touched. e wanted to do as much as he could to help educate other drivers about TAT. “After that Arkansas event, I came back to Springfield and started bugging management,” iller says. “I wanted every one of our drivers to be educated about TAT. I wanted to find a way that we could all know about it.”

As of April 2017 , 2,5 00 of Prime Inc.’s drivers had received TAT training. And iller’s voice was just one of many. TAT was also something other Prime executives were passionate about supporting. “We started the training five months ago,” says Brooke osley, Female river iason of Prime Inc. “Every week we train about 120 more people. It’s a part of driver orientation now, but we are also offering it to other drivers who want to be trained.”

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Women Who Give Back

By the NUMBERS A quantitative breakdown of just a few of the ways these particular Prime associates make a difference.

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Reba Hoffman (top) is a retired clinical counselor who started driving and now spends her down time meeting new people, writing about her experiences and giving back. Tammy Campbell and Tiffany Hanna (bottom) are two drivers who are very involved in Prime's Highway Diamonds organization, among other causes.

inspires her at a restaurant, she often picks up their tab, or she buys a person’s cart of groceries at the store, or she simply spends time counseling a person in need.” Another example is Tammy Campbell, this year’s Highway Diamond of the Year. In an effort to bring awareness to cancer in support of

480 Hours Prime Inc.’s Regional Sales Coordinator Todd Davis has spent with his Little Brother, Tayshaun Wells, as a Big Brother volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Ozarks

her friend and former Prime driver Patty Stoddard, who received a terminal pancreatic cancer diagnosis, Campbell colored her hair purple. Campbell also prepared many freezer meals for Stoddard and raised awareness for Stoddard’s o Fund e page, which has raised more than $ 7 ,000.

3,200 1,100 Drivers nominated for America’s Road Team the year Thomas Miller was selected as a member. Only 15 drivers received this honor.

Hours Thomas Miller has spent volunteering with America’s Road Team

700 People Thomas Miller has reached out to about Truckers Against Trafficking

Photos courtesy Brooke Mosley

In addition to educating drivers on TAT, Prime Inc. associates worked together to raise funds for the organization—it was the beneficiary nonprofit of this year’s Highway Diamonds gala. “Every year we pick a charity to help,” osley says. “ ast year we raised money for Driven2Honor.” riven2 onor is a nonprofit corporation with a mission to honor, inspire and empower the nation’s female military members, and they raised a total of $ 1,25 0 for the cause through T-shirt sales at the gala.

But the 2017 gala goal was broadened. “For Truckers Against Trafficking, we wanted all of Prime to be able to participate,” osley says. Before the gala, all associates had the chance to contribute to the $ 5 ,000 goal.

The 8 00 women of Prime’s Highway Diamonds help bring a lot of attention to company-focused fundraising, but the desire to give back certainly doesn’t stop there. “ any of our drivers give back in their own ways,” osley says. ne example is Reba Hoffman, a retired clinical counselor with a Ph.D. who started driving in June 2014.

“Before she started with us, she did a Bike Across America tour for women who are victims of violent acts,” osley says. “Then she decided she loved being on the road, so she became a driver. Reba spends her down time meeting new people and writing about her experiences. If she meets someone who

Lease operator Ryan Robinson borrowed a Prime trailer to haul hay to farmers suffering from wildfires in Kansas and Oklahoma.

For the Farmers Lease operator Ryan Robinson is another Prime associate passionate about helping others. For him, it all started when he was a kid. “ y mom passed away when I was seven,” Robinson says. “Whenever that happened, I didn’t have anywhere to go. y mom was gone, and my dad was in prison. There were people out there helping me.

Since then, anytime I can help someone, that’s what I do.”

Robinson’s latest task involved borrowing a 5 3-foot reefer trailer and loading it with donated hay to help farmers suffering from recent wildfires in ansas and

7,000 2,500 Dollars Thomas Miller and the Sam Biggs Memorial Bike Show & Poker Run have raised for childhood cancer awareness and research

Prime drivers who had received Truckers Against Trafficking training as of April 2017

Oklahoma. “I’m from Edinburg, Ohio, “I said, ‘ Hey, could you guys use another semi and a trailer? ’” Robinson says. “They which is in Portage County,” Robinson said they could easily use it. I asked Prime says. “There’s a market there—Duma’s if I could borrow a trailer, and they apeat arket and they organized a trip to proved it.” The goal was to fill Robinson’s deliver the farmers truckloads of hay.” The truck with 45 ,000 pounds of product, all of first time uma’s organized the effort, they which would have to be unloaded by hand. had a great response. “When it was time to But Robinson didn’t hesitate—he actually deliver, more than 40 trucks showed up to took a few days off from his regular drivhelp,” Robinson says.

