FIXTITLE Joe Stevens.docx

Celadon’s new Vice President of Driver Development, Joe Stevens sat down with NTM to discuss how much the opportunity means to him and how he plans to use his own experience in the business for the benefit of current and potential drivers seeking to establish a firm foundation in which to expand the growth of their trucking career. His empowering message on the importance of accepting, as well as, sharing the “Driver First” mentality is geared towards recognizing Celadon’s true asset: their drivers.

Having dedicated 38 years to the industry, 12 spent behind the wheel earning close to two million lifetime miles, the leadership role Joe Stevens represents at Celadon allows him to utilize his inner resources gained as a professional truck driver; turned business owner; now an executive at one of the largest transportation and logistics companies in North America. Not your typical executive, Joe delivers a new and fresh dynamic to the position with the ability to relate to his driver network, as an experienced truck driver himself. Appreciating a driver’s skill to perform while understanding the obstacles they face as professionals, Joe set his new wave of provisions in motion at Celadon in hopes to provide drivers access to the best experience possible. With the Driver First initiatives in place, positive changes will unfold as he welcomes his busy schedule and rises to the challenge.

Joe offers an insight into his background proving that his passion for the trucking industry is undeniable. Being able to help drivers receive the proper guidance allows him to give back to the driver community that opened his eyes as a young kid, once oblivious to a profession widely respected, but not duly appreciated. His personal vow to all drivers with the Celadon organization is to see to it that they are given their much-deserved recognition, while implementing any fundamental elements to better the company’s involvement with each driver.

No stranger to hard work, as a kid Joe earned his own pocket change running a paper route at eleven years old, tossing the morning newspaper before sunrise every day. Throughout high school and college, playing football was his focus with aspirations of advancing to the next level. After graduating with a business degree from the University of Kansas, Joe took an entirely different direction not only leaving behind the one sport he dedicated years of training to, but also shocking his family when he announced that he landed a job driving a truck cross-country. He claimed that six months on an open road was exactly the break he needed to help shed some light on his future endeavors, should he move forward in the corporate world. Undecided on a clear direction, the opportunity to travel the country as a truck driver ultimately paved the way for his chance to professional success; now returning to the trucker’s realm full circle.

Joe jumped into the trucking industry with both feet and immediately went over the road. What started as a journey at the age of 22, brimming with curiosity to explore the country for only a short amount of time, quickly developed into a level of excitement that entailed far more than just a window’s view of fascination. It sparked a desire that fueled a young protégé to pursue a career nearly four decades in the making. His half-a-year proposal extended to twelve years only to switch from driving a truck to owning a trucking company. It wasn’t long after he began driving a truck that he realized the possibilities within the trucking industry were endless. He then set a goal to start his own business.

Considering his experience running as a company driver and owner operator, he knew there was more to production and distribution. Joe began working on the sales and operational side to understand how to get freight, manage it, and maintain all responsibilities accompanied with owning a trucking company. Upon establishing his business in 2000 with hopes to attain at least 5 to 8 trucks, the number soon increased to 20. Once achieved, his goal became larger as did his fleet. With 90% owner operators, freight was consistent with national accounts enabling a financial lane to slowly purchase more equipment each year. By 2007, just shy of 500 trucks, Joe sold the business to his largest client with intentions to retire.

His brief stint of retirement was short lived, confirming that he has a lot more to offer our industry before he completely steps away. Over the years, Joe has been a presenter at numerous conferences speaking on behalf of the trucking industry, addressing the ever-changing trends and driver networking. He has held several key leadership positions overseeing fleet management, operations, and driver interaction. Among the administrative titles, he served as Vice President of Sales and Operations for various companies, as well as, President of a logistics company working closely with their assets and operations.

As the face of Celadon’s driver network, Joe’s position takes him back to his roots where his career first began; as a driver. At this current stage of Joe’s career, working with Celadon’s driving school, being involved 100% throughout orientations, operations, and all departments connected to the drivers’ process, there are not many curveballs a person can throw at him that can be presented as unfamiliar.

LET’S GET TO KNOW JOE

Did you foresee yourself eventually transitioning over from a driver’s position, to the other side of the business?

Honestly, I was a young kid with a dream to see the country that sort of evolved into a plan that produced a trucking company. Now here I am, years later hoping to inform and inspire other drivers through situations and the experience I gained along the way. All the while, helping steer them in the right direction.

Looking back on all that you have achieved throughout your career, what has been the biggest learning curve for you? And how do you apply that experience today?

I am not the average office manager, sitting at a desk. I’m cut from a different cloth; I wear boots and jeans every day. I have an office that I am rarely in because I’m either outside with our drivers, in the cafeteria with our drivers, or somewhere talking with our drivers getting their feedback concerning business. The reason I can relate to them is because I am one of them. I still consider myself a driver, it’s who I am. Over the course of my time out there, I’ve been in every state there is in the United States.

I tell my drivers that I can remember this one specific day like it was yesterday, I was in the middle of Queens, New York with snow halfway up my tires and this thing called a pager goes off. That must mean I got a load, and at the time I was a broke kid out there with no money, so I walked to a pay phone, dropped a dime in it and called my dispatch. He then tells me, ‘Brother, that load is gone.’ That still echoes like it was yesterday! It’s because of the emotion I felt that day that I get up every single morning and make sure that our drivers here at Celadon experience the very best career and profession they can.

Tell me, Joe what is your number one goal as Celadon’s VP of Driver Development?

My original title was Vice President of Driving Operations, overseeing our company and lease operator division. I also had my hands in our agent network, our refrigerator network, recruiting, and orientation. A lot of different areas that I enjoy being involved with, mainly since it’s second-nature for me having done it all for so long. Accepting my new role over Driver Development, essentially allows me touch base anywhere our drivers here at Celadon pass through. With this position, it insinuates my passion to ensure that every driver receives the best experience not only from start to middle, but as they continue their career within the Celadon organization. Our drivers’ outlook whether it concerns the company or their business, in general; any way we can help them achieve success and strengthen their overall relationship here with us, ALL of it is our top priority. My goal is to carry out the Drivers First mentality by building trust, assuring stability, and supporting the drivers’ needs. Putting forth the action of effort to make certain our pledge to the entire driver Celadon network, present and future, is fulfilled.

What type of impact do you wish to have on your drivers, individually and as one of Celadon’s key representatives?

I remember a gentleman that I had met at the very beginning of my trucking career. He walked me through the business, going in depth about how great our industry is, and the advantages of our job as drivers. He spoke about traveling all over and seeing the country, but what caught my attention was when he mentioned that as drivers, we can be free to make our own choices. How he explained it, I still share with others today...

‘If fuel went to twenty-five bucks a gallon tomorrow, a truck driver will still have a job. All drivers are in a very good position because regardless, freight still has to move and somebody must be the one to move it. If a truck driver in today’s environment went out to the busiest intersection anywhere in the U.S. and held up a sign that read, I am a professional CDL driver, they would have ten trucking companies within five minutes wanting to hire him or her.’

With the need for drivers on high-demand, we here at Celadon want to set ourselves apart from other organizations. Meaning, we understand that our drivers chose us and we value that decision. Believing that we are the best fit for them to help provide for their families, reminds me that my role within the company is to see everything through; that we as a company go above and beyond their expectations in a trucking company. I want to express that the message is clear from the top of the line, directly to the driver. Celadon is here because they chose us. We’re in this together.

When speaking with your drivers, what has been the most common concern brought to your attention? And how do you address it?

A lot of it revolves around communication, it’s habitual within the industry. How can we streamline communication between Celadon globally? Most importantly, with our own driver network? We have made light-years worth of improvements on how we communicate with drivers. One being, all drivers have access to me whenever they need me. 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. And two, we can streamline the communication process through the dispatch to the driver, and through customer service and the driver to ensure we have a seamless communication process.

To me, reflecting on my days being where our drivers are now, having clear communication is crucial. I am so passionate about everything that affects a driver in a sense that I feel this industry lost sight of who the most important person is within any trucking company: the driver. It is my responsibility as VP of Driver Development to ensure not only culturally here at Celadon, but beyond; our industry needs to acknowledge the fact that without truck drivers there would be no Celadon. There would be no Joe Stevens. We would be left with nothing. So, it’s imperative that my position immolates exactly that. Recognizing that the driver is the most important co-worker within our company.

There are obvious challenges in the industry professional truck drivers face that are out of their control. What is your approach to alleviate a few of these issues?

The company people here at Celadon want to counter economic volatility, so I have put in place restructured pay plans for both our company drivers and lease purchase drivers. First, to bring them more up to industry standards. Also, it’s a tier program in pricing to allow them to elevate their cents per mile (CPM), or revenue sharing as their tenure continues to grow with us. We are doing some peripheral things organizationally and operationally with our drivers in mind, from a pricing perspective to assist either that lease operator or company driver to excel.

How do you feel Celadon compares to other major carriers?

Without a doubt, some companies say they have an open-door policy, but we live and breathe the term. We encourage and instill a sense of transparency and openness. Every driver in my organization has access to my mobile phone. In fact, in orientation I make sure each driver writes down or inputs my number into their phone contacts. I take anywhere between 125 and 150 calls a day from drivers with questions, comments, suggestions, or concerns. They know that they have a direct line of communication of leadership to field those calls and most importantly, someone like myself that has driven for many years.

For many years, you have been a positive advocate in favor of professional truck drivers nationwide. Where does that inspiration come from, and/or what makes you proud to be involved within the industry?

That’s easy, the drivers. These men and women sacrifice so much personally and financially so that we as an economy can survive. Keep in mind, these drivers rely on an organization, typically an individual of the organization for their livelihood to support their families. More than likely that person has probably never driven a truck, or even lived in one for consecutive days.

With that said, to cater to a driver’s needs, we need to understand them. What they go through and what they have to deal with. Basically, we need to consider what it’s like to live and work in their shoes. We need to keep a driver-first frame of mind. The number one person in an organization within this industry is the driver. Number two is the customer.

I want our drivers to know that they can rely on me to shoot them straight and give the right intel to help them make educated decisions pertaining to their trucking career. There have been so many drivers that have been burned in this business. That’s why I am so passionate about what I do, because I feel connected to our truck drivers. I want them to know that they have someone like them that identifies with them, who supports them, and knows their full potential. And here with me at Celadon, I plan on helping them reach that point of success.

The term, priceless states a value or worth immeasurable; so great that it deems irreplaceable. You have collected great memories working in this industry, what are some of the best parts of your career that you consider priceless?

I have several, but the most significant of moments that stand out the most was the time spent when I was driving. I reflect on that part of my career every single day when I interact with these wonderful ladies and gentlemen of the profession. Also, being surrounded by the fantastic people that have mentored me along the way, outside of the truck. The ones that helped me understand operations and sales, who trained me to become the leader I am today. And obviously owning my company was a fantastic experience, due to the amazing professionals that aided my growth as a prospering individual within our industry.

With all those priceless entities fused together I was able to take my career from driver to leader, to ownership, and back full circle. But more than that, over the past 38 years I have met so many wonderful men and women professional drivers. I have friends that I met at the beginning of my career that I still talk to today. That by far has been the most pleasurable part of this career that I don’t see ending any time soon.

Joe often reflects on a quote passed on to him by a football coach, way before the truck industry ever played a part in his life. He has used the few words of wisdom to help guide him through life, applying it toward his own career, and while teaching others to follow their dreams too.

“A world only meets you halfway. You have to seize the other half.”