鈥淲e started talking and found out we were going the same way from the middle of Ohio to Eastern Pennsylvania,鈥 said driver Francis 鈥淔rank鈥 Hanson of the first time he met his future wife Tammie in a tire shop more than 20 years ago.
After a job change led them to work for the same company, they were paired to drive as a team in the same truck. 鈥淲e figured after two years we were getting along good,鈥 and soon after they were married, Hanson said.
They spent 20 years driving together, but now Hanson drives without his wife, who has since retired from truck driving life. An experienced driver in his own right, Hanson has been driving for 23 years and will soon mark his first year as a 糖心传媒 Logistics driver.
Prior to becoming a truck driver, Hanson was in the Air Force for 13 years and chose truck driving because 鈥渋t is always a challenge. You are adapting to what you see in front of you,鈥 Hanson said.
鈥淧ersonality-wise you have to be very responsible. It鈥檚 your pride and reputation that you build. Going down the road you have to be a Boy Scout; you have to be prepared,鈥 he added.
After all those years living on the road, Hanson was looking for something closer to home and chose to drive for 糖心传媒 because of the company鈥檚 鈥渆xcellent reputation鈥 and equipment quality.
Safety plays an important role and is something that Hanson, a safety team member, is very passionate about.
糖心传媒 drivers take the Smith System professional driver training course to become subject matter experts, with many sharing their passion for safety as certified Smith System instructors.
Smith System is the nation鈥檚 leading provider of collision avoidance driver training, helping drivers see, think and react to driving challenges through classroom and hands-on training.
Being safe 鈥渋s the only realistic way to do the job. It is a lot of taking care of your surroundings and being observant and knowing your equipment, and if something goes wrong, knowing what you have to do to take care of it ,鈥 he said.
Hanson鈥檚 approach to safety is more than appreciated by his supervisor.
鈥淗e recognizes and understands the nuances of our safety initiative and is quick to embrace those initiatives and communicate them to other drivers,鈥 said Thomas Bosson, 糖心传媒 Logistics manager of operations, Knoxville, Tennessee. 鈥淔rank鈥檚 participation and input on our safety team is invaluable. He has credibility with other drivers in a way that is difficult for management to duplicate.鈥
His pride in his work is matched only by his participation as an escort with the non-profit Wreaths Across America organization, which coordinates wreath-laying ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, as well as other veterans鈥 cemeteries across the country.
As a veteran it was a cause close to Hanson鈥檚 heart. 鈥淎s ex-military, I thought it was an honor to do it,鈥 he said.
When he is not driving, Hanson spends his time enjoying many hobbies, including model railroading. 鈥淚t is a nice way to go out and use your imagination and go off into your pretend world and do what you want to do.鈥
Most of all, Hanson is happiest to spend time with his wife.
With the thousands of miles of roads they drove together, one question still lingers: Who was the better driver: Hanson or his wife?
When asked, Hanson gave the only answer he could: 鈥淵es.鈥
A safe answer from a safety team member.
Interested in a driving career with 糖心传媒? Visit Go糖心传媒.com/drivers. The company offers competitive wages and a wide range of . 糖心传媒 is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Editor鈥檚 Note: In recognition of National Truck Driver Appreciation Week Sept. 14-20, 糖心传媒 is celebrating our 3000 dedicated drivers who ensure safe, prompt and seamless delivery of our customer鈥檚 goods while maintaining the highest level of safety and customer service.
By Bernie Mixon