VOLUME 3 ISSUE 3
RACING TO THE TOP ROBERT AND LAWANA LOW SHARE MAGNUM MOON’S JOURNEY TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY
+ MEET THE TRAINER OF THE YEAR AWARDEES
2740 N. MAYFAIR AVE. SPRINGFIELD, MO 65803 417 866 0001 PRIMEINC.COM
MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER Clayton Brown RECRUITING AND MEDIA COORDINATOR Andrea Mueller PRIME RECRUITING AND ONBOARDING Kristi Pinckney COMPANY STORE
2111 S. Eastgate Ave., Springfi eld, MO 65809 SHOP IN-STORE PHONE: 417-883-7417 / FAX: 417-889-7417 417MAG.COM Springfield, MO
KATIE POLLOCK ESTES Editorial Director Salt Lake City, UT
ROSE MARTHIS Editor Pittston, PA
CLAIRE PORTER Managing Editor
ADRIENNE DONICA Assistant Editor SHOP ONLINE www.primeincstore.com EVAN GREENBERG Sta Writer EDITORIAL INTERNS Dru Berry, Hailey Jo Hopkins GIVE US A CALL PAIJE LUTH Editorial Art Manager 417-521-3814 (MO) BRANDON ALMS Senior Photographer & Designer 570-602-4793 (PA) ALEX WOLKEN Editorial Designer 801-977-5903 (UT) VIVIAN WHEELER Editorial Art Coordinator
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS & EDITORS Ettie Berneking, Use your Prime Reward Points here! Rebekah Olson, Peyson Shields
CONTRIBUTING ILLUSTRATORS & PHOTOGRAPHERS Coady Photography, Mark Harrell, Nathan Springer
LANDRA BUNGE Finance Coordinator
BERNADETTE PRY Administrative Assistant
GARY WHITAKER Publisher
LOGAN AGUIRRE President/Associate Publisher
MEGAN JOHNSON Vice President of Operations
AMMIE SCOTT Vice President of Strategy and Senior Account Executive
JOAN WHITAKER Vice President of Finance PRIME WAYS 1 ON THE COVER Robert and Lawana Low’s contents horse Magnum PRIME WAYS | SEPTEMBER 2018 Moon rakes in the miles.
18
Trainers Tim Ryan, Danny Gibbons, Brian Je ers and John Lewis were recognized at this year's banquet. Features 8 18 DAY IN THE LIFE Meet the man behind the TRAINING THE FUTURE meals, Food & Beverage Director John Blansit. OF PRIME Before new drivers ever get out on the road, they spend quality time with trainers. These 6 32 fi rst relationships are crucial to the company’s success. We CALENDAR met with some of the best. VETERANS SPOTLIGHT This issue spotlights two Save the date for people currently working company and community in the security department events, including this 24 to protect associates. 17 year's Veterans Day Parade in Springfi eld. ADVENTURES ON “My favorite part about OUT FOR A RUN THE ROAD the job is that it’s never Prime Personal Trainer Johanna Norsic Masterson Learn about Primatara Farms the same. Every day developed a Cab to 5K and Magnum Moon’s journey training plan you can rip out to the Kentucky Derby. presents a new task to and start today. complete and learn.”
—Taylor Fain photos by Mark Harrell, Brandon Alms, courtesy Shutterstock Cover photo by Coady Photography,
2 PRIME WAYS Photo courtesy Prime Inc. “Cargo claimsdealswithcargofromshippertoreceiver. This “If yourphysicalexpires,licensecaneitherbedown- —Denise Clark,ClaimsCoordinator —Kristi Pinckney, Orientation/Recruiting Department “please updateyour newDOTphysical The Claims Department is broken down The ClaimsDepartmentisbrokendown with your homestateasquickly as when we askadriver associatesto We oftensoundlikeabrokenrecord on thePDF. or otherproperty.” dent, orifsomeonerunsintoourequipment,tractor, trailer door atareceiver. Subrogationclaimsistheoppositeof es causedanincident—forexample, wedamagedadock get a DOT physical, the information is entered into a na- good physicalon fi le? Why update a new one? When you graded toanoperator’s licenseorevensuspended.This state-state-med-cert-submission-update state-state-med-cert-submission-update Call Claims at 800-321-1192 and follow the prompts to reach Call Claimsat800-321-1192andfollowthepromptstoreach as product on trailers involved in an accident or incident en as productontrailersinvolvedinanaccidentorincidenten update your DOT physical. Once you have the site up, click route. Accident claims handles accidents in which a Prime route. AccidentclaimshandlesaccidentsinwhichaPrime updating physicals to help our associates remain compliant updating physicalstohelpourassociatesremaincompliant physical inyourpossessionandwhatisonfi le withyour OR USEYOUR PHONE’S CAMERA TO SCAN THECODE. with FMSCA.” fmcsa.dot.gov/registration/commercial-drivers-license/ into subgroups. What are they and what into subgroups. Whataretheyandwhat the correct person. the correctperson. that: Primeishit,damagedorinjuredinanaccidentinci- truck isinvolvedandwearethecauseorinitiatorofdamag- includes over, short,damagedorrefusedproductaswell FMSCA issued a state-by-state instruction guide on how to FMSCA issued astate-by-stateinstruction guide on how to tional registry with FMSCA. The registry must match the is never a good scenario! But, what if you have a perfectly possible.” So, whyisitsoimportant? do theydo? home state. Ifitdoesn’t, youcangetacitation.We preach Chat to be curious about company happenings. to becuriousaboutcompanyhappenings. PRIME decades or only a few months, it's natural decades oronlyafewmonths,it'snatural Whether you've worked for Prime Inc. for Whether you'veworkedforPrimeInc. Here, peopleintheknow answeryour burning questions. FAMILY
American Trucking Association report that the industry needs more than American Trucking industry needs Association reportthatthe , more drivers to meet capacity demands. rime is grateful to our to grateful is rime demands. capacity meet to drivers more , PSD Trainers and Instructors for their part in reducing the driver shortage. the part inreducing PSD TrainersandInstructorsfortheir ability tocreatecapacityour shipping customersisvastlyaccredited confi dent our reputation can largely be attributed to the men and women and men the to attributed be confi largely can reputation our dent who have takenon the responsibilityoftraining. It is no thatthe secret transportation industryhasadriver from shortage. Recentstatistics the troubleshooting, customerrelationsandproblem-solving. this uniqueandsuccessfulPSDprogram. ing associates through our Prime Student Driver through ourPrimeStudent(PSD)program. ing associates Prime’s ing an instructor or driver trainer. old our future flfuture our increasing old while trainer. eet, driver or instructor an ing sitting in class at a brick and mortar facility. Not only does a PSDlearnthe in classatabrickandmortarfacility.Notonlydoes sitting program with an education in route planning, e uipment maintenance and to opposed as experience, transportation and trucking real-world utili es fundamentals of driving skills, they also are able to complete the training the complete to able are also they skills, driving of fundamentals T f you have a passion for education, take the necessary steps to becom- to steps necessary the take education, for passion a have you f rm i kon n h idsr fr aey n o-ie evc. am service. on-time and safety for industry the in known is rime ur hands-on, one-on-one training provides a diversifia provides training one-on-one hands-on, ur and approach ed Ways Instructor & Trainer(s) of the year. These men and women help men andwomen Trainer(s)year. These Instructor & ofthe shape the vast ma ority of our fl driv- our our of to ma ority mentors vast as the act shape and eet Prime of ourPrime edition latest time readthe hank you fortakingthe magazine. This edition’s feature spotlights the 2017 Top the spotlights magazine.Thisedition’sfeature down THE LOW your earning potential. astly, turn to page to page to turn astly, potential. earning your ers, Danny,John,Tim,BrianandSharon. ers, Danny,John,Tim,BrianandSharon. learn what inspires our top instructors and train- and instructors top our inspires what learn rime nc.,
CEO &Founder PRIME WAYS Robert Low
3 LIFE | SEPTEMBER 2018 When student drivers like Grant Schuchmann get to Prime, they meet Matt Rachel to start their journey.
