IN HONOR - Pat Gorman and Tom Teddy
IN HONOR
Legend Nominees: Pat Gorman & Tom Teddy
This Legend article will be a first-ever for our trucking publication. Never before have we featured a military veteran team, as both of these drivers have served in the U.S. Navy with a combined record of 33 years of service, with an additional 47 years’ experience driving a truck professionally. The last 7 of their 14 years running team together, Patricia Gorman and Tom Teddy have worked as owner operators, leasing on to Bennett Heavy and Specialized, LLC in March of 2018. Joining their Government Services Division as a government secure team, they haul security-cleared shipments and general freight over the road.
Patricia, also known to many as Pat, for short, along with Tom take a uniquely challenging lifestyle and find the balance between maintaining a healthy relationship as a couple, while co-existing as business partners. Deciding upon the trucking industry as their field of choice for a second career, the opportunities for continued success lean strongly on similar principles established during their time serving in the military; the two have carved out quite a lane for themselves within an exclusive niche.
We officially met at the Great American Trucking Show this past August, hosted in Dallas, Texas. They were in attendance representing Bennett Motor Express, a family-owned company established in 1974 by CEO and founder, Marcia Taylor. Pat and Tom utilized their time at the event by speaking with other drivers about their experience with the highly-respected logistics and transportation provider. What most of the crowd in passing were not aware of is the fact that no words would be necessary if given one glance at their current truck. Both sides of their 2018 Cascadia Freightliner feature the American flag and the emblem of our great nation, the bald eagle. Their personal design stretches the entire length of the 130” bolt custom sleeper. U.S. military decals of the Armed Forces was added in support of their brother-and-sisters-in-arms and the families of military personnel. The top of the cab reads: In Honor Of Those Who Served Past, Present and Future.
Pat was born in Augusta, the state capital of Maine in September of 1959. She credits her 4 children as her reason of motivation. Realizing the difficulty navigating as a woman in her choice of careers, both predominately male-oriented fields, Pat never wavered. She dedicated 12 years to the military (all active) as a Radioman, specializing in communications technology. Pat is a Gulf war veteran, having served during Operation Desert Shield and Operation Desert Storm. Surrounded by obligations as a mother, spouse and the military, Pat was able to earn her business degree despite the onerous amount of weight on her shoulders. Stating,
“My kids as a whole are my rock, they always have been. I had to rely on my 2 daughters to step up and help with their younger brothers. Having them in my life pushed me to do better and to give more than I thought I possibly could. When so many depend on you to do well, it does something to you. Only your best will do.
My time in the Navy taught me many, many things about myself and my daily work ethic. I strive for professionalism in my work, because my quality of work represents who I am. I do things in steps to minimize failure. It helps with focus and direction; with structure you can plan towards achieving goals.”
With each accomplishment, Pat aims for a new purpose, ceasing her pace of progress. Initially starting her trucking career as a company driver, she soon transitioned to an owner operator often wearing the hat of driver trainer. Today her work history in transportation includes pulling refrigerated freight, doubles and triples, step deck, flatbed and Conestoga trailers.
Though running team presents its share of pros and cons, Pat says that she prefers Tom as a co-pilot versus traveling over the road as a solo driver. “We compliment each other,” she adds. Explaining, where one may lack in skill, the other makes up for in ingenuity; given their extensive backgrounds in military-trained proficiency, his and her ability to adapt with ease and readiness comes naturally. “Finding the chemistry to communicate is huge if a team wants anything to work. That number one rule applies in all jobs and relationships, but it especially rings true as two drivers in one truck. Communication is key! For us, our goals are just as important to the other as if they are our own. What he wants, I encourage and what I want, he supports. We work together to accomplish each other’s dreams. That’s why we work better together as a team.”
As a member of Women In Trucking (WIT), Pat feels the importance of working in an industry with strong females is extremely impactful. Operating as the other half of a two-man-team, her path to where she is now within the trucking community was her journey alone. She wishes to use her presence as a female trucker to overcome the stigma that women are of lesser value in the workforce. She speaks words of encouragement, such as; believe in yourself, follow your heart and chase big dreams. And most importantly, my favorite: we can do anything men can do AND more! She embodies the endurance of a soldier, persistence of a woman, combined with the dedication of a trucker. Her motto is, anything worth having is worth working hard for.
As praiseworthy as Pat’s personal experiences have unfolded, she describes Tom as her real-life hero. Mirroring his work ethic, she says it’s his sense of humor and genuine disposition that reeled her in from day one. In 2000, while traveling a stretch through Wyoming training a student driver, a voice came over her CB radio that caught her attention. Afterwards, as she passed the mystery driver she was able to match a face with the voice. From that day forward, Tom and Pat have been inseparable.
