Inside The Triangle

In our latest episode of Inside the Triangle, Darin talks to Vice President of Fleet Operations Steven Hatten.

Steven gives us the inside scoop of what's happening inside the trucking industry and how Decker Truck Line is prepared to handle the ups and downs of it all. Listen as Steven and Darin provide great tips to our Professional Drivers on how to navigate the business and keep on truckin'!

In our latest episode of Inside the Triangle, learn what Driver Training looks like from all angles – the trainer, the trainee, and the “behind the scenes”.

Elaine Schlick from our Training Department, along with Professional Drivers David Naster and Todd Ouverson, join host Darin Ladlie to talk about our Training Program. Elaine gives a behind the scenes look at the program as she explains how she pairs trainers with trainees and discusses the requirements of becoming a Driver Trainer. David talks about his experience going through the Training Program as someone who was fresh out of driving school and is now a successful Professional Driver. Todd gives excellent advice on how to achieve your career goals (Scorecards, Diver of the Month, Driver of the Year, and Grand Champion Driver of the year – just to name a few) while being a Driver Trainer and teaching the next generation of Professional Drivers.

In our newest episode of Inside the Triangle, learn what Dispatching and Operations looks like from all angles. Our host Darin Ladlie sits down with members from our Night Operations team as well as three of our Fleet Managers from three different Terminals. 

Director of Night Operations WIllie Edgerton, along with Night Operations staff Devante Shivers and Kala Lampe, join Darin to talk about what Operations looks like after hours and what the day (night) in the life looks like. 

Then, Fleet Managers Alexa Anderson (Fort Dodge), Jimmy Mitchell (Bessemer), and Drew Cardy (Missoula) join Darin to chat about what Operations looks like from three of our Decker Terminals. Listen as Alexa, Jimmy, and Drew compare dispatching techniques give advice to our Professional Drivers o how they can be successful.

Lastly, Darin announces the June Drivers of the Month and talks about the Scorecard and Safety bonuses.

With a refreshing new format, our podcast is now monthly and will feature multiple segments per episode. Don’t worry – even with the new format, it will still sound familiar as we have brought back our host, Darin Ladlie!

A brand new episode of the Decker podcast is now available.

Patrice Fourtina (Director of Driver Development) and Rick George (Vice President of Safety) join host Darin Ladlie to talk about the Truck Driving Championships, the Roadcheck Inspection Blitz, and the new Lytx system we are installing in our trucks.

Decker Truck Line competed in the Iowa and the Montana TDC. The following Professional Drivers competed in Montana:

Roy Middlestead
Art Clubb
Lyle Turville
Donny Nealey
Ron Buck

The following Professional Drivers competed in Iowa:

Todd Ouverson
Tom Melton
Mike Graf
Mike Mertz
Felix Perez

Professional Drivers Lyle Turville and Dean Filmer are going to the National Truck Driving Championship in Indianapolis after placing 1st in their respective categories during their state Truck Driving Championships.

Lyle Turville earned 1st place in Sleeper Berth at the Montana TDC.
Dean Filmer earned 1st place in 5-Axle at the Iowa TDC.

Then, Lindy Batcheller (Driver Coach) joins Tammy O’Tool (Vice President of Administration) to go over a brand new Lytx FAQ page that was created to help drivers as we transition from SmartDrive to Lytx.

Lastly, Darin announces the May Drivers of the Month and talks about the Scorecard and Safety bonuses.

With a refreshing new format, our podcast is now monthly and will feature multiple segments per episode. Don’t worry – even with the new format, it will still sound familiar as we have brought back our host, Darin Ladlie!

Back by popular demand! A brand new episode of the Decker podcast is now available.

With a refreshing new format, our podcast is now monthly and will feature multiple segments per episode. Don’t worry – even with the new format, it will still sound familiar as we have brought back our host, Darin Ladlie!

Professional Driver Todd Ouverson joins host Darin Ladlie over the phone in this Decker Driver Spotlight episode!

In this episode, Todd talks about being a “Rookie” and his first year’s experience at the Iowa Truck Driving Championships (TDC).  The Decker Team, which consisted of Tom Melton, Dean Filmer and Todd Ouverson, took 3rd Place in Team Overall Points!  Congratulations to the Decker Team, you did a great job representing Decker Truck Line!