hink about the fi xed number of spotlight faces you see every day. They’re probably limited to family, work colleagues and friends, constants T upon whom you can rely. THE QUIET What if that number was multiplied by , and all those people needed something from you? That’s the situation Matt Rachel CONFIDENCE OF fi nds himself in every day at rime. achel is Director of rientation in charge of oversee- ing training for hopeful Prime drivers on the operations side. Each week, achel welcomes prospective matt rachel Prime recruits for orientation—the number As Director of Orientation, Matt Rachel is among the varies on any given week; one week he had rst people prospective Prime associates encounter. . nstead of the typical onboarding pro- It’s his job to get them ready and up to speed for a life cess that most associates experience in this on the road. phase, these people are here to prove their mettle. It’s So You Think You Can Be a Prime BY EVAN GREENBERG Driver without the cameras and sti y suited host. t the end, if all goes well, the recruits
will leave with a job. Photo by Vivian Wheeler
4 PRIME WAYS Photos by Vivian Wheeler, courtesy Matt Rachel “[Recruiters] have full authority to recruit and “[Recruiters] havefullauthoritytorecruitand 17 TRUCKINGFOR20 There’s not much he hasn’t seen, so he can can he so seen, hasn’t he much not There’s t doesn’t exist in my car. t’s caused me to to me caused t’s car. my in exist doesn’t t Rachel says of Kasterke. “He’s in charge of of charge in Kasterke. “He’s of Rachel says achel has developed a hands-offa developed has achel mellowed , after we’ve hired them, the student drivers, drivers, student the them, hired we’ve after and center in this process, which is a few days as I drive home or to work or to the mall or as Idrive homeortoworkthemall of the process. “ hat he does is he’ll take, take, he’ll is does he “ hat process. the of out tome. reach they’ll about, sure real not they’re one dustry for years now, achel says. “The “The says. achel now, years for dustry out approachinhis15yearstherole. with me, achel says, and the two divide divide two the and says, achel me, with ment manager Stan Kasterke—“he’s lateral lateral Kasterke—“he’s Stan manager ment don’t they sure make to too, recruiters, with with precedent. “ ’ve been in the trucking in- trucking the in been “ ’ve precedent. with wherever ’m going, if someone doesn’t know make an off er to come to orientation, and toorientation, come off to an er make me. I pick my battles. I don’t have road rage. me. Ipickmybattles. Idon’thave roadrage. ust getacompletely diff erentapproach. ak aog hmevs t diff stages at erent themselves among tasks their owntrucks. training oftheindividualsuntiltheygetinto the instructors, their with out going them they know what we’re looking for, achel achel for, looking we’re what know they state testing. He controls and manages the state testing. Hecontrolsandmanagesthe says. “They’re our hiring people. If they have If theyhave people. “They’re ourhiring says. student drivers. He’s in constant contact student drivers. He’sinconstantcontact solution to most problems because they come solution tomostproblemsbecausetheycome have issues and to off er input when needed. needed. off when to input and er issues have keep his emotions in check. achel can fia nd how to drive around me, don’t let it bother bother it let don’t me, around drive to how level of patience it’s caused me to take, even even take, to me caused it’s patience of level for drivers with a CDL and a week for Prime for drivers withaCDL andaweekforPrime ahl ok aog ih riig depart- training with along works achel Rachel makes a point not to be too front Rachel makesapointnottobetoofront achel was entranced, and knew he had to be fl then says—and he dispatcher, a eets—“like and get a large group of people on the same and getalargegroupofpeopleonthesame demure and level-headed, thrives. “ smooth week for me is boring, achel says. “ love love “ says. achel boring, is me for week not thatbigofadeal. e’ll getthroughthis.’ moved slowly up the ranks from a mid-shift mid-shift a from ranks the up slowly moved try to take the approach of, when that person try to take the approach of, when that person they’ve had that problem, so my main focal focal main my so problem, that had they’ve it when someone has a problem. And what I it whensomeonehasaproblem. AndwhatI involved somehow. He joined Prime covering involved somehow. HejoinedPrimecovering ing stores. Whenaformercolleagueinvited settling into his current role. settling intohiscurrentrole. has that problem, even though ’ve seen that that seen ’ve though even problem, that has him to lunch at the carrier he was working at, at, working was he carrier the at lunch to him page, problems arise. t’s here where achel, achel, where here t’s arise. problems page, proach, as the overseer of the program, he’s he’s program, the of overseer the as proach, fltraining a to before daytime eet to position t’s say, to calm person that keeping is point fithe it’s times, time , rst , problem ing. Much later they’ll come inand say, ‘Letmeshow you thenewcar come herewithabsolutely noth- As will happen when trying to organize As willhappenwhentryingtoorganize lhuh e os ae breathe-fi ap- a rst take does he lthough ahl o hs tr i rti a hb train- hub at retail in start his got achel “I couldtellyou [thousandsof fulfilling stories].Somepeople —Matt Rachel, DirectorofOrientation I justpaidcashfor.’” their potentialcareer Matt Rachel shows new driverswhat paths canbeat Prime. Here’s the ins and outs, here’s the likes and and likes the here’s outs, and ins the Here’s He believesinthepowerofPrime. “It’s changing age my team, who also does orientation, so so orientation, does also who team, my age assertive style it’s ust an honest style. man- you know upfront, achel says. “ t’s not an an not “ t’s says. achel upfront, know you car ustpaidcashfor.’ new the you show me et say, and in come giving andgivethemanotherchance. dislikes.’ The training part of it is the hardest dislikes.’ Thetrainingpartofitisthehardest ers’ screening process, and he’ll have to deal deal to have he’ll and process, screening ers’ of diff erent backgrounds. or many, this is a diff is of this many, or backgrounds. erent with absolutely nothing. Much later they’ll with absolutelynothing. Muchlaterthey’ll here come people “Some says. achel ries , who cross their paths to succeed, and they they and succeed, to paths their cross who when thefun starts . with unforeseen problems. “You may not with unforeseenproblems. “Youmaynot be. to has he when harsh be to afraid not ob they really need, and that puts achel and training and get in their own truck, that’s that’s truck, own their in get and training difflittle a ap- be would how that than erent types of people who come to orientation are of peoplewhocometoorientationare types is a great figreat a is up shows someone if ob the for t have an important responsibility to do what’s have animportantresponsibilitytodowhat’s his teaminadelicatesituation.Theywantall late or makes a mistake, he’s willing to be for- be to willing he’s mistake, a makes or late part oftheindustry.Oncetheygetthrough proach thedrivers. I’llapproachthedrivers: like everything have to say, but ’d rather rather ’d but say, to have everything like oeie tig wl si truh recruit- through slip will things Sometimes best for Prime. It’s why someone like Rachel best forPrime.It’s whysomeonelikeRachel ‘Is this[recruit]therightpersonforPrime, forour me goosebumpsjusttotalkabout thesestories. build cars,” hesays.Healsotakes advantageof a car, it’s hunting,fi shing, boating,something of all that417-landhastooer. “Ifit’s not involving customers?’ Itcouldbe‘Isthis the rightperson, lives,” hesays.“It’s truly changinglives.Itgives The hardestpartofhisjobis“tryingtodecide “That’s whatIlike todoontheside:paintcars, times. They’llshake my handandsay, ‘Thanks “ could tell you thousands of fulfiof thousands you sto- tell lling could “ That’s happened inthelast15yearssomany When he’s notatwork , Rachel likes towork That fun is sometimes hard-earned. The The hard-earned. sometimes is fun That with cars.It’s anall-encompassingpassion. period, whowewanttoemploy?’” ODDS ANDENDS for givingmeachance.’” that nature.” PRIME WAYS
5 A simple salute Shining a light on Prime employees who have served the United States through military service. BY HAILEY JO HOPKINS
Military History: Travis Phares joyed his time in the military and served in the U.S. Army from 2006 encourages others to look into join- Travis Phares to 2011, fi rst as an Enlisted Military ing. “The military is a great way to Police O cer and then as a Tra c learn structure and to learn many Investigator. During his last two crucial skills that can be applied to years of service, Phares achieved whatever career choice he or she the rank of Corporal and served may have thereafter,” he says. as a team leader. He acquired several qualifi cations during his Prime Service: Phares joined service, including air assault, com- Prime in May 2011 as a Corporate bat training and close quarter Security Associate after leaving battle training and he became a the Army. His job is to protect all qualifi ed Tra c Reconstructionist. individuals and assets at Prime Inc. He had one overseas deploy- Phares enjoys being able to inter- ment from 2009 to 2010 at Camp act with Prime associates knowing Humphrey’s in South Korea. The that he is keeping them safe. “From medals and commendations he physical security to the security of received are Army Commendation our drivers while abroad, much of Medal, Army Achievement Medal what I learned in the military can Travis Phares learned struc- (Second Award), Army Good be applied to Corporate Security at ture and skills in the military Conduct Medal, National Defense Prime,” he says. His advice to those that he uses every day as a Service Medal, Korean Defense thinking about entering the truck- Corporate Security Associate. Service Medal, Army Service ing industry is to be mentally aware Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon of other associates’ positions in or- and Air Assault Badge. Phares en- der to gain perspective.