A Memphis, Tennessee native, born in 1962, Tom now calls the neighboring state of Missouri his home. Over the years, he has since explored our country as a professional truck driver and also during his 21 years in the Navy. Serving 7 years active and 14 in the Reserves, he finished out his military career at the Great Lakes Training Center Navy Base located in Illinois, retiring in 2005. As a skilled Navy Craftsman, Tom was a Builder in the Naval Construction Force. Construction workers, better known as the Seabees, also serve as an engineering fighting force. Their motto is simple, yet fearless: We build. We fight. Seabees are highly trained men and women who can build a Navy base from the wilderness and then defend it against enemy forces.
In search of a new profession to coincide with his schedule in the Reserves, he found himself in Florida working along the same lines in construction. “I’m accustomed to working with my hands, so of course once I rejoined the civilian world, I gravitated towards construction work. The only difference was there were no benefits, security guarantees or opportunity for future retirement in the field of construction outside of the service,” Tom explained. Once reevaluating his options, he landed a job working the docks in the shipping and receiving department for a trucking company. He filled in part-time as a casual driver, making his way to a full-time position. He gained years of experience running as a company driver, eventually crossing over to an owner operator.
Originating back to his time in the Navy, Tom often drove military vehicles. From troop carriers to dump trucks with a water tank (or water Buffalo) trailer attached. He also operated military-designed rough terrain forklifts, thinking at the time it would be good to have a wide-range of experience with various equipment and trucks. He has since added flatbed, doubles, triples and Conestoga to his impressive list of qualifications.
Of his 27 years in the trucking industry, 19 were devoted to the company that he and Pat started their careers together as a team. Almost 5 years under his belt, the two crossed paths and the adventures began. Pat states that there is not many that demonstrate a work ethic comparable to Tom, and that’s coming directly from a workaholic herself. Tom says that after spending so many years waking up early, it’s like clockwork. When the sun is up, he is up. That same consistency, he applies to his level of work. Saying, “The type of work we do, who our customers are, and where we make deliveries, professionalism is expected. It’s that willingness to go above good service and provide the best.”
Starting in 2006, Tom participated in the National Truck Driving Championships for six consecutive years, competing in the Five-Axle Class with a 53’ trailer. Eligibility to compete, professional truck drivers must have an accident-free driving record (one year prior to the event). This annual competition dates back to 1937 and doesn’t pertain to only driving skills. Each driver is tested on their knowledge of the industry’s history, current rules and regulations of the business, written exams and interviews are also conducted. Tom’s fifth year, he won 1st Place in his division, as State Champion of Illinois. The following and his final year, he took home 2nd Place.
With millions of miles between the two, Pat and Tom have mentored many drivers over the years. Tom’s biggest suggestion is for drivers to “shop the market”. Treat yourself as a free agent, then do your homework. Research multiple trucking companies, read over their pay packages, 401K and health plans, holiday pay; everything that will keep you happy on the days you’re upset. Lastly, compare the companies and see which ones line up with your priorities. Different drivers have different needs. For instance, Tom explains that they don’t particularly need home-time at the top of their list. Their children are grown with families of their own.
They refer to their custom-built truck as a house on wheels. It’s fully equipped with a bathroom (toilet and shower included), a TV with an in-motion satellite and kitchen. Traveling over the road, they’re able to stay out longer with a more flexible schedule. “Most of the time, we don’t know where we’re going. We go week to week, and so on. That’s the perk of living on the road and not owning a house. This is our home, we can literally go anywhere we wish,” Tom says.
He then adds, after selecting a trucking company, commit and see it through. And in the process, set goals if you haven’t beforehand. For them, growing a small fleet was never the big picture. However, owning a brand-new truck was. He continues, “This was our goal, getting a truck that we helped design specifically for us. As long as we keep a good maintenance program in place, it will last us as long as we need it to.” They’ve been in the business long enough to know that aside from the job itself (juggling the many roles an owner operator has), that if the wheels of a truck are not moving then no money is being made. Proper maintenance on a truck is the life line for a successful trucking operation.
Pat keeps her advice simple, directing it to any and everybody. Decide what you want to do in life and go after it. Saying, “Ours was to get this truck. Yes, the design represents us and our love for our country, but more importantly our military forces. So, we drive it in their honor.”
I’m inspired by the resilience they have carried forward with them into the field of trucking; desiring the need to continue being of service to others. They are more than a truck and two drivers. Their story is about a man and woman who understand their patriotic duty to our country and proudly recognize that we are one nation united. Through our military branches of service, the men and women who have endured tremendous sacrifices to serve and protect our freedom, the same freedom that we often take for granted, will be forever honored by Tom and Pat, joined by our entire team here at National Truckin’ Magazine.
We would like to thank Tom and Pat for their beautiful design for all to see, and for sharing their life stories, reminding us that each stage in life can be just as meaningful as you want them to be.