Todd and Darin also talk about the Driver of the Month and Driver of the Year program and give advice to those whose goal is to earn the title of Driver of the Year.

Stick around to hear Darin announce the July Drivers of the Month and he also shares the payout of the July Scorecard and SmartDrive bonuses!

Listen closely to hear Todd’s fun trivia question. The first person to answer correctly wins a Pilot Flying J gift card.

Professional Driver Lisa Ohrmundt joins host Darin Ladlie this week on our Inside the Triangle Decker Podcast.  Listen in because they go over the Decker Scorecard in detail and Lisa shares some great advice on how you can be successful and earn a great bonus each month!

In this episode, Lisa gives tips from a Driver’s perspective on how to excel at each of the seven categories of the Scorecard:  Fuel Compliance, Idle, Miles, Claims, Service Failures, Preventable Accidents and CSA Violations.  Lisa also gives advice on keeping a low SmartDrive score too.

Listen closely to hear Lisa’s fun trivia question.  The first person to answer correctly wins a Pilot Flying J gift card!

In today’s episode, Stephanie Hade, Front Desk Receptionist & Administrative Assistant, joins host Darin Ladlie to talk about our Decker logo items and our Decker Company Store!

Stephanie tells us everything we need to know about the Decker Store:  the great variety of items that you can find there, where it is located and what forms of payment she is able to accept.  She also explains how Drivers, and anyone for that matter, can purchase things in person, can order online, over the phone and how she is able to meet the many special requests of our diverse Driver Team!

Listen closely to hear Steph’s fun trivia question. The first person to answer correctly wins a Pilot Flying J gift card!

In today’s episode, Alexa Anderson, Allie Leedom, and Juan Rodriguez (Willie’s Angels 😃) from our fantastic Night Ops team join Darin to talk all about what goes on after hours at Decker Truck Line.

Darin starts with a “congratulations” to Alexa for being promoted to Fleet Manager! Congratulations Alexa, you earned it!

Listen as the group talk about how they got into working at Decker in the Night Ops department, and chat about their most memorable “after hours” moments! They also talk about the different shifts they work as the Night Ops team, and how they get prepared to work after hours without the rest of the departments in the office.

Last but not least, Darin announces our June Drivers of the Month and the June Scorecard and SmartDrive bonuses. We have a goal for next month…let’s reach $90k in bonuses!! You can do it!

Listen closely to hear Darin’s fun trivia question. The first person to answer correctly wins a Pilot Flying J gift card!

In this highly anticipated episode, Fuel Manager Janelle Sorenson and Fleet Manager Andrew Mlodzik join Darin to talk all about Decker’s Fuel Program, with special guest Professional Driver Dale Leman!

This is a great opportunity to learn about our Fuel Program from the perspectives of a Fleet Manager, a Driver, and the Fuel Manager herself. Janelle explains why the fuel solutions are important and how she decides where fuel stops are routed. Andrew tells us what to do if you can’t make it to your fuel stop or if you have any questions regarding your solution. Dale gives great advice to Drivers on how to attain all 50 Fuel Compliance points in your scorecard. Janelle, Andrew, and Dale also give their words of wisdom to all Professional Drivers out there!

But first, Professional Driver Tim Olden stops in to tell us about the latest truck show he participated in – the Walcott Truckers Jamboree. Tim brought DTL two trophies, including Third Place in Working Truck Combination for his tractor and our IMTA trailer! Congrats, Tim!

Listen closely to hear Darin’s fun trivia question. The first person to answer correctly wins a Pilot Flying J gift card!

In this episode of Inside the Triangle, Kati Frahm takes over as host to interview Darin Ladlie for our 52nd episode!

Darin takes a deep dive into the Lease Purchase (LP) and Owner Operator (OO) Program offered here at Decker Truck Line. He talks about what a Professional Driver should expect as a LP/OO Driver when it comes to pay, fees, taxes, benefits, and more. He also gives great advice to Drivers who are thinking about joining the program and how to be successful!

Darin also updates our listeners with a WorkHound Win! Decker Truck Line is excited to announce that we are increasing our employer match on your 401(k)!

And lastly, Darin announces our May Drivers of the Month and gives details on our May Scorecard and SmartDrive bonus payout.

Listen closely to hear Darin’s fun trivia question. The first person to answer correctly wins a Pilot Flying J gift card!

