Only Trucking Company Awarded Amongst 10,000 Suppliers Honoring Daseke and Their Drivers
When one thinks of corporate sustainability, one often thinks of emissions, lowering carbon footprints or lowering costs. But Owens Corning has an out-of-the-box definition. “It can also include developing talent, training and retaining those drivers in an industry known for historically high turnover rates,” says Amy Mielke, Owens Corning’s transportation sourcing leader for flatbed.
And, with that, Owens Corning selected Daseke Inc., as a Supplier of the Year in its “sustainability” category. The award was presented at Owens Corning’s annual Supplier Recognition Event, recently held in Toledo, Ohio. More than 400 suppliers attended the event, and 12 companies were recognized with awards in various categories, including sustainability, safety, innovation, value creation, risk mitigation and spirit of partnership. Owens Corning works with a supplier base exceeding 10,000 worldwide. Daseke was the only trucking company honored with an award.
Don Daseke accepts the 2015 Owens Corning Sustainability Award from Owens Corning leadership, (from left to right) Tony Heldreth, Vice President of Supply Chain Transportation, Amy Mielke, Sourcing Leader, and Frank O’Brien-Bernini, Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer.
On hand to receive the award were Don Daseke, CEO of Daseke Inc., Cale Pearson, president of Central Oregon Truck Company, and Jack Potthoff, vice president of sales at WTI Transport. COTC and WTI are the two main Daseke companies that work with Owens Corning.
“This award is especially gratifying because it recognizes our most important asset – our people,” says Don. “I was extraordinarily proud to accept this award for the Daseke team from Owens Corning. To me, this is a really big deal because it’s the first award to recognize the entire Daseke family.”
According to Don, the Daseke philosophy all along has been to invest in people. “And we think it’s what makes our family of companies so successful,” he says. “People truly sustain and grow our business, and it is wonderful that Owens Corning recognizes the dedication we have in being a premier partner with them in transportation. Being the only trucking company awarded by them brings a great deal of pride to our organization.”
Printed in the Award Ceremony Brochure:
“Owens Corning utilizes the Daseke family of trucking companies, now the second largest open-deck/specialty trucking company in North America, to handle various flatbed shipments. Two of Daseke’s trucking companies stand out as leaders in attracting and retaining talent: Central Oregon Truck Company and WTI Transport. Both companies have created world-class programs to enhance the driver’s experience, both on and off the road. The companies tailor programs to the drivers, realizing there is not a one-size-fits-all for their entire driving team. They have been recognized not only by shippers, but by the trucking industry as finalists in the Truckload Carriers Association and Carrier’s Edge ‘Best Fleets to Drive For’ competition. The company’s motto holds true: ‘Invest in People.’”
“We’re very proud of the award from Owens Corning,” says Cale. “We’ve worked with them for more than 10 years and have always worked extremely hard to exceed their expectations – working with them to solve any lane issues they might have. If we hear of a challenge, we like to come back with a solution. This award truly is a testament to our driving teams though – they made it happen and when they receive news of the award, they will be thrilled.”
WTI has been working with Owens Corning for more than 15 years.
“We believe in great communication and partnerships – it makes for a great relationship, and we’ll bend over backwards to make them happy,” says Jack. “We strive for excellence, and our drivers are the backbone in all that we do. So, this honor really goes to them. We’re just so proud of this award, words cannot express.”
In late spring and during the summer, Amy and David Uncapher, Owens Corning America’s transportation sourcing leader, made visits to WTI and COTC to see firsthand how the companies worked with drivers. “We got to review how they interacted with drivers and the safety practices they had in place,” she says.
“At COTC, they have a family style atmosphere from the moment you walk through the door. Their top-layer management is available whenever drivers want to discuss a problem or chat. Drivers feel like they are truly part of the team, which is why we found their driver satisfaction score to be 93.27 percent. And, from an operational standpoint, those drivers perform. They have an on-time delivery rate of 98 percent.”
Amy’s thoughts about WTI Transport were just as impressive.
“In addition to making new drivers feel at home when they join the WTI team, the company has a ‘family care’ position,” says Amy. “This person regularly makes contact with the driver’s family – calls and welcomes the spouse and family to the WTI family. They want to make sure they are having a good experience as their spouse is transitioning into another job. That says a lot about their commitment to the driver and the family. What’s more, they’ve won numerous safety awards, including first place in ATA’s National Truck Safety Contest. It shows that drivers are as committed to WTI as WTI is to them.”