Taylor Fain When he's not working as a Corporate Security Associate, Military History: Taylor Fain served service to become a well-rounded Taylor Fain enjoys outdoor rec- for three years in the United States individual, he says. reation like hiking and fi shing. Army as an infantryman. Stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas, Fain was a Prime Service: Fain started work- Stryker driver, grenadier and a team ing at Prime Inc. in February leader dismount. He was trained 2015. His current position is with in combat skills and arms. He Corporate Security. Fain spends his describes the job as physically de- days ensuring that all associates, manding and frequently involving assets and grounds are safe and operating in high-stress environ- secure. “My favorite part about the ments. Fain says he misses being job is that it’s never the same,” he a soldier but is no longer enlist- says. “Every day presents a new ed in the United States Army. He task to complete and learn.” Fain recommends that if someone is in- tells anyone thinking about enter- terested in joining the army to look ing the trucking industry that it has into becoming an infantryman be- good job security. He says compa- cause everyone loves a blue cord! nies need freight on the road to de- “The military instills values and disci- liver necessities in today’s society. pline normally at a young age,” he In his free time, Fain enjoys riding says. Over time, one can utilize the motorcycles, fi shing, camping, hik-
skills and values learned while in ing and enjoying the outdoors. Fain Phares, Taylor Photos courtesy Travis
6 PRIME WAYS Photos courtesy Travis Phares, Taylor Fain
Photos courtesy Richard Brock, Sean Durbin, Lawrence Rainey, Shutterstock Sean DurbinandMattTrigg tookPrimeWays withthem to cheerontheSt. Louis Blues. magazine drivingthrough Lawrence Rainey shows St. Louis, Missouri the magazine. Send photos to Kristi Pinckney at the magazine.SendphotostoKristiPinckneyat Take yourcopyofPrimeWays ontheroad and snap apicture forachance tobefeatured in o hisPrimeWays San Antonio, [email protected]. San Antonio. Texas spotted department, showedo orientation andtraining master’s degree. Missouri when hegraduatedfrom Richard Brock,inthe Drury Universitywithhis his copyofPrimeWays Springfi eld, Hopkins and Trailer aintenance oreman Jeff Thielen. The BY ADRIENNEDONICA the wayofanine-holediscgolfcourse. This spring,theSpring eld terminalgotanupgradein FLYING HIGH across a wide variety of ages and skill levels. The course is course The levels. skill and ages of variety wide a across around the terminal’s water run-offwater terminal’s the around an saw reservoir.“ e amenity for our drivers and in-house associates, Hopkins Hopkins associates, in-house and drivers our for amenity opportunity to take an unusable space and create an extra extra an create and space unusable an take to opportunity nal now have access to The Hedge, a disc golf course designed make anafternoonofit. says. “The great thing about disc golf is that it can be played it canbe is that golf disc thing about great says. “The BY ADRIENNEDONICA commitment todrivers. surprised withanaward earlierthisyearforhis Spring eld FleetManagerDarren Rookwas MEMBERS SUPPORTING SERVICE pair designed the nine-hole course, completed in early ugust, located next to a new pavilion, which has a covered patio, covered a has which pavilion, new a to next located four charcoal grills, tables and bathrooms—all the better to better the bathrooms—all and tables grills, charcoal four by two of Prime’s own: Pedigree Trailer Salesperson Nathan Trailer Salesperson by twoofPrime’sown:Pedigree and their service member associates. Driver Joseph Jacoby, a a Jacoby, Joseph Driver associates. member service their and gone unnoticed. This January, ook received a atriot ward ward atriot a received ook January, This unnoticed. gone ent, ’m always going to be doing whatever can to take care of nominated Rook for the award. “I believe he’s gone above and nominated Rookfortheaward. “Ibelieve he’sgoneaboveand trainings. “ f he was military or not military or anything diffanything or military not or military was he “ f trainings. er- sergeant in the .S. rmy eserve and a member of ook’s fl eet, has worked at Prime for nearly 10 years. His dedication hasn’t has workedatPrimefornearly10years.Hisdedicationhasn’t him, ook says. him, ooksays. profi tability on the road while balancing his mandatory drill drill mandatory his balancing while road profi the on tability program designedtopromotecooperationbetweenemployers from Employer Support of the uard and eserve, a federal federal a eserve, and uard the of Support Employer from beyond, Jacoby says. ook says he tries to maximi e Jacoby’s beyond, Jacoby says. ooksays hetriestomaximi eJacoby’s N F “We always want to do everything we possibly can for the “We alwayswanttodoeverythingwepossiblycanforthe drivers, says the Springfithe says drivers, who anager, leet eld-based or Darren ook, taking care of his fl eet is all in a day’s work. eed to stretch your legs after a day on the road? Looking eed tostretch yourlegsafteradayontheroad? Looking to popular demand, associates at the Springfi eld termi- for something to get you over the afternoon slump? Due for somethingtogetyouover theafternoonslump? Due PRIME WAYS
7 1. John Blansit starts his day serving breakfast at the North Star Grill at Prime Inc. 2. Blansit likes to chat with Prime employees at Fire & day in the life Ice Restaurant & Bar over lunch. 3. Blansit 1 is also a talented ice sculptor, creating the master pieces you see at special events. chef John Blansit, Food and Beverage Director at Prime, is a man on the move. We sat down with him to get a glimpse at his day-to-day schedule. BY EVAN GREENBERG 2
t probably comes as no surprise that, as someone in charge of feeding a company of drivers, John Blansit is I always on the move. He holds the same title— ood and 3 Beverage Director—at rime and the ire & Ice Restaurant & Bar. The latter is open to the public but is also a popular lunch destination for Prime associates. They get a discount and conversation in a familiar place, invaluable for people whose world aren’t afraid to tell him their opinions Top 5 Dishes is often whizzing past them. Blansit has on their food options. n a recent night, We spoke with Blansit about his favorite his regulars who order the same thing ev- drivers came in and told him that a re- dishes to serve, some of which are his ery time, three days a week. cent serving of pancakes at the North Star own creations. Prime Ways sat down with Blansit, , afe at rime was “bland. to talk about his schedule, focusing on a typical riday when he finds himself in a AFTERNOON 1 The bu alo chicken sandwich at North revolving door of sorts. Blansit heads back to Prime around 4 Star Grill. “They really seem to enjoy it,” p.m. Today, there’s a celebration on Blansit says. MORNING the Z Building patio because the reefer There’s a rime safety meeting this morn- operations had a record week. He’s usu- ing, and breakfast accompanies it. Blansit ally notified about these types of things 2 The Brisket Philly cheesesteak for lunch works on getting everything settled and several days or weeks before to make sure at Fire & Ice. arranged for the hungry associates. When he’s ready. There’s a taco bar, that’s done, he stays for a bit to clear up and he’s got to make some odds and ends and get work done. sure all 150 people are 3 round a.m., he heads to ire ce fed and happy. The pastrami Reuben at Fire & Ice, which to get ready for the lunch rush. Around Blansit says “was one of the fi rst things a.m., people start trickling in. This is a NIGHT I put on the menu. We make our own pastrami.” life he’s known in some capacity since he Everything goes off was 26 when he became a certified chef without a hitch, and de cuisine. Blansit heads back 4 to the Oasis Hotel & Pad Thai at Fire & Ice. LUNCH onvention enter to as- ire ce is open to the public for lunch, sist with a ban uet for an out- but it’s also a common gathering place for side group. fter that, it’s back to ire 5 The crab rangoon pizza, the newest item rime associates, who are welcome to use Ice to help with the dinner crowd. Things Blansit put on the menu. “It’s a home run,” their 20 percent food discount. Blansit die down around , and he heads he says. loves to converse with associates, who home, a full day complete. Photos by Brandon Alms, courtesy John Blansit
8 PRIME WAYS Photos by Brandon Alms, courtesy John Blansit