In this episode of Inside the Triangle, Jesse Butler (Recruiter), Kati Frahm (Communications Coordinator), and Tammy O’Tool (Vice President of Administration) join host Darin Ladlie to talk about our Maintenance Department Appreciation Week, and also to talk about all the different channels of communication that we have to offer for our Professional Drivers!

As you know, this week is our Maintenance Department Appreciation Week where we give our thanks to this fantastic team. They work endlessly to make sure our Professional Drivers are safe and on the road. We hope you’ve had a chance to shop at one of our 6 shops to grab some lunch and take the time to say thanks to all of the very hard workers in the Maintenance Department.

Jesse, Kati, and Tammy also discuss our various means of communication where we release any news, announcements, updates, and other items that you may need to know about! We also have lots of different social media channels where we post photos, videos, safety messages, and more!

Stick around as Darin goes head-to-head with the Communications Gals in a fun trivia game!

Listen closely to hear Darin’s fun trivia question. The first person to answer correctly wins a Pilot Flying J gift card!

Please join us as Laura Biberdorf, Detention & Appointments Coordinator and Megan Laughlin, Customer Service Assistant, join host Darin Ladlie in this week’s episode of Inside the Triangle.

In this highly requested episode, Megan, Laura, and Darin talk about Detention Pay and everything that goes on behind the scenes to make sure our Drivers are being compensated correctly.  Plus, Laura and Megan give Drivers some great tips that can help the process be as efficient as possible.

Darin also reports that we have another WorkHound Win!  DTL’s tarping pay has been raised to $25.00!  Thank you Drivers for all your suggestions you’ve been sending in through WorkHound.  Keep them coming!

Listen closely to the end of the podcast to hear Megan’s fun trivia question.  The first person to answer correctly wins a Pilot Flying J gift card!

Decker Driver Spotlight!

Professional Driver Patrick Barb joins host Darin Ladlie over the phone in this episode of Inside the Triangle.

Patrick is a new Decker Driver who joined the DTL family back in March. In this episode, he and Darin discuss Driver Orientation and what the onboarding process was like. Patrick also talks about the ART Program and why he thinks it's such a great tool for Drivers joining Decker. Patrick's advice is to not be afraid to reach out and talk to someone. Whether you have a suggestion, have a frustration, or just need someone to talk to, the staff at Decker are a listening ear! 

Listen closely to hear Darin's fun trivia question! The first person to answer correctly wins a Pilot Flying J gift card!

Nick Hillesheim, Chief Sales Officer of TVC, joins host Darin Ladlie over the phone in this special episode of Inside the Triangle!

Listen closely to hear Darin’s fun trivia question! The first person to answer correctly wins a Pilot Flying J gift card from Darin!

Professional Driver Tim Olden joins host Darin Ladlie to talk about the East Coast Truckers Jamboree Tim attended last week!

The East Coast Truckers Jamboree was May 6-9 in Kenly, North Carolina and Tim was proud to present his 2012 Peterbilt 386. Although the weather wasn’t the greatest, and even damaged his truck signage, Tim had a great time showing off his exceptional truck and promoting Decker Truck Line! He even brought home a trophy that DTL will proudly display in our trophy case! Tim’s next truck show is the Walcott Truckers Jamboree, July 8-10 in Walcott, Iowa.

Darin also takes time to congratulate Tim on earning his Million Mile and 2020 Owner Operator of the Year. Congratulations, Tim!

This week, our guest Tim has a trivia question! The first person to answer correctly wins a Pilot Flying J gift card from Darin!

In this episode of Inside the Triangle, Melissa Harrison from WorkHound joins host Darin Ladlie over the phone to talk about the exciting things we’ve been able to accomplish so far thanks to Driver comments and suggestions!

Melissa works closely with Darin, Jarod, Jason, and Tammy each week to deliver our Drivers’ anonymous WorkHound comments. Melissa talks about why anonymous feedback from employees is an important tool to improve company culture and create a great place to work! Decker Drivers have done a fantastic job leaving feedback and we truly appreciate every single comment – the good, the bad, and the ugly. Your feedback is vital to the success of Decker Truck Line!

Melissa and Darin also talk about how we are now using WorkHound for office and shop staff. We cannot wait to hear your thoughts and ideas!

Listen closely to hear Darin’s fun trivia question! The first person to answer correctly wins a Pilot Flying J gift card!