When Robinson saw they were organiz- ing job to help out. “I told them that I don’t need anything for it,” Robinson says. “I ing a second event—this time to deliver want them to give it to the people that need more hay along with fencing supplies, milk substitute for cattle and other farming sup- it. I’m at Prime, and Prime treats me well, plies, he knew he wanted to be a part of it. so I can take the time off to help.”

120 Prime drivers who are trained on Truckers Against Trafficking each week

1,250 45,000 5,000 Dollars raised for the Driven2Honor non-profit at the 2016 Highway Diamonds Gala

Pounds of farming supplies Ryan Robinson hauled and delivered to Kansas and Oklahoma to help farmers suffering from recent wildfires

Dollars Prime associates hoped to raise for Truckers Against Trafficking in conjunction with the 2017 Highway Diamonds Gala

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Photo by Brandon Alms

With almost 26 years of driving experience under her belt, Dee Sova is using her success to encourage more women to consider the career path.

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As a lease driver for Prime Inc. and an industry veteran, Dee Sova is using her expertise to help other female drivers do the same.

BY VIVIAN WHEELER

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Dee Sova began her career as a local driver in Stockton, California, in 1991 (left).

Sova's husband William keeps her company as she travels the country driving for Prime (right). Sova gives a thumbs up as she drives through New Jersey (bottom).

three years ago. Sova joined Prime Inc.’s team as a lease driver a little more than a year ago and today can be found crisscrossing the country in her Cascadia Freightliner with her husband, William.

Throughout her long driving career, Sova faced her share of setbacks as a female truck driver. That’s why she dedicates so much of her free time to empowering other female drivers.

Sova runs a Facebook page and a YouTube channel on which she shares her experience and the experience of other female drivers in hopes of encouraging more women to join the field. She says women are well-suited to being drivers because they are the ultimate multitaskers.

“Even though this has been a male-dominated career, women can do so much because they’re able to handle so many different things going on at different times,” Sova says. “Bring that skill into trucking because you’ll need it. You’ll need it to navigate your trip as far as trip plan-

“Even though this has been a male-dominated career, women can do so much because they’re able to handle so many different things going on at different times.”

—Dee Sova

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ning. You’ll need it to understand different time zones. Everything about being a woman just fits into trucking.”

Dee’s Journey Even though today Sova has a thriving career she loves, the road to get there was a bumpy one. At the age of 14, Sova became a mother and moved out on her own. She married a man who became involved with drugs. Her family had been living on welfare, and at that point, Sova knew something needed to change. “I knew I needed to get my life together for my kids,” she says.

In 1991, Sova enrolled in a two-month program at a local truck-driving school and

Photos by Brandon Alms, courtesy Dee Sova

D

ee Sova’s interest in trucking goes all the way back to when she was a little girl growing up in Sacramento, California. The father of one of her childhood friends was a truck driver who would make overnight runs from Sacramento to Reno.

He would often take his daughters on these trips, and one time, Sova was invited along.

The experience always stuck with her.

Sova was the only girl in a family with three brothers. A selfproclaimed tomboy, it came as no surprise to Sova that she ended up in a male-dominated career. Even though women are outnumbered in the world of trucking, Sova has embraced the industry.

Her 26-year driving career enabled Sova to pull herself out of poverty and provide for her four daughters as a single mother for many years. With her children grown up and a desire to see the country, Sova made the move from local driver to over-the-road driver

found she was exactly where she needed to be. “I had the idea that this is going to be a great move for me and my kids,” she says.

Even though Sova was excited about what the program meant for her family, driving school provided a new set of challenges.

“When I first got into truck driving during school, I was the only female in my class,” she says. “It was hard.” Sova says men in her class didn’t think she would make it.

The men in class with her didn’t take her seriously, but there was one person who did.

The classroom instructor committed himself to helping Sova become a driver. “He would have conversations with me and tell me how to study for the exams that

were coming up,” Sova says. “He really helped me as far as preparing for that written [test] and really thinking about this career and taking it seriously.” In the end, Sova did better than everyone else in the class on the written test and on the driving test.

After graduating with her CDL,, Sova became a local driver. In 2003, Sova’s career was on track, but she was struggling with personal demons. “At this point in my life, I wasn’t living right,” Sova says. Her lifestyle was put into perspective on December 2, 2003, a day that would forever change Sova’s life.