Photo courtesy Robert Templin lorida with his wife, Deborah, to build a build to Deborah, wife, his with lorida Templin says of the -acre lot. ates were ates lot. -acre the of says Templin The yard sees 25 to 75 Prime Inc. 25 to75 drivers The yardsees lot, parking real a has now property The Prime atmosphere. We carry that on from Wecarrythat Prime atmosphere. yard work, ’ll give you a ob and a home as dumping. “The word I got from Robert Low from Robert dumping. “ThewordIgot each day and is so successful, the company the successful, so is and day each says. Templin ob, other any know didn’t every levelofPrime. “It’s like afamilyat- was, f you can go down there and make that hr olnt rv ayoe ad and anymore, drive couldn’t where o ad a ad s aot i pt, a pets, his about ask and dad and mom meals andtheyevencallhim and Deborah mosphere we create here, he says. “ t’s a “ t’s says. he here, create we mosphere on i o te ak oc t ca, they chat, to porch back the on him oin to trucks, and the neighborhood was us- was neighborhood the and trucks, to the main company. Templin says drivers says Templin company. main the permeates that philosophy people-first the ing the yard forpersonalparkingandtrash ing the is lookingtodoubleitinsize. security and access to repairs andwashes. to and access security long asyoulike,’ Templinsays. o h hne i hs es n hae to headed and keys his in handed he So, functioning drop yard from the ground up. ground yard fromthe drop functioning broken, the parking lot could only hold hold only could lot parking the broken, buy foodtothrowonthesmoker forgroup your florida I haven fordrivers—andintheprocess, turned aderelict drop yard intoasafe “ ’m a disabled vet, and got to the point the to got and vet, disabled a “ ’m Templin credits a lot ofthatsuccessto Location ManagerRobertTemplin created aplacewhere PrimeInc.’s Family yard hewastaskedwithmanaging came to uburndale, lorida, the drop n November 2006 when Robert Templin n November 2006 whenRobertTemplin in disrepair. “ ost of it was a mudhole, family atmosphere ourishes. BY CLAIREPORTER close tohome ’e o nmes ee e as H re- He says. he here, numbers not “ e’re rvln hit lo a a lg where blog, a has also hrist Traveling rm ascae—oe n xtc locales exotic in associates—some rime Prime that the company hasstoodbehind Prime thatthe we, n ayhr fo t lis- to from anywhere and week, a a corepartofhislifeaspastor.Seventeen and that’swhatwecareabout. audio recordingsofeachsessionareposted via B radio. ow, the ministry is carried is ministry the ow, radio. B via nonde- the started Templin ago, years comed is so important to Templin that it’s that Templin important to is so comed care about numbers on the blog, Templin blog, the on numbers about care says. Templin us, with be can you can’t, out via telephone chat roomthreetimes out via telephone with career -year his in times counts recommend that everyone has abrickand that everyone recommend Ministry Christ nominational Traveling4 otr cuc t oe bt hn you when but home, at church mortar mini pug.Thatcloseness pig andaChinese teners join in from across the country. “We join infromacrossthe teners as “hs nmes toe r people, are those numbers, “Those says. is something Templin values about Prime. about values Templin something is him whenhewasstruggling. ie bah n e s, n sm right some and est, ey in beach a like for listeners around the globe. “We don’t globe. around the for listeners That feeling of being heard, seen and wel- Templin has also o ciated weddings for weddings o ciated also has Templin “He gave us the opportunity to stay in the to stay opportunity gave usthe “He Templin says. And when you rollintohis Templin says.Andwhen Low forallowinghimtobeamongthem. rm epos ad es lo rtfl to grateful also he’s and employs, rime at the cream of the crop intruckingright at thecreamof heart “ y says. he mark, iles illion drop yard in lorida, you’ll feel every ounce ers. Templin is happy to go to such lengths to go to ers. Templinishappy of thatgratitudefromtheveryfirsthello. family, this of part vital a be to company, drivers in at the gateand we seethegold f h nme o hg-civn drivers high-achieving of number the of just kind of jumps because you’re looking just kindofjumpsbecause o ep noig h fml atmosphere, family the en oying keep to proud exceptionally is Templin there. top-tier. “ ’m so proud when we’re checking in the drop yard between decorated trail- decorated drop yardbetween in the for rime drivers, whom he considers to be connect totheBiblestudygroup. and useconferencecode842646# to Sunday at8p.m. EST. Dial774-220-4000 call ineveryTuesday, Wednesday and tries throughtheblog,t4christ.com, or Connect withTraveling 4ChristMinis- JOINTHECOMMUNITY Robert Templin andhiswife, community surroundingthe Deborah, havecreateda drop yardtheymanage. PRIME WAYS
9 TRUCKS & TECH | SEPTEMBER 2018
how we roll driving in style Drivers Carla Brown and Donald Smith have two of the most tricked-out trucks at Prime. BY EVAN GREENBERG
onald Smith and Carla Brown travel in style. portant to them. For as much time as they spend in the After meeting at a shared stop, the two began trucks, it only makes sense that they would want their discussing creating their own fl eet. lans were vehicles to look a certain way. It’s where they sleep, the D set in motion, and No Limit Transportation, outmost expression of their work and what they want with its unique brand of style, was born. to show the world. ow, with their fl eet, o imit Smith and Brown wanted to add their own fl air to Transportation, Smith and Brown inspire double takes, their trucks to illustrate a little bit of their personality compliments and social media posts as they travel all and add touches that indicated the things that are im- around the country. Photos by Brandon Alms
10 PRIME WAYS Photos by Brandon Alms “As we weredoingthings,itwaslike, nothingcould There’s astorybehindthe“NoLimit”decalfound on bothSmithandBrown’s trucks.“It’s a favorite stand inthewayofwhatwewere doing, thesky’s song ofoursfromUsher,” Smith says.Brownadds, the limit—nolimits.” A LASTINGMANTRA “And so a couple of weeks later, [Brown] contacted meandwaslike, ‘Hey, take same receiver. There, Smithhadmen- six months,theyhadenoughmoneyto Carla BrownandDonaldSmithmet a look at these numbers,’” he says. In while theywerebothdeliveringtothe tioned hisdesiretohaveownfl eet. lease-purchase twotrucks. PARTNERS INDESIGN “Prime giveseverybodyachancetojustbecreative,” Brownsays.“We’re called a truck,youmightaswellhaveonethatjuststandsout.I’mhappy[that]when people lookatit,theysay, ‘Oh, that’s ahappytruck.’” the ‘SkittlesFleet,’ becausewegotallthecolorfultrucks.Ifyou’regoingtohave DESIGN INNOVATION “That wasthreeyearsago. Iwaslike “Since IcameovertoPrime, I’ve ‘I gottahaveagreentruck.’ Butthe or schemeintoitandmaking just stand out.” saw themontheroad,” Brownsays. whole thingwastryingtotiethe col- been wantingagreentrucksinceI GREEN WITHENVY 1970s. “To me, it’s theonly going tobealove-hate get alotof, ‘Hey, nicetruck; relationship whileIwason Smith isnotfromDallas,but wrong team.’ Iknew itwas the road.” team intheNFL,” hesays.“I the DallasCowboys since the he’s beenadie-hardfanof SUPER COWBOYS PRIME WAYS
11
prepped FOR IT ALL Justin Kaufman, Road Assist Manager, gives his top must-haves for your truck to help avoid costly xes and make you a master of maintenance. 75% BY PEYSON SHIELDS FUEL SAVINGS A GALLON OF EXTENDED LIFE, 1 NITRITE FREE OAT COOLANT
A GALLON OF 10 30 SEMI SYNTHETIC 2 OIL
A TIRE TREAD DEPTH GAUGE 3“The DOT requires a tread groove pattern depth of 4/32 of an inch when measured Small But Mighty in a major tread groove of a steer tire, and a tread groove pattern depth of at least By relying on two small pieces of equipment, Prime drivers can use signi cantly 2/32 of an inch when measured in any less fuel and save thousands of dollars each year. major tread groove of a drive or trailer tire. Keep an eye on tread depths, just like BY ADRIENNE DONICA watching fuel levels. You can often save hundreds of dollars purchasing tires from Prime Terminals versus being forced to buy them out on the road.” or rime drivers, life on the road Higgins says. “ n uses about a third means spending many nights or of a gallon per hour.” Heaters, which simply JUMPER CABLES afternoon breaks in the comfort of heat the truck’s cab and are about the size 4 “If you can’t get a reefer started because of their truck’s cab. But they don’t need of a football, are even more e cient, using a slightly low battery, use jumper cables F to hook from the tractor jump posts to the to keep their engines running to power their just a tenth of a gallon of fuel per hour. Due reefer battery to aid in starting the reefer.” cab’s heat, air conditioning or internal lights. to their e ciency, this e uipment trans- That’s where auxiliary power units, or s, lates to big savings at the pump for drivers. A SMALL TOOL KIT and heaters come in. s reduce fuel costs by about percent, 5 “Some essential items include: Phillips and ccording to aul Higgins with leet or more than $13,000 per year at today’s fl athead screwdrivers, channel lock pliers, vice grips, a hammer, a mallet, a small aintenance in Springfi eld, an going rate for diesel. The savings are even socket set and wrench set, a multi tool performs three tasks: running an air- more drastic for heaters, though their use is with a T25 torque bit and side cutters.” conditioning compressor, monitoring the limited to colder climates and temperatures. truck’s battery levels and running an alter- Both pieces of equipment have come stan- POWER SERVICE 911 AND WINTER nator to charge those batteries when they dard in rime trucks for the past years. 6 CONDITIONER get too low. Each rime truck is e uipped “We’ve always thought that they were really OWNER’S MANUAL with a Thermo ing Tri ac Evolution . just no-brainers,” Higgins says. In addition 7 “There are all kinds of items you can look These units are two square feet, weigh to saving money for drivers and creating less up in your owner’s manual, including what about pounds and, like the big truck of an environmental impact, s and heat- dash light symbols mean and what di er- engines, run on diesel but require much ers mean less wear and tear on trucks’ main ent gauges are.” less fuel. “At idle, a big truck engine burns engines. That means more time on the road— FLASHLIGHT probably a gallon and a quarter an hour,” and more money in the bank—for drivers. 8 SUPPLY KIT 9“Zip ties, Gladhand seals and duct tape can be perfect items for temporarily repairing items on your truck or trailer, including MAINTENANCE TIP IDLE = 1.25 GALLON/HOUR reefer chutes.”
