Spring 2026
DRIVER AWARDS, WHEEL MASTER LUNCHEON, TMC NEWS & BLACK AND CHROME SALUTES!
DRIVER AWARDS
5 YEARS SAFE DRIVING
CARTER, DESMOND LACARLOS
KEITH, DEMETRIA DEANNA
MILLER, KENTON R
RATLIFF, LONNIE M
SANDERS, CHRISTOPHER MICH
SIGLER, MATTHEW B
SZEMAN, CHARLES JOSEPH
WELLER, MICHAEL J
WELLS, CAYLON LEE
YOUNG, BRYAN J
ABELS, JACOB
CHOTROW, KEVIN
COMMINS, MATTHEW
CONKLIN JR, WILLIAM
DIMICK, DONNY
HERLACHER, BENJAMIN
LATHAM, ALEXANDER
MACOMBER, DEANMARTIN
MARMOLEJO JR, CESAR
OLSEN, SHAWN
PHILLIPS, STEVEN
RAY, MAURICE
WALKER, SHON
WHALAND, ERNIE ANDERSON, MICHAEL SCOTT
BABINEAUX III, PAUL DEMOV
BERGER, FLORIAN
DENNIS, CLAUDIUS NORMAN
FOWLER, WILLIAM ALEXANDER
GARLAND, KEVIN ANDREW
GORDON, JARED DRAKE
HAINES II, PHILLIP GLYN
HARRIS JR, ANDRE L
HUNTER, DEREK R
QUINLIVAN, MILES GREGORY
SEATON, MARVIN ANTHONY
SLAUGHTER, DONNA JEAN
THORNTON, FREDRICK T
TRIGG, CLINT ALAN
WARWICK, JONATHAN L
10 YEARS SAFE DRIVING
BARBER, WESLEY J
JETER, CALVIN CAVALIER
LANE, JEFFERY L
COTTRELL, PAXTON
EDDY, BRADFORD
FULLER, JEFFREY
KERR, GABRIEL
MATOS, JOEL
WILSON, PAUL
ARGENTA, BRIAN K
BROWN, SHAWN DEVON
CLASSEN, ANDREW J
STRICKLAND JR, WILLIAM S
15 YEARS SAFE DRIVING COWGUR, BRADLEY S
STEHOUWER, GREGORY H
BUTTS, BLAINE
CHANDLER, PAUL COFFMAN, FRANK
GAUDIN, WILLIAM
JAMES JR, LEE
COPPIN, BRADLEY B
20 YEARS SAFE DRIVING
BEASLEY, JESSE
FOX, CORY
MILLS, ROBERT
MCDONALD, ARTHUR D
25 YEARS SAFE DRIVING ROBERTS, JUSTIN E
1 MILLION SAFE MILES
HOWARD, CHRISTOPHER LEE
2 MILLION SAFE MILES
HARVEY, TERRY WAYNE
ROBERT HOFFMAN NAMED TMC’S 2025 WHEEL MASTER
Every year, TMC recognizes one outstanding driver as a Wheel Master. This award honors someone who has demonstrated career-long excellence, hard work, and an unwavering focus on safety.
We’re so proud to announce that Robert Hoffman is our 2025 Wheel Master. While Robb’s tenure and safe miles—nearly 25 years with TMC and 2.7 million safe miles— are incredible on their own, the story of his career at TMC and the reputation he’s built at our company are even more remarkable.
Customer Service Representative Mike Makovec sums Robb up simply: “He’s just unbelievable.”
BEGINNING A GREAT CAREER
Robb came to TMC after serving in the Air Force. His military service and his time at TMC have had many things in common, he says: “The standards, the discipline, the need to do the job correctly the first time. If you don’t take pride in what you do every single day, it’s just not worth doing. And it’s something I’m very proud of.” And Robb has certainly demonstrated this pride every day of the nearly 25 years he’s been behind the wheel for TMC.
Robb’s first dispatcher was a young fleet manager named Travis Johnson. “Travis was quite the taskmaster—he still is,” Robb laughs. “I loved working with him.”