Matt Lynch joins host Darin Ladlie in this episode of Inside the Triangle. Matt has been with Decker for 15 years and has grown tremendously in his career, starting as a body shop tech to now being the Director of Maintenance Operations, overseeing each of Decker’s body shops.

In this episode, Matt and Darin talk about all the new equipment Decker Truck Line is getting this year, and the challenges Matt has had to face in acquiring new equipment during Covid. Although Covid has had a major effect on manufacturers and production this year, Matt is excited to share that Decker is getting over 300 new trucks and over 100 new trailers this year!

Matt and Darin also give a brief overview of each of our body shops, and provide some details about our brand new shop in Des Moines, IA!

Matt also takes time to give a special “thank you” message to our mechanics.

Listen closely to hear Darin’s fun trivia question! The first person to answer correctly wins a Pilot Flying J gift card!

Decker Driver Spotlight!

Professional Driver Chad Hazelton, with special guest Alan Henderson, join host Darin Ladlie in this episode of Inside the Triangle.

Chad talks about his strategy to getting a perfect 1,000 Scorecard and says it’s takes a bit of determination but it’s really not that difficult. Chad also talks about how he got into the trucking industry and why he picked Decker Truck Line. Darin and Chad go on to chat about Chad’s hobbies, which include working on things in his shop and watching all things sci-fi!

Listen closely to hear Kati’s fun trivia question! The first person to answer correctly wins a Pilot Flying J gift card from Darin!

Stick around as Darin names our March Drivers of the Month and talks about our Drivers’ amazing Scorecard accomplishments this month!

Jeremy Foster, Director of Operations – Southern Flatbed Division, joins host Darin Ladlie over the phone in this episode of Inside the Triangle! Jeremy talks about how he ended up in the trucking industry and shares his priorities pertaining to his role at Decker: being a leader to the Bessemer Operations Team, supporting their Drivers, while staying profitable and efficient. Jeremy has seen a lot of growth in his 5 years at DTL, and says it’s because of the Driver-first mentality here at Decker.

Then, Darin and Jeremy congratulate the 2020 Grand Champion Driver of the Year, Anthony Vasquez, who was the Southern Flatbed Driver of the Year for 3 years in a row. Jeremy says Anthony is an example of how Professional Drivers can succeed as long as they do the hard things right and put safety first.

Stick around as Darin asks a fun trivia question. The first person to answer correctly wins a Pilot Flying J gift card from Darin!

Fleet Manager, Cynthia Seagren, joins host Darin Ladlie to talk about what being a Fleet Manager at Decker Truck Line is all about!  Cynthia and Darin discuss what a day in the life of a Fleet Manager looks like, from the moment she walks in the door to the moment she leaves. There is a lot of creativity that  goes on behind the scenes that our Drivers may not be aware of. Cynthia also talks about being a military wife and raising her two boys while her husband, Nate, is overseas serving our country. Cynthia is able to hold it all together while juggling her home life and work life!

Stick around as Darin asks a fun trivia question. The first person to answer correctly wins a Pilot Flying J gift card from Darin!

Katy McFarland, Driver Onboarding Coordinator, joins host Darin Ladlie in this week’s podcast. This episode is jam packed with lots of great info and news! Darin announces Anthony Vasquez as our Grand Champion Driver of the Year! Congratulations to Anthony and to all of our 2020 Division Drivers of the Year: Tom Melton, Todd Ouverson, Chad Hazelton, Tim Olden, and Cyndi & Todd Hopes. Darin also names our Million Mile Drivers for 2020: Martin Blanker, Arthur Clubb, Chad Hazelton, Garry Howard, Shawn Landfear, Adan Lugo-Baez, Tim Olden, David Starrett, Ronald Burken, Ed Woodley, and Allen Chapman. Way to go, congratulations and thank you all for your hard work and dedication to safety!

Next, Katy talks about her new role she has stepped into at Decker: Driver Onboarding Coordinator. Her goal for this new position is to streamline Driver Orientation and help make Orientation a great process for our Drivers. From the moment a Driver walks through the door until the moment they step into their truck, Katy’s goal is to make every step of the way a seamless process for our Drivers!

Katy also talks about her experience as Sherriff’s Reserve for Boone County. She has some crazy experiences while working in law enforcement that she chats about!

Then, Katy and Kati go head-to-head in Trucker lingo trivia!

Stick around as Darin asks a fun trivia question. The first person to answer correctly wins a Pilot gift card from Darin!

Decker Driver Spotlight!

Professional Drivers, Cyndi & Todd Hopes, join host Darin Ladlie in this special episode of Inside the Triangle. Cyndi & Todd are our 2020 Team Drivers of the Year and are now in the running for Grand Champion Driver of the Year for 2020! The Hopes were also our winners of the Take Pride in Your Ride drawing for receiving a Level 4 during their appearance inspection and talk about why they like to keep their truck in mint condition.

In this episode, The Hopes talk about their experience coming from being solo drivers to now being a Team Driver at Decker. They both have long driving careers and chat with Darin about what it was like to be a driver back in the good ol’ days. The Hopes have great advice to help other drivers achieve a high scorecard, and Cyndi also gives excellent advice to women who want to enter the driving industry.

Stick around as Darin asks a fun trivia question. The first person to answer correctly wins a Pilot gift card from Darin!

Decker Driver Spotlight!

Professional Driver, Thomas Remington, joins host Darin Ladlie to talk about – you guessed it – all  the different ways he has learned to cook in his truck! Thomas was recently featured in our local Fort Dodge Messenger newspaper and Overdrive Magazine because of his love for cooking, and he is now a freelance food writer for Overdrive! Thomas and Darin chat about ways Drivers can cook great meals while on the road and all of the different supplies Thomas keeps on hand. Stick around as Darin asks a fun trivia question. The first person to answer correctly wins a special prize from Darin!

Lastly, Darin names our February Drivers of the Month and talks about the February Scorecard Bonus payout.

Lysa Bockoven, Compliance & Work Comp Specialist, and Jen McCuddin, Cargo & Compliance Specialist, join host Darin Ladlie to talk about what their roles are in the Safety Department and what they do on a daily basis to take care of all of our Decker Drivers.  Lysa discusses CSA points and what a Driver should do if they get a violation while Jen discusses how Drivers can protect themselves against cargo claims by using load locks, keeping updated seal records, etc.  Lysa and Jen then wrap it up with their “words of wisdom” to all Drivers - - the Safety Department is there to help you, so don’t be afraid to give them a call!

Director of Recruiting, Abbie Reed, joins host Darin Ladlie to update us about what’s going on in the Recruiting Department! Abbie talks about the Driver Referral Program and all new incentives for the program this year. Abbie also challenges our Professional Drivers to refer 5 Drivers by the end of 2021 for a chance to win the extra bonus at the end of the year! Darin and Abbie then discuss the new minimum and guarantee pay and explain how this could help a Driver if something out of their control happens over the road.

Darin gives us an update on Workhound and gives a special “thank you” to those who have submitted comments in the survey. We love hearing your thoughts and we are working hard to implement your ideas and look forward to hearing more and more suggestions!

Stick around to hear Darin announce the Division Drivers of the Year!

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Decker Driver Spotlight!

Professional Driver, Lisa “Selfie Queen” Ohrmundt joins our host, Darin Ladlie to chat about everything trucking! Lisa has been with Decker for a little over a year and has already made a lasting impact, including being selected for Driver of the Month in June 2020 and January 2021! Get to know Lisa as she talks about how she got into the industry, why she loves social media, and what her big dreams are after she retires.

Darin and Lisa also give advice to new Drivers and talk about what they wish they knew when they were first starting out.

Jason Sorlien, Retention Manager & Safety Coordinator at our Missoula, MT terminal, joins host Darin Ladlie over the phone for Part 2 of our Geotab series!  Jason teamed up with several departments here at Decker to create a very detailed resource manual to help our Professional Drivers with the transition to Geotab.  This manual was designed to not only train Drivers on their new tablet, but also to help any Driver who may just have a simple question regarding this new ELD system.  Jason and Darin explain where to find the manual, what you’ll find inside, and discuss common Geotab questions or issues that Drivers are experiencing.

Darin and Jason also give a friendly reminder to treat your fuel and how to protect yourself in this dangerously cold winter weather!

Ashley Pettus, Compliance Specialist, joins host Darin Ladlie to talk all things Geotab! Ashley has been working on the Geotab project since the very beginning so she has lots of valuable information to share, including some exciting news that you don't want to miss! Ashley and Darin run through all the steps a Driver needs to take when first getting their Geotab, and talk about how it makes a Driver's job so much easier!

Recruiter, Jesse Butler, joins host Darin Ladlie over the phone from Montana to talk about our Health & Wellness month here at Decker Truck Line. Throughout the episode, Jesse and Darin discuss three important aspects of health & wellness: sleep/mental health, nutrition, and fitness! Listen as they chat about easy stretches and exercises you can do from inside your truck, provide you with tips on how to choose healthy food on the road, and why it’s so important to start your day after a good night’s rest.

DISCLAIMER: as always, remember to consult your doctor before making any major changes, and before starting a new diet or exercise regimen.

In this week’s episode, our host, Darin Ladlie, relays a few messages from different departments here at Decker Truck Line.  Darin talks about WorkHound and all the great feedback and suggestions we’ve already gotten from our Professional Drivers and how we look forward to implementing your ideas and can’t wait to receive more!  Other topics Darin covers in this episode are FREE Wi-Fi in our Decker trucks with GeoTab, how to prevent overweight tickets, and he also gives some great winter weather driving tips!

Stick around to hear Darin announce the December Drivers of the Month and the December Scorecard Bonuses!

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

In this week’s special episode, Sgt. Robert Wittkowski from the Iowa D.O.T. joins host Darin Ladlie over the phone from Ankeny, IA to answer YOUR Driver questions. Sgt. Wittkowski goes in depth about what is a D.O.T. inspection and all the different levels there are. He and Darin discuss how a Driver can best prepare for an inspection from an officer (spoiler alert—it’s by doing a pre-trip inspection) and Sgt. Wittkowski even talks about what the most common violations are.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Fleet Manager, Matt McConaughey, joins host Darin Ladlie over the phone from Missoula to discuss the current winter season and how to stay safe through the difficult conditions by chaining your tires and treating your fuel with anti-gel. Matt and Darin tell us about how the different climate patterns from all across the country can affect our freight.

They also take time to chat about the recent Fiesta Bowl game between the Iowa State Cyclones (Darin’s team) and the Oregon Ducks (Matt’s team).

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Driver Decker Spotlight!

In this episode of Inside the Triangle, Professional Driver, Tim Olden, joins our host, Darin Ladlie, to talk about everything trucking! Tim has been in the trucking industry for over 30 years and chats about his excitement for trucking – he even owns 2 trucks! Darin and Tim talk about transitioning to a Lease Purchase and Owner/Operator Driver and how to be successful by treating it like a business!

Stick around as Darin names our November Drivers of the Month!

Communications Coordinator, Kati Frahm, joins host Darin Ladlie to talk about the holiday spirit here at Decker Truck Line! Some pretty special traditions have been formed over the years and this year is no exception. Even through this crazy pandemic, the spirit of giving is still a very important part of this holiday season here at DTL.  Listen in as they share the many things that Decker and all of our amazing employees are participating in this year - - from sponsoring special families and local organizations, to sharing through giving trees, to showcasing our Decker light display at “Lights at Kennedy”, which is a huge fund raiser for our community!

Listen to the end as Don Decker adds his holiday wishes, the November Scorecard Bonuses are revealed and Kati and Darin remind all Drivers to submit their questions for our upcoming guest, a DOT Officer.

Sending our warmest wishes this holiday season from everyone here at Decker Truck Line, Inc.  It is the best time of the year to say Thank You and to wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Fleet Manager Spotlight!

Fleet Manager Gary Northrup joins host Darin Ladlie to talk about what it was like growing up in the trucking industry.  Darin and Gary both started driving with their fathers so they have a lot to say about what the equipment was like and what they think the future holds for the industry.  They also reminisce over their favorite stops from back in the day and driving to the many Iowa State football games and bowl games!

As humble as Gary is, they never even touch on the fact that in Gary’s many years of driving, before becoming a Fleet Manager, in 1990 he was selected by the Iowa Council of Safety Management as Iowa’s Driver of the Year!  What an honor that was for Gary and for Decker Truck Line.  Gary’s many miles driven and accomplishments certainly attribute to his success as a Fleet Manager!

Decker Driver Spotlight!

Professional Driver Steve Alliger joins host Darin Ladlie to share some exciting news!

In 2018, Steve was selected as Decker’s Midwest Reefer/Van Division Driver of the Year as well as our Grand Champion Driver of the Year.  Then in 2019 he was nominated for and selected as the Iowa Motor Truck Association’s Driver of the Year.  And now, because of his professionalism and superior driving record, Steve has been selected as one of the 5 finalists for the American Trucking Association, the ATA’s Safety Management Council and the SMC Awards & Recognition Committee’s 2020 National Driver of the Year!  What an honor!  We are very proud of Steve’s accomplishments and know he will represent Decker Truck Line with flying colors!  Listen in as Steve shares a little bit of his history and a few driving tips.

Also, stick around as Darin updates us on the Decker Driver Referral Bonus payouts for the month of November.

Meet Elaine Schlick, Driver Trainer and Orientation Instructor, on this week’s episode of Inside the Triangle.  Elaine joins host, Darin Ladlie, to explore Driver Orientation at Decker Truck Line.  They walk through, day by day, the first week that Drivers join the Decker Team and how they help to prepare them to get out on the road.  And, once seated in a truck, the connection doesn’t end; Elaine and the Driver Orientation Team are always willing and able to help, answer questions and give guidance to ensure a successful career here at DTL!

Rick George (Vice President of Safety) and Tyson Vance (Director of Maintenance Support) join host Darin Ladlie to discuss ways to stay safe while driving through winter weather. Darin, Rick, and Tyson provide well-rounded advice and guidance from the perspectives of Safety, Maintenance, and Drivers. Darin also makes a special announcement about an upcoming guest we will have on the podcast.

Stick around to hear about the Scorecard Bonus and October Drivers of the Month!

Health & Benefits Manager, Andrea Kloberdanz, joins host Darin Ladlie to talk about Open Enrollment and all things Decker Benefits! Andrea goes over all the different insurance options that Drivers and Office/Shop employees have available to them and how to sign up.

Driver Recruiter, Jesse Butler, joins host Darin Ladlie over the phone to talk about the Driver Referral Bonus Program and the Minimum Pay Program.  Jesse and Darin explain how referring other Professional Drivers to join the Decker Team can be a very lucrative way to make extra money. The more Drivers you refer, the better the incentives get!  They also talk about the new Driver Minimum Pay Program and why they’re so excited about this opportunity for Drivers.  Jesse and Darin go over the requirements needed to get the minimum pay; and how Drivers can enjoy quality home time and still maintain a steady paycheck.

Decker Driver Spotlight!

Professional Driver Crystal Haun joins host Darin Ladlie to chat about why she took the leap to join the trucking industry, and who inspired her to start her career as a Professional Driver after having a desk job her whole life. Crystal talks about how SmartDrive, Transflo, and her Driver Manager Drew Cardy have all helped her along the way to help her reach her goals, and she also shares great tips for Drivers who are new in the industry.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Vice President of Operations, Michael Erritt, joins host Darin Ladlie to wish Fleet Managers a happy "Fleet Manager Appreciation Week." Michael shares why Decker came up with a special week to celebrate our Fleet Managers and talks about everything that our FMs do on a weekly and daily basis  to make sure their Drivers are taken care of on the road. 

Then, Darin talks to three Drivers: Charles Ghan, Greg Narciso, and Joseph Parris about their Fleet Managers Zac Bax, Jerry Chapman, and Josh Killingsworth. These Drivers share fun stories and talk about why they are thankful for their Fleet Managers. 

Fleet Manager Spotlight!

Fleet Manager Zac Bax joins host Darin Ladie in this week’s Fleet Manager Spotlight episode. Zac and Darin chat about what it was like growing up in Texas, Zac’s favorite sports to play, and of course lots of hunting and fishing talk!

Decker Driver Spotlight!

Professional Driver Jerry Arthur joins host Darin Ladlie to chat about what it was like in 2006 when Jerry first started at Decker compared to now! Jerry and Darin also talk about transitioning to a Lease Purchase Driver and how to overcome any obstacle that may come your way.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

Fleet Manager Demisha Hubbard joins host Darin Ladlie over the phone to chat about what a day in the life of a Fleet Manager looks like at our Bessemer, AL terminal. She talks about why it’s important to have open communication between Drivers and Fleet Managers and provides guidance on making truck driving a lucrative career.

Demisha also touches on important topics such as college football and 80s hair metal bands.