Paul Higgins, Fleet Maintenance, recom- APU = .33 GALLON/HOUR SPRAY BOTTLE FILLED WITH SOAPY mends regularly cleaning and monitoring WATER your truck’s APU and heater, just like you 10 “Spraying soapy water on tires, airlines or would with your truck’s main engine, to APUs reduce fuel costs by about 75 fi ttings can often help identify where an air reduce stress and keep them working as percent, or more than $13,000 per year at leak is coming from. You could also use e ciently as possible. today’s going rate for diesel. your soapy water to help your trailer tan- dems slide.”
PRIME WAYS 13 WELLNESS | SEPTEMBER 2018 A bu alo chicken lettuce wrap is an easy and tasty Instant Pot meal that's good for you, too.
recipes HIGHWAY TO healthy eating Give your gut a break with easy-to-make nutritious meals in the Instant Pot. BY DRU BERRY
14 PRIME WAYS Gary Danielson is the health and fi tness coordinator located at the Springfi eld terminal.
UNSTUFFED CABBAGE BOWLS
Cooking oil spray DIRECTIONS: 1 pound 93-percent lean ground beef Press the sauté button on the Instant Pot. 1⁄ teaspoon kosher salt Spray with oil then add beef and salt. Cook, 1 cup chopped onion breaking the meat up until browned, about s the Coordinator for Driver 1 clove garlic, minced fi ve minutes. Add onion, garlic, marjoram and Health and Fitness at Prime 1 tablespoon dried marjoram black pepper and stir. Add tomato sauce, Inc., Gary Danielson communi- Black pepper, to taste paprika, beef broth and raisins, cover and cates with drivers daily and is 8-ounce can tomato sauce cook on high pressure for 15 minutes. Quick A responsible for assisting drivers ⁄ teaspoon Hungarian paprika release, add rice and cabbage and cook on in maintaining their physical and mental 1 cup low-sodium beef broth high pressure for 3 minutes. Quick release health. Eating healthy while on the road 2 tablespoons raisins and serve with additional rice if desired. can be challenging, with a plethora of fast 1 cup cooked brown rice food options available at most exits off ering 1 medium head cabbage, cored and an easy, greasy fi ll up, but devices like the chopped (9 cups) nstant ot make the challenge of refusing fast food easier. Instant Pot speeds up the Nutrition Information: 4 Servings, Serving Size: 1½ cups; Amount Per Serving: Calories: 338 rate of cooking and provides drivers a con- calories; Total Fat: 8 g; Saturated Fat: 3 g; Cholesterol: 71 mg; Sodium: 808 mg; Carbohy- venient route to nutritious, tasty food. drates: 36 g; Fiber: 8 g; Sugar: 5 g; Protein: 30.5 g t’s di cult enough sustaining a healthy lifestyle without the added obstacle of being seated the majority of the day. Keeping this in mind, Danielson picked two recipes from BUFFALO CHICKEN LETTUCE WRAPS skinnytaste.com that utili e the nstant ot and altered them to off er nourishing meals 24-ounce boneless skinless chicken breast DIRECTIONS: light on the stomach. ⁄ onion, diced Combine chicken, onions, celery stalk, garlic and 1 celery stalk broth (enough to cover your chicken, add water if 1 clove garlic the broth isn’t enough) in the Instant Pot. Cover 16 ounces fat-free low-sodium chicken broth and cook on high pressure for 15 minutes. Natural ⁄ cup cayenne pepper sauce release. Remove the chicken from pot, reserve ⁄ Curb the carbohydrate intake by ditch- 6 large lettuce leaves, Bibb or Iceberg cup broth and discard the rest. Shred the chicken ing the bread for a lettuce wrap. This one 1⁄ cups shredded carrots with two forks, return to the pot with the ⁄ cup simple step can cut out large quantities of 2 large celery stalks, cut into 2-inch matchsticks broth and the hot sauce and sauté two to three carbohydrates and sodium, two major con- minutes. Makes 3 cups of chicken. To prepare let- tributing factors to an unhealthy gut. Too tuce cups, place ⁄ cup bu alo chicken in each much sodium bogs down the stomach and leaf, top with ⁄ cup shredded carrots, celery and induces that icky bloated feeling requiring dressing of your choice. Wrap up and enjoy! a loosened belt. With almost 70 percent of the immune system located in the gut, one Nutrition Information: 6 servings, Serving Size: ½ cup + veggies; Amount Per Serving: Calories: 147.5 fi ring on all cylinders is ideal for work and calories; Total Fat: 0.1 g; Saturated Fat: 0 g; Cholesterol: 0 mg; Sodium: 879 mg; Carbohydrates: 5.2 g; life performance.
Photos by Vivian Wheeler, courtesy Shutterstock Photos by Vivian Wheeler, Fiber: 1.5g; Sugar: 1.5g; Protein: 25g
PRIME WAYS 15 be well ComPsych is an around-the- clock service that provides assistance in a wide variety of areas—from counseling to help financial planning. is on the way
Prime Inc.’s 24/7 guidance resources are there to help steer you toward success. Whether you need legal advice, budgeting assistance or counseling services, just pick up the phone. BY ETTIE BERNEKING
work-life solutions. The best part? ou can their way to Mallard. He’s seen one associ- call in anytime and anywhere. The service is ate find assistance moving her mom into a here are some issues that aren’t al- part of Prime’s associate assistance program nursing home, and he’s heard of other driv- ways easy to resolve. Antsy teens, and was added to the roster to help drivers ers whose children have benefited from the T trouble in a marriage, aging par- who were calling in looking for counseling program’s counseling services. His own wife ents or mounting debt can all take a toll services they could use while on the road. is using om sych’s financial services to on your mental and physical health. Try “Drivers are on the road and away from their reduce debt and create a financial plan. “ addressing those issues while steering an 18- families for long periods of time,” Mallard tell our drivers to just call the number and wheeler down the highway. To give drivers says. “ e started getting phone calls ask- ask, he says. “ f you’re in alifornia and you a helping hand, Prime has teamed up with ing what could we do to help with tough want to find a gym, they’ll help. That’s what ComPsych—a telephone guidance resource. situations. All we could do was say your in- they’re there for—to take the stress off you Company drivers and in-house associates surance covers counseling services. But how while you’re on the road.” can connect with ualified counselors, ac- do you do that when you’re on the road? countants and attorneys 24/7, 365 days a The answer was om sych. Who’s Eligible year. “ ou can call them on hristmas, and A similar program is available for Prime’s someone will be there to help you,” says How It Works independent contractors —nearly 5,500 Brandyn Mallard with Human Resources The way allard describes it, om sych is men and women. The service is a new ad- and Insurance at Prime. like an associate’s personal oogle. They call dition for independent drivers and provides Ever since Prime added ComPsych’s call- in, tell an agent what they need help with, via telephone professional counseling plus in services, Mallard has been on a mission to whether it’s legal advice, tax preparation or confidential guidance on issues including let associates and drivers know that help is marriage counseling, and then they’re con- finances, budgeting, debt consolidation and there whenever they need it. Seeking advice nected with an expert who can help. If it’s health care. rime finali ed the details in on college planning? Just call om sych. counseling services an associate is looking June in collaboration with NAWP (National Need pet care or assistance with job reloca- for, om sych offers three ssociation of orkplace tion? om sych can help. n fact, they can free in-person or telephon- rograms . The new help with a lot of things. ic counseling sessions per GIVE THEM A RING benefits mean contract person, per issue, per year. drivers who own their own Wellness on the Road nd it’s totally confiden- rig, lease from Prime or ComPsych’s scope goes well beyond your tial. “Nine times out of COMPSYCH who have their own truck- Company drivers and in-house normal counseling service. Call in and you , don’t know if some- ing company but who haul associates call 844-393-4975 can get advice and assistance on credit and one is using this service,” guidanceresources.com Prime cargo, can all access loan problems, tax questions, retirement Mallard says. “I don’t hear WebID: PRIME the telephonic services and planning, home repair, child care, bank- about it unless an associate counseling resources. “ ou ruptcy, legal advice, substance abuse and lets me know they’ve used ENROLLMENT FIRST don’t have to be in debt or Independent Contractors and grief counseling. That’s ust a sampling of om sych and it s worked struggling,” Mallard says. Owner-Operators call what om sych can help with. The service for them while they were 866-951-8419 “Even if you just want to covers confidential counseling, financial having a hard time.” But Ask about the NAWP assistance prepare for your future, resources and planning, legal support and success stories do find program benefits. you can use this.”