“Robb was probably one of my top drivers that I had on my on my fleet back then, and I had a lot of good drivers on my team,” Travis recalls. “Robb took every single load I ever gave him. I don’t recall him ever refusing a load or even he and I getting into any kind of an argument at all. He was just a great guy to work with.”
BECOMING A WHEEL MASTER
Over the years, as Robb moved forward in his career, Travis did the same, becoming a vice president, then an executive vice president, and, in 2025, president of TMC.
The two men have kept in touch, and their respect for each other has only grown over the years. “To this day, I know that if I have an issue, his door is always open,” Robb says.
So it was truly special when Travis was the one to call Robb and let him know that he had been chosen as the 2025 Wheel Master.
Robb describes that moment as “really overwhelming—for him to call me and tell me was a very proud moment. And for him to tell me that he was proud of me— it’s huge. It’s very, very hard to describe because you want to make him proud.”
Travis’s pride is clear when he talked about Robb becoming a Wheel Master: “I couldn’t be more proud of that guy. He was very, very proud of getting this award and this honor, to join this elite group of drivers.” The achievement is only made more special by the history Travis and Robb share. “The first year that he was here, that wasn’t anything that was even on his radar,” Travis says. “And, 25 years later, here we are. He’s come a long ways.”
FROM A JOB TO A CAREER
There’s no doubt that Robb is an outstanding driver. In fact, Mike Makovec noted that some other drivers thought he was already a Wheel Master. And while some drivers of his caliber may be tempted to see if the grass is greener with another company, Robb says that TMC is where he belongs.
“I love working for this company,” he says. “There’s really nobody that I could see myself driving for.”
TMC is so proud to recognize Robb as a Wheel Master. It’s been an honor to have him drive for our company for his entire career and to watch him develop into the incredible driver he is today.
“What started out as a job for Robb,” says Travis, “has turned into a career here at TMC, which is exactly what we want drivers to come here for.”
Read Robb’s full story on TMC’s blog!
TMC NEWS
HOSTING THE WHEEL MASTER LUNCHEON
On Saturday, April 11, we hosted our annual Wheel Master luncheon at the Baymont Hotel in Des Moines.
This yearly event brings together many of the best drivers from throughout TMC’s history and gives us an opportunity to honor our newest Wheel Master. As Senior VP of Safety Josh Perry pointed out, this year’s attendees had a combined 66 million safe miles and a whopping 592 safe years with TMC. Thank you to our Wheel Masters for helping to make TMC the great company it is!
LOGISTICS EMPLOYEE-OWNER OF Q4: RENEE BORDEN
Senior Account Executive Renee Borden combines a gritty work ethic, transportation expertise, and outstanding relationship-building skills. Logistics Sales Manager Austin Romanuski says Renee is a skilled “farmer” who can grow a customer relationship over time.
During her five years with TMC Logistics, she’s become a top performer, leading the entire Logistics Division in margin for the fourth quarter of 2025. Congrats, Renee!
Read more on our blog!
ROOKIE OF THE FOURTH QUARTER: PERRY MAST
In his time with TMC, Perry has demonstrated the right mindset to succeed, and he’s worked to develop the skills he needs for a great career as a flatbed driver.
“Since day one, Perry has always had a great attitude and work ethic,” says Grady Flynn, his fleet manager. “After his first few weeks in the truck, it honestly felt for me like Perry had been here for a few years, with how well he was handling situations, good and bad.” Congratulations to Perry! Read more on our blog!
DRIVER OF THE FOURTH QUARTER: CURT PERNAK
Over the nearly 15 years Curt has been driving for TMC, he has shown a deep commitment to hard work, safety, excellence, and doing the job right—all the values that define TMC.
“He just understands trucking and TMC at its core,” says Kyle Miller, Curt’s Operations Manager. He’s known for his great work ethic and his commitment to getting every detail right, every time. We’re proud to recognize Curt as Driver of the Quarