FIXTITLE Scott Wagner.docx
THE REAL REWARD
The Story
Of
Scott Wagner
It’s not always about titles or the name engraved on a trophy. Sometimes the effort or action in-between a deed is where the focus needs to shift. When giving to another the type of present, unlike anything of purchase price lay solely in the benefit itself. To teach a person how to tap into their own talents, enabling them the power to grow in knowledge, should be considered an award sought after repeatedly. A disciplinarian’s most brilliant gift is realizing the importance of correct guidance. Then sharing, helping, and supporting others with patience through understanding and continuous teaching.
One of my favorite quotes comes from the one giver of our people that is known by her name alone; for her outpouring of kindness and urgency to spread hope. To many she was recognized as a saint, for her unfailing faith and desire to restore humanity. She nurtured the sick, the lost, and the unloved. But most importantly, she taught others that the same grace she bestowed and shared with others belonged to each one of us, as well. A personal desire for the goodness of the less fortunate at a very young age, developed into hundreds of safe locations where people receive the help they so desperately need, all around the world. An entire body of people have been touched by a single individual that simply wanted to make a difference in the world, and it all started with learning. You can only teach once you have the knowledge to pass on. This remarkable individual is Mother Teresa. Long before the accolades, foundations, and orphanages were named in her honor, she walked among the suffering in order to understand their needs. Through experience, you gain an understanding in a dialect that can connect you with your student. You are able to reach their curiosity on mutual terms. From the day she set forth on her journey to reclaim healing for the sick, she became a teacher.
Throughout life we are instructed to get an education, work hard, build solid relationships with love and have a family. Not always are these goals attained and if so, they’re pursued out of order. Which is fine and unpretentiously in our nature. However, the influential step that we miss out on can effect a person’s entire ambition. That step is, communication. How are we to understand what is expected of us and how to obtain those goals without knowing? By sharing with others the principles to sustain their goals, for whatever they may be, is the key part to making life successful. If we engaged confidence in direction, by expressing the importance of schooling and the positive outcomes derived from strong work ethics, then maybe resistance in proceeding with the two would be less of an occurrence with our up and coming generations. By being taught home values and the morals of a loving family can no doubt make a huge difference in any household. Unfortunately, so many people are not given the privilege of being educated enough on these standards. Regardless if you are self-taught or coached through an advisor anybody can improve themselves, no matter the walk of life or area in need of change. We were all unknowingly students of Mother Teresa. Just as we have people in our lives today, actively teaching us new things to better ourselves. We have mentors, role models, parents, friends… all in which, expose learning tools that we can use to our advantage.
This Legend embodies the whole purpose of his position in trucking. As a professional truck driver for almost 24 years, his primary goal has been to provide our country with the everyday requirements in order to function properly. He understands that because of the trucking industry, businesses thrive. What he takes pride in is helping his fellow trucking partners find their niche and making sure they are equipped with the abilities to succeed. Without truck drivers, most (if not all) forms of trade would come to a halt. So recognizing the value of a truck driver’s position within the industry is vital. Scott Wagner of St. Petersburg, Florida enjoys sharing with his brothers and sisters of the highway, every angle possible that has helped further his trucking career. There is no competition, nor race to contend in. Just an industry dear to Scott’s heart that he feels needs successful drivers and considers himself a counselor to those seeking guidance.
Scott is originally from Pennsylvania, but moved to Florida with his mother and stepfather while still a student in elementary school. His older brother resided with their father and the two boys often swapped homes to remain close to each parent. Scott’s father served in the U. S. Navy from 1963 to 1993. After his retirement, he remained involved as a subcontractor for the Navy for another 15 years before his passing in 2009. His mother worked as a stay at home wife, while his stepfather found employment as a roofer, which ultimately led to the family relocating to Florida for better work. At the age of 11, Scott’s mother passed away. He joined his brother at their dad’s in Lexington Park, Maryland at the Naval Air Station until after he graduated high school.
Returning to St. Petersburg in his twenties, Scott worked as a tire salesman. He also played fast pitch softball as a catcher for a league for five years. It was on a regular night off at home when a commercial aired on TV that caught his attention. It was in 1992 and he can recall the exact specifics spoken through his television that set his wheels in motion. He says, “In the commercial I quickly picked up on a few of the details like, the freedom of traveling the country and the independence that being an over the road operator offered. It is still stuck in my head today. Seeing and hearing all of the benefits that come with my job from that one commercial, and remembering how excited I was about trucking. It reminds me where I came from and how far I’ve come from that very day.” Single with no children at the time, Scott was the ideal candidate to take off over the road having no strings attached.
Scott enrolled in trucking school at the Diesel Institute of America located in Tampa, Florida. He graduated in 1993 among the top five of his class, out of 52 students. A couple of trucking companies attempted to recruit him. He selected a refrigerated company based out of Salt Lake City, Utah due to the core values of their business. The demeanor of the men speaking of the company really appealed to Scott. He decided that was the type of business that he wanted to align himself with too. The owner was down to Earth and extremely family-oriented with his employees. Scott explains, “He treated you like a friend. I grew fond of him over the next six years. He was a good man.”
With his life now on the road, the sights to visit never cease to amaze him. “There are so many places that I would never have had the pleasure to see, had I not been trucking over the road. Here are a few examples; driving over the Hoover Dam. You can’t even get a commercial vehicle near the Hoover Dam anymore. Then there are the lights of Vegas at night. How the skyline of the city light up the sky from 30, 40, even 50 miles away. I was able to see the Twin Towers and the Empire State Building. And the wildlife that you don’t get to see, like a grizzly bear eating salmon in the river or an elk out and about in its own element. Just taking in our country’s remarkable sights and landmarks and being able to observe such creatures for so many years is incredible,” he says.
His biggest influence in trucking was the man that initially helped Scott realize that his dreams are possible. The style and technique of teaching opened Scott’s eyes as a beginner to be the possibilities of anything. His complete understanding over his period of training motivated him to learn more. His trainer encouraged him, while showing him the proper way procedures are done. In the process of teaching Scott, his instructor also highlighted the importance of not only learning the ropes to perform a job, but also altered his trucking career by instilling in Scott the true meaning of passing on his own wisdom. With his teacher providing information concerning his expertise combined with his learnings, equipped him with the type of awareness that many truckers could appreciate.
The two lived together in the truck for four solid months. During that time frame his trainer covered every topic imaginable: the respected courtesy within the truckers’ realm, the comradery of the business, to helping others when they are broken down. His trainer was optimistic, hopeful and fearless. He encouraged Scott to find his way and advised him to always take initiative when aiding others. His mentor’s positive energy still shines through Scott as he counsels other drivers and students today. Having this one individual come into his life, impacted Scott’s entire way of thinking and is the reason why Scott began training student drivers himself. He says, “It’s not like I become this proud papa or anything like that. For me, it’s when I can literally see it on a driver’s face when I explain how they can do something, then watching them do it and seeing that expression of relief and excitement when they realize that they did it. I just like to see others succeed, you know? I got that from my trainer. He taught me how to be the best I could possibly be as a truck driver and how to lead other drivers through the same difficult situations. We are all in the same boat. It is important to work well together and to help each other, as much as we can. Why wouldn’t we? Who else is going to do it? Every driver behind the wheel is valuable and their job is imperative. For that alone, I enjoy counseling.”
After six years with his first trucking company Scott switched to running local, pulling boat trailers. Not quite his forte, he left after four years. He immediately landed a driving position for a lumber and mill company that built residential homes. For over nine years, he stuck to only local work hauling material for the houses until he took a job at an over the road trucking company. A few months in, he was promoted to a trainer. This was his opportunity to try and reach as many drivers as he could by educating, instructing, and directing them on the right path. Their progress was his reward. Since parting ways with the company and finding his new home at Roadrunner Transportation Systems, all of his students that he had the privilege of teaching still remain in close contact.
Determined to become an Owner Operator, Roadrunner Transportation Systems fit all of Scott’s needs that he was looking for in an established company. “They offer a good lease program and have freight that is constantly moving. With 27 terminals throughout the United States and 158 sister companies that we deliver to, if you want to really work and run hard, this is where it’s at. Busy freight means money is to be made.” With a large number of locations, also come a wide range of people to interact with inside the company, proven beneficial given the exceptional foundation in which the drivers are provided. From the various terminal managers to the office personnel, the company’s support group for their drivers is far-reaching. Scott states that each Roadrunner Transportation Systems terminal he deals with; the staff have always promoted a positive outlook. Plus, the fact that safety is their number one priority allows Scott the ability to fully trust their business decisions. He says, “The people urge us to make a difference and they stand by me in my work. That’s my kind of environment!” Scott joined the driving force of Roadrunner Transportation Systems in September of 2014 and has currently earned well over a million lifetime miles, all accident-free. He is grateful to Roadrunner Transportation Systems for the opportunity to do business for himself.
Scott has two daughters, ages 24 and 19 with his first grandbaby on the way. He travels the country with his girlfriend, Melanie in his 2016 Volvo 670 that he purchased last year. Also along for the ride is Melanie’s six-year-old English Cocker Spaniel, Sadie. Both have been trucking with Scott since 2014 and as bias as Scott is towards Melanie, it’s Sadie that he claims has become his best friend. The trio enjoy the life of living on the road in full spirits. Melanie is the perfect match and riding companion for Scott. Both share the same energetic love for helping others and the beautiful views of God’s country from state to state.
During their down time, for exercise the couple walk parking areas for metal and loose change. The money received for the exchange of their collections, half of the amount is donated to truckersfinalmile.org; a charitable organization founded by a 30-year veteran trucker. Truckersfinalmile.org is a charity that assists truck drivers and their families in times of crisis. In the event of a death of a professional truck driver, truckersfinalmile.org pays for the transportation of his/her remains to return home. Last year, Melanie and Scott recovered $203 worth of aluminum, copper, steel, and money. Only twenty-three dollars of it was actual cash found, the rest was coins.
Together, Scott and his ladies enjoy documenting their travels on their personal Facebook page called, Life from the Passenger’s Seat. Melanie often shares photographs of assorted scenic routes and the extraordinary wildlife they encounter. She keeps everyone up to date through her blogs of accidents and detours within their given location. She stays current with the laws of the trucking industry and shares all information to help keep everyone informed, as well. Feel free to give them a follow on Facebook to join them on their trucking adventures.
Their easy-going companionship makes trucking complete for Scott. He is able to do what he loves, while still being able to lend a helping hand to others with a partner that shares many common interests. Melanie describes Scott as outgoing, comical and very focused. His selfless attitude towards his previous students is what drew her in. She says, “Scott is very giving to others that are struggling. I like his characteristics like that because I’m the same way. I feel that is part of why he has been so successful in his trucking career. He cares so much about what he does and it’s important to him to do things right, then he passes every ounce of information he has on to the next person it may help.”
If everyone in this world (trucking or not), shared just a tad bit of their compassion and generosity towards others on a daily basis, imagine the impact that would take place. You don’t have to be Mother Teresa to change lives. Simply open your mind and heart to one person at a time, like these two individuals and let everything else fall into place.
“I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world.” -Mother Teresa