16 PRIME WAYS Brianne Madura and Heather Tackett at the 2017 Prime Picnic 5K. Cab to 5K Training Program
Week day training
Alternate 30 seconds of jogging with one minute of brisk walking for a 1, 3, 5 total of 20 minutes. 1 2, 4 Walk for 25 minutes. Alternate one minute of jogging with one minute of brisk walking for 1, 3, 5 a total of 20 minutes. 2 2, 4 Walk for 30 minutes. Jog for 90 seconds, briskly walk for 90 seconds, jog for two minutes 1, 3, 5 and briskly walk for two minutes. Repeat once. fitness 3 2, 4 Walk for 30 minutes. Jog for 90 seconds, briskly walk for 90 seconds, jog for three minutes 1, 3, 5 and briskly walk for three minutes. Repeat once. Out for 4 2, 4 Walk for 30 minutes. Jog for ¼ mile (or three minutes), then walk for 90 seconds. Jog for ½ mile (or fi ve minutes), then walk ¼ mile (or for 2½ minutes). Repeat 1, 3, 5 once, but during the last walking period, walk for a total of fi ve min- utes to cool down. 5 2, 4 Walk for 30 minutes. Jog ½ mile (or fi ve minutes) then walk ¼ mile (or three minutes). A Run 1, 3, 5 Repeat once. Jog an additional ½ mile (or fi ve minutes) before If running 3.1 miles after 10 weeks of cooling down. training sounds impossible, Prime 2, 4 Walk for 30 minutes. Inc. Personal Trainer Johanna Norsic 6 Masterson challenges you to think Jog ½ mile (or fi ve minutes) and walk ¼ mile (or three minutes). Jog ¾ mile again. “Exercise is very mental, 1, 3, 5 (or eight minutes) and walk ¼ mile (or three minutes). Jog ½ mile (or fi ve minutes) before cooling down. and your attitude will dictate your success,” she says. “Stay positive.” 7 2, 4 Walk for 30 minutes. Masterson, who has spent the past 14 years helping Prime associates gain 1, 3, 5 Jog 2½ miles (or 25 minutes). control of their physical and mental health, designed this beginner’s Cab 2, 4 Walk for 30 minutes. to 5K training program that makes it 8 easy to get up and get moving. BY ADRIENNE DONICA 1, 3, 5 Jog 2¾ miles (or 28 minutes). 9 2, 4 Walk for 30 minutes. PRO TIP: 1, 3 Jog 3 miles (or 30 minutes). Don’t forget the fuel! Prime Personal Trainer Johanna Norsic Masterson recommends 2, 4 Walk for 30 minutes. eating plenty of clean whole foods, such as fresh produce and lean protein, to power your workouts. Before the race, warm up with a fi ve-minute walk. Run 3.1 miles to the RACE fi nish! Once you cross the fi nish line, cool down with a fi ve-minute walk.
Photo by Mark Harrell 10
PRIME WAYS 17 TRAINING THE FUTURE OF PRIME
There are two common threads that run through all of the honorees at the 2017 Top Instructors & Trainers of the Year Banquet. One is experience. These trainers are exemplary Prime associates, those who have paid their dues and been around the block—really the whole United States—a few times. The other, and perhaps most important, thread is passion. These instructors and trainers care deeply about keeping Prime stocked with devoted, dedicated drivers. They know what it takes and what this job can mean to people. It’s this mind-set that guides their work. BY EVAN GREENBERG
18 PRIME WAYS Trainers are vital for new drivers—and the company—to stay successful.
FUTURE OF PRIME Photo by Nathan Springer
PRIME WAYS 19 Fleet manager Zack Teisher with Danny Gibbons
anny Gibbons has been around when they’re done taking their test, and I trucks for most of his life. He was can get to see their face with a big weight D a truck driver in high school. For lifted off of their back because they’re try- several years, he was a commodities broker, ing to take care of family—when I look at arranging trucks to transfer his freight. He them, can see it right in their face right off was looking for a change of pace and joined the bat. I just get a glow out of it.” Prime almost 11 years ago. He was with Gibbons is inspired every day in his job. DANNY Prime for a year before becoming a train- It validates a lot of what he hopes to in- er, and developed his own style based on still in others. He tells stories of times on intuition. the road when he’s feeling down and then GIBBONS Now, the Prime Instructor of the Year sees a family less fortunate than him and holds the fi nal key for rime trainees to be- how it provides perspective. When he’s on come Prime associates. the road with a trainee, he pays for their “I HAVE A PASSION FOR IT. “A lot of [training] is almost like on-the- meals—“I don’t let them spend what little WHEN I DECIDED TO COME job training for a job,” Gibbons says. “[It] money they have,” he says—and sometimes TO PRIME AS A DRIVER, IT shows you how the industry works. [It] gets emotional about the gravity of it all. gives you a taste of what really goes on in He’s coached for his three girls’ sports GAVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY a truck driver’s life. One-on-one experi- teams, and now at Prime the feeling of TO COACH AGAIN, TO COACH ence of what it’s like for a truck driver to be helping someone reach their goal, regard- PEOPLE ONE ON ONE. I JUST on the road away from family, living with less of context, remains the same. someone you’ve never met before.” “I have a passion for it,” he says. “When GET A LOT OF JOY AND PLEA Gibbons’ prior experience as a driver I decided to come to Prime as a driver, it SURE OUT OF THAT.” allows him perspective to pass on to his gave me the opportunity to coach again, to trainees, to empathize with them and pre- coach people one-on-one. I just get a lot of
pare them for the road. “The joy of it is, joy and pleasure out of that.” Photos by Mark Harrell, courtesy Shutterstock
20 PRIME WAYS Fleet manager John Sample with John Lewis
JOHN LEWIS
ohn Lewis has been a Reefer trainer and instructor at Prime since 2002, J but he isn’t stubborn. He’s willing to be open and free with his thinking. That’s not to say he doesn’t feel he has wisdom to pass on—quite the opposite. But with new generations come new ideas and ways of doing things that someone stuck in a certain way of doing things might not have thought of. “The easiest way to look at it is, no off ense, I’m old-school,” Lewis says. “You get these new guys in, and the knowledge they can get from me and the older trainers is where trucking should be like a family. You help each other out.” Lewis spends very little time at home, re- turning home once every two months for a few days and staying out on the road for the majority of his time. His daughter lives in Springfi eld, and he credits her as a big help in arranging his aff airs. He prefers it this way, making lasting connections and see- ing off a new crop of drivers. “Training can be rewarding because some things. He’s had students drive off "TRAINING CAN BE you’re passing on your knowledge, and course two states without saying a word— REWARDING BECAUSE you’re helping somebody that started out there were admonishments but he laughs where you started,” Lewis says. “You’re about it now. He says that the coolest load YOU’RE PASSING ON passing on what you know. Because certain he’s ever hauled was transporting fi sh YOUR KNOWLEDGE, things change in that where I get a perspec- from Tampa, lorida, back to Springfi eld AND YOU’RE HELP tive from what they’re looking at, and I can for Johnny Morris’ Wonders of Wildlife add that to what I already know to pass on National Museum & Aquarium, escorted by ING SOMEBODY THAT to the next person.” marine biologists. STARTED OUT WHERE Prior to getting into trucking, Lewis was a But even through it all, Lewis remains YOU STARTED,” LEWIS certifi ed chef. Some health problems forced humble, harping on the fact that although a career change, and his father put him he’s an old dog, he’s not immune to learn- SAYS. “YOU’RE PASS through trucking school. “I’ve always been ing new tricks. “It’s kind of a give-and- ING ON WHAT YOU fascinated with driving a truck,” Lewis says. take really, because you learn something KNOW." He’s been in the business for 25 years new,” Lewis says. “Even from somebody now. Prior to Prime, Lewis worked four that’s new because one little thing may years at another trucking company. With have changed. And it’s something you
Photos by Mark Harrell, courtesy Shutterstock that much mileage under his belt, he’s seen don’t know.”