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Going Over the Road After 22 years of driving locally, Sova decided in 2014 it was time to try something new.

Sova says she and her husband, William, wanted to find a way to travel the nited States and get paid for it, so Sova switched to over-the-road driving. Sova and William—or Mr. Sova as Sova lovingly refers to him in her YouTube videos—have been married for 13 years, and although he isn’t certified to drive an 18-wheeler, he helps out in other ways. “My husband is incredible,” Sova says. William cooks, helps navigate and makes sure Sova is getting her rest and staying healthy. William plans to go through Prime’s driver training later this year to hopefully later run team with Dee. Sova and William enjoy exploring new places, trying different food and meeting all kinds of people that Although Sova has only been at Prime their travels afford. for a year, the company has made quite the They’ve also used their impression on her. “There is a pride worktraveling to give back ing for Prime that I have not seen in my while driving for Prime. almost 26 years of driving,” Sova says. “I Twice now Sova and feel like Prime puts the needs of their drivWilliam donated food ers ahead of everything else.” This was a receiver had refused. evident to Sova when a recent medical Once a receiver refused emergency put her out of work for 12 days. a shipment of potatoes “I have the best eet driver,” Sova says. because the boxes er eet manager, Steven Wray, kept in were damaged. Instead touch with her throughout her illness and of letting all of that reassured her everything would be fine. “I perfectly good food go like the fact that he really gets to know his to waste, Sova drove drivers,” she says. “We’ve had several two and a half hours meaningful conversations, and that’s someinto New York City to thing that is not normal because a lot of donate the shipment to these dispatchers and eet managers, they a rescue mission. just want to push you down the highway.”

Another time, Sova Another thing Sova likes about Prime and William gave is how many female drivers work for the a shipment of Toll company. “I’m very proud to be part of the House cookies to a women at Prime,” Sova says. “They employ fire station. onating so many women drivers and that is anothrefused shipments is er thing that attracted me here.” Sova consomething Sova wants tinues to help other women in the trucking to do more of in the fu- industry and has a lot of wisdom to share ture. “It’s just the best with them, but her advice can be summed feeling in the world,” up best with the sentence: “Carry yourshe says. selves like the queens you are.”

“When they opened the door to the room, I knew exactly what they were going to tell me, which was that my daughter had been killed while she was walking and that she had pushed her younger sister out of the way.”

—Dee Sova

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Photos courtesy Dee Sova

Sharmelia’s Story It was on that day that a drunk driver hit and killed Sova’s daughter Sharmelia Jeffries while she was walking outside of her high school. Sova’s youngest daughter, Ebony Jeffries, was injured in the incident but survived. When Sova got the call that her daughters had been in an accident, she rushed to the hospital. A social worker and the vice president of the high school met Sova at the hospital and shepherded her into a small room. “When they opened the door to the room, I knew exactly what they were going to tell me, which was that my daughter had been killed while she was walking and that she had pushed her younger sister out of the way,” Sova says.

Losing Sharmelia was a devastating blow to Sova, but it was the impetus for her to turn her life around. “[Sharmelia] was just a rare gem,” Sova says. “To lose her, I just felt like my world was crumbling right in front of me, and right inside that tiny room, I just gave my life to God.” After Sharmelia’s death, Sova became involved with Mothers Against Drunk Driving. Sova would go on to work with M.A.D.D. for 10 years, sharing her story with thousands of high schoolers.

During her time with M.A.D.D., she also served as secretary of the board of directors and as the president of the Sacramento chapter of the organization.

“That whole process, it was very much what I needed to get over grieving the loss of my daughter,” Sova says.

Dee Sova is passionate about empowering other female truck drivers. She even runs a YouTube channel, Trucking Divas Rock, and a Facebook page dedicated to the topic called Trucking Divas Rock the BlogAZine. We asked her to share some of her advice here for her fellow female drivers.

Be yourself.

“There are all types of women in this industry. If you’re a real feminine chick when you come into trucking, stay a feminine chick. Be you. Don’t allow trucking to change you as a person because it can’t. You have to have a backbone out here. You can be a woman and enjoy being a woman and all the attributes that come with that and be in this industry.”

Come into in this industry with a plan.

“I just happened to have fallen in love with trucking, and so it became this almost 26-year career for me, but I didn’t really have a plan as far as what I wanted to accomplish. Now, there are so many options where if you come in, if you start out at a company and you really want to see yourself grow, there is no glass ceiling in trucking. If you want to become an owner/operator, if you want to become a fleet owner and own your own trucking company, it’s so possible in this industry.”

Learn the industry.

After her daughter was killed by a drunk driver, Dee Sova became an active M.A.D.D. volunteer and spoke to thousands of high school students about the dangers of drunk driving (top). From right to left, Sova celebrated her daughter Ebony Lopez's college graduation with her other two daughters, Renee Montue and Nicole Jeffries (bottom).

“I would say come in and become a company driver. Learn about business if your intention is to grow a fleet or to own your own truck. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about things that you don’t know in this industry. People are there who are willing to help you.”

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MORE FOR YOUR

miles

JUNE 18

FATHER’S DAY

JULY 4

INDEPENDENCE DAY

AUGUST 24–26

THE GREAT AMERICAN TRUCKING SHOW Dallas, Texas

AUGUST 26, SEPTEMBER 2 AND 9 PRIME’S PICNIC

Prime’s Picnic is right around the corner. Festivities include inflatable bounce houses and slides, water rides, carnival games, bingo, raffle items and delicious food and beverages. There are three chances to join us: Pittston, Pennsylvania, on August 26; Springfield, Missouri, on September 2; and Salt Lake City, Utah, on September 9. The Pittston Picnic also includes the Pride and Polish competition, which lets drivers showcase their trucks and be recognized for their attention to detail and cleanliness inside and outside of the truck. Pride and Polish is also at Springfield’s picnic, along with the Truck Driving Championships and the Fittest of the Fleet. The Truck Driving Championships (called the Rodeo) allow drivers to showcase their driving skills on an obstacle course at the Springfield Headquarters training pad. The top 10 finalists have an opportunity to compete on Team Prime at the 2017 Missouri Truck Driving Championships. The Fittest of the Fleet allows drivers from Prime and outside carriers to showcase their strength and fitness!

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With Prime’s fuel bonus benefit, company drivers can earn extra money on their weekly paychecks.

BY STEPHANIE TOWNE BENOIT

S

afe, efficient driving pays obvious dividends: fewer incidents on the road, consistent on-time deliveries and arriving home safe and sound. But thanks to Prime’s fuel bonus benefit, it can also result in more money in drivers’ paychecks week after week.

All company drivers can earn the bonus, regardless of their amount of time with Prime. “If you are in the company division, you will automatically be eligible for the fuel bonus,” says Angie Reynolds, Prime’s payroll coordinator.

The benefit is based on a formula incorporating miles per gallon (starting at 7.75 mpg) and the national fuel average. In the end, the better a driver’s mpg average, the larger the bonus will be. For example, a driver achieving 8 mpg with a $1.689-per-gallon fuel cost would receive an additional .011 cents per mile, amounting in an additional $8.25 on a 750-mile load. With the same fuel costs and load distance, a 10 mpg average results in a $24 bonus.

The bonus creates company-wide fuel savings by encouraging efficient driving, but Reynolds says the intent of the bonus is to promote safe driving habits. “Safety is the top priority,” she says.

“It’s definitely very encouraging for those drivers to be able to drive slower and have better driving habits and to be able to put more money in their pockets.”

In wintery months, available fuel blends tend to make it more challenging to meet the necessary mpg average and earn the bonus, but Reynolds says in all other months, drivers are often able to achieve that threshold thanks to Prime’s efficient new equipment. “With the new equipment they should be receiving 9 mpg,” she says.

There is one stipulation for earning the bonus. “In order to qualify, they have to scan in trips within 48 hours of emptying [a load],” Reynolds says. “If they do not, then they will not receive the bonus for that load.” But if that requirement is met, the road is clear for drivers to earn the bonus and put more money in their pockets. “You think about that over time just how much you can include in your paycheck, especially every week, is amazing,” Reynolds says.

Photo by Jesse Hearndon

Stay up-to-date on industry and community events.

Photos courtesy Prime Inc, Shutterstock

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View From the road

Photo by Jesse Hearndon

Photos courtesy Prime Inc, Shutterstock

What awe-inspiring landscapes have you seen from behind the wheel? Submit a high-resolution photo (usually 500 KB or higher) of your truck to primeinc@primeinc.com. Include your name and caption information about where and when the photo was taken.

Driver Jesse Hearndon had just arrived home in Florida when he caught at Atlas rocket launch in his backyard. “Prime gets me home when I want, to see more of these rocket launches,� he says. As of May 2017, the Kennedy Space Center had launched eight rockets into space.

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