PRIME WAYS 21 TIM RYAN
im Ryan believes in the power of training. Oftentimes, when one of T his Tanker trainees wants to knock out their 30,000 miles, he is committed to staying out on the road with them without taking home time. Ryan cherishes his time on the road and what it’s given him, from life lessons to Fleet manager Chase lasting relationships. Darling with Tim Ryan “I run my own truck basically, and there’s always been good people to work with, and I’ve grown a lot of good friend relationships Ryan says he gets calls from his former having problems. I always let them know, from people in Prime and people I’ve met trainees “at all hours of the night.” They I’ve been with Prime long enough to know out on the road,” Ryan says. can’t cover absolutely everything in their if I can’t help them, I know where to send Ryan has been in trucking for more than time together, and Ryan’s professorial them where they can get help.” 30 years. When he joined Prime, he start- approach helps encourage an open and on- Ryan has been around long enough to ed with the training program as soon as it going dialogue. see several generations of new drivers. As was introduced. Ryan stresses to his train- Ryan sees value in this mind-set. If driv- a veteran, he understands that creating a ees that even when they leave his care, the ers know they have someone to lean on in positive, lasting experience is just as im- conversations shouldn’t stop. “My trainees, times of crisis or trouble, they’ll feel less portant as making sure new drivers have whenever they get off my truck, it doesn’t alone and more willing to attack whatever the necessary skills. mean they stop learning,” Ryan says. “I’ve they might be facing head on. “If they know the ins and outs of the way been out here going on 30 years, and I still “If they ever have any questions, they things are supposed to operate, the more learn things every day.” know they can call me,” Ryan says. “That they know the more they can be productive, also helps them stick around, because the more they can stay at it,” Ryan says. they’re less frustrated knowing there’s “If they’re not given the right knowledge,
somebody they can get ahold of if they’re they’re not going to stick around.” Photos by Mark Harrell, courtesy Shutterstock, Prime Inc.
Four to fi ve years after I was a driver [I be- WOMEN came a trainer]. [It was] kind of a fl uke that I became a trainer. My son came back with me, and he had been a driver. We both took WHO TRAIN a class for TNT, and it just sort of happened. I The ratio of male trainers to female was on another truck, and then I got a trainee. I was only going to have him for a short peri- trainers at Prime doesn’t exactly favor od and then, well that grew into, I completed women. With this in mind, Prime his training miles. You really feel good when they make it and [they’re] doing good. Ways spoke with Sharon Bailey about When I started, there were far fewer wom- her experience as a female trainer at en out here, and a lot of the women were Prime and her interactions with male more with their spouses or their boyfriends. I wasn’t married to anyone driving a truck or Sharon Bailey likes her independence as a colleagues at Prime and in her previous anything—it was just me. Most people kind of trainer and is fulfi lled by the rewarding feeling professional environments. assumed you had a husband. But I’m just out of her students succeeding, like former student Joshua Risner.
22 PRIME WAYS Brian Je ers with Fleet Manager Ken Auman
BECOME A TRAINER Thinking about becoming a trainer? It’s fairly simple.
If you’re interested in becoming a train- er—developing personal relationships, seeing people grow in their roles and getting the satisfaction of seeing them succeed—reach out to your fl eet man- ager. You’ll need a year of safe driving experience, too, but it’s never too late to step into this fulfi lling position.
of a one-on-one kind of guy,” he says. It gives him time to get to know his trainees and develop lasting relationships. “My fa- vorite part is getting to know students,” Jeff ers says. “ like the , miles part of it. We can each do our job. I don’t have to sit around and micromanage anybody. I can train an associate.” That’s about to change, though. His kids with his wife, Toshanna, are grown, so he’s apart from her and their home in Ozark BRIAN JEFFERS a good bit. Toshanna recently decided to
Photos by Mark Harrell, courtesy Shutterstock take matters into her own hands. She’s in the midst of training to become a driver rian Jeff ers has truck driving in his with her husband as her guide. “When she DNA. It’s all his grandfather ever wants to be out here, I won’t be training so B knew, and his uncle has always much because I’m training my permanent here by myself driving. More and more [wom- been interested in trucks. Prime is the only partner right now, Jeff ers says. “ f an in- en] have come out in the last few years. It really makes you feel good when some- trucking company he’s worked for in his stance comes where she wants to go home, body you worked with is out here, and they’re six-year tenure. He’s been a Flatbed trainer I don’t have to stop her.” doing it, and they’re making money and be- for about fi ve years. s he tells it, he was on Now, the pair can be together, travers- ing safe. It just makes you feel like, “Alright!” campus one day as a driver and was bom- ing the open road and doing jobs as a team. When you get a good trainee on that really barded by 13 students lobbing him all kinds “I’ve been [training] for so long, and I miss wants to do it and really—it’s pretty nice. It’s kind of like you have an extra member of the of uestions. “ fi gured could probably my wife, too, Jeff ers says. “ e’re going to family because you’re on these trucks. You help, so did, Jeff ers says. get some time together.” Training or not, know everything practically by the time they That was a turning point, and he’s been Jeff ers has developed a work ethic anda make it. I have found that if you’re able to do training since. He says he enjoys “being clear understanding of the demands of the your job, whoever you’re working around will able to help people get their careers on job. With his wife in tow, that will certainly give you the respect you’re due. track.” He’s out on the road most of the make things easier. “You gotta be willing to –As told to Evan Greenberg time, returning home about once a month. put in full hours, Jeff ers says. “ ine-to- He enjoys the social aspect of it—“I’m more fi ve guys, they don’t really cut it here.
PRIME WAYS 23 24
PRIME WAYS Photo by Coady Photography
Running the Race the Running of a Lifetime Lifetime a of Photo by Coady Photography Running the Race the Running of a Lifetime Lifetime a of Out of about 20,000 thoroughbred horses registered with the the with registered horses thoroughbred 20,000 of about Out Jockey Club each year, only 20 make it to Churchill Downs for for Downs year, to each Churchill make it Club 20 Jockey only the prominent Kentucky Derby. That’s just one-tenth of one of one one-tenth just Derby. That’s Kentucky prominent the percent. To earn a spot at the starting gate, 3-year-old colts colts gate, 3-year-old To starting the at percent. aspot earn must travel along The Road to the Kentucky Derby, a Kentucky Road to the The along travel must series of designated races at tracks across the country country the across tracks at races of designated series and around the world. Points are awarded to the top top to the awarded are Points world. the around and four nishers in each race, and the 20 horses with four with horses 20 the and race, each in nishers the most points earn a spot at the starting gate gate starting the at aspot earn points most the on the the on May. in year, Saturday This the rst at 144th Kentucky Derby, Robert and Lawana Lawana and Derby, Robert 144th Kentucky Low’s bay thoroughbred Magnum Moon Moon Magnum Low’s thoroughbred bay made it. BY REBEKAH OLSON BY REBEKAH PRIME WAYS
25 In early January, jockey Luis Saez rode Magnum Moon to fi rst place in the Maiden Special Weight race at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida.
SECURING A START IN KENTUCKY At the Oaklawn starting gate in Hot Springs, Arkansas, nine “IF LOSING A RACE DESTROYS THE thoroughbreds shu e and twitch restlessly at the post. nce all are loaded, the gates part. agnum oon breaks and JOY IN THE SPORT THEN YOU’RE IN takes the lead, his black mane fl ying behind him in the cool THE WRONG GAME.” pril air. ompetitors Solomini, uip and ombatant are hot Robert Low on his hooves, but agnum manages to keep a half-a-head to a three-and-a-half-length margin between himself and his peers throughout the tense two minutes. He comes to the rimatara wners obert and awana ow consider aklawn fi nal th of the racetrack with a burst of energy, speeding their home track. “So being able to celebrate such a huge win there toward the fi nish line and becoming the undefeated winner was incredible, Hurshman says. “They defi nitely deserved it. of aklawn’s nd rkansas Derby. agnum oon didn’t need to place at the rkansas Derby to “ inning the rkansas Derby was ama ing, says Holly ualify for a trip to ouisville. By arch, he had already earned Hurshman, assistant farm manager at rimatara in himself the ualifying points for his once-in-a-lifetime chance at
Springfi eld, issouri. “ agnum oon ran exceptionally the entucky Derby. But win he did anyway—making him a favor- Photo by Coady Photography; Illustration Alex Wolken Oaks courtesy Kentucky Photos by Coady Photography, and showed everyone his talent and what he was capable of. ite to win again in ay with - odds.
MAGNUM MOON’S ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY
It takes skill and grit to make it to the famed Kentucky Derby. Only the world’s SEPTEMBER 2016: SEPTEMBER 2016: NOVEMBER 9, 2017: fastest 3-year-old thoroughbreds even Robert and Lawana Magnum Moon arrives at Magnum Moon arrives at get a shot at the starting line. This is how purchase Magnum Moon at Payton Training Center Todd A. Pletcher Racing our Queen City sweetheart made it to the Keeneland Association in Ocala, Florida, for some Stables in Elmont, New York Yearling Sale for initial training with for race training with Todd Churchill Downs in the spring of 2018. $380,000. J.J. Pletcher. A. Pletcher.
26 PRIME WAYS Although a win at the Arkansas Derby wasn’t necessary for Magnum Moon (front right) to secure a spot in the Kentucky Derby, his victory upped his odds of winning at Churchill Downs.
Jockey Luis Saez and Magnum Moon broke ahead of the pack to become Magnum Moon's win at the Arkansas Derby put him at 6-1 the clear and away winner of the odds to win the Kentucky Derby. Arkansas Derby. Photo by Coady Photography; Illustration Alex Wolken Oaks courtesy Kentucky Photos by Coady Photography,
JANUARY 13, 2018: FEBRUARY 15, 2018: MARCH 17, 2018: APRIL 14, 2018: MAY 5, 2018: Magnum Moon places Magnum Moon places Magnum Moon places Magnum Moon places Magnum Moon starts fi rst at the Maiden Special fi rst at the Allowance fi rst at the Rebel Stakes fi rst at the $1 million at the famed $2 million Weight at Gulfstream Optional Claiming at at Oaklawn Racing & Arkansas Derby at Kentucky Derby at Park in Hallandale Beach, Tampa Bay Racetrack in Gaming in Hot Springs, Oaklawn Racing & Churchill Downs in Florida. Tampa Bay, Florida. Arkansas. Gaming. Louisville, Kentucky.
PRIME WAYS 27 Record-setting rains poured onto Churchill Downs during Magnum Moon’s appearance at the 2018 Kentucky Derby.
Trainer Todd A. Pletcher (left) runs Magnum Moon through a training lap before the Kentucky Derby.
Arriving at Churchill Downs a few days before the race allowed Magnum Moon to work out any nerves.
28 PRIME WAYS A YOUNG MAN’S DREAM or obert ow, the dream of owning a racehorse like agnum began at an early age. He grew up with horses on his family’s farm in issouri and attended races with his parents. “ went to the races with my mom and dad Trainer Todd A. Pletcher prepares Magnum at Santa nita ark before was and aklawn as a Moon for this Kentucky Derby debut. teenager, ow says. “Then awana and started going to the races together at aklawn in our mid s. rom the start, we dreamed of someday owning a racehorse. The reali ation of that dream began back in , with the construction of rimatara, a -acre, entucky edigree horse farm ust north of Springfield. Since then, owners obert and awana ow have bred, raised, sold and raced more than thoroughbreds. Today, the farm is composed of do ens of elite horses, including broodmares with foals, yearlings, -year-olds and a few racehorses. However, despite how many hors- es are at the farm, coming across a colt like agnum oon is a rare occurrence. “The odds are against you to find the right horse at the right time with the right train- er—all of the stars must align, Hurshman says. ith high hopes, obert and awana purchased agnum oon at the eeneland September Sale in and immediately hired some of the best horse trainers in the country—J.J. letcher and his son Todd . letcher—to work with him. But if there’s one thing the ows have learned from their years of horse racing, it’s that patience is a virtue. “There can be in uries and setbacks along the way that are out of your control, ow says. “ ou’ve got to en oy the wins, but you’ve also got to be able to cope with the losses. f losing a race destroys the oy in the sport then you’re in the wrong game.
PREPPING MAGNUM FOR THE KENTUCKY DERBY agnum oon ran under the watch of nationally re- nowned trainer Todd . letcher to prepare for the entucky Derby. He ran high intensity workouts every RACE RESULTS two weeks leading up to the race, with periods of rest ain hit hurchill Downs all day on Saturday ahead of in between for partial recovery. nterval training tech- the evening’s annual entucky Derby, breaking the ni ues like this promote gradual muscle, tendon and record for most rain on race day. n the slop, thor- bone ad ustment. n that way, letcher trained agnum oughbreds broke from the gates, seemingly eager for a oon to cope with the increased demands of higher chance at glory. speed work, a necessary skill for a race of this caliber. agnum oon placed th at the th entucky hurchill Downs is a huge, mega-popular track, and Derby in ay . nd even though he didn’t win the horses tend to stress at the first sign of change. So, race, he won a place in the hearts of those who cheered agnum oon arrived in ouisville days before the him on in ouisville and back home in Springfield. “Just event to get accustomed to the crowd and the course. to have the opportunity to watch the best horses in the “ e tried to keep him as happy as possible and on an world run—with yours being one of them—was priceless, even schedule, Hurshman says. Hurshman says. agnum oon wasn’t the only one prepping for the racehorse’s career doesn’t usually end at the entucky entucky Derby. “ e had shirts and hats made in sup- Derby. ften, healthy thoroughbreds without in ury can port of agnum, and obert bought derby tickets race an additional two or three years after the all-or- for rime associates to attend the race in ouisville, nothing event of a lifetime. nfortunately, after taking Hurshman says. “ e had a lot of fun getting everybody a much-needed break from the limelight agnum oon involved in the event. The atmosphere was one of pure was training again in ew ork when he suffered a cata- excitement all around. “ o matter how much we wor- strophic in ury to one of his front legs on June , ending ried or stressed, we knew we couldn’t run the race for his racing career permanently. agnum oon now faces him. So, we ust tried to en oy every moment of it while a long and difficult road to recovery, though his first sur- Photos courtesy Kentucky Oaks Photos courtesy Kentucky it lasted, Hurshman says. gery in June was successful.
PRIME WAYS 29 home turf. Lows consider Oaklawn—which the Arkansas Derbyat Moon winsthe Low’s horseMagnum Robert andLawana 30 day owning a racehorse. day owningaracehorse. ity. lus, they’re fulfi lling a young boy’s dream of one one of dream boy’s fulfi young they’re a lus, lling ity. the cutting-edge facilities based ust outside the ueen ueen the outside ust based facilities cutting-edge the oon. These top-tier animals are building a legacy for for legacy a building are animals top-tier These oon. placed third in the entucky Derby and agnum agnum and Derby entucky the in third placed gent Di o o, Steppenwolfer the ows’ racehorse who success with horses such as apote Belle, reen ee, ee, reen Belle, apote as such horses with success to work well. Throughout the years, the farm has seen seen has farm the years, the Throughout well. work to tion for greatness. tion forgreatness. daily, feeding, grooming and exercising them in prepara- in them exercising and grooming feeding, daily, other staff members on the farm, works with the animals animals the with staff works other farm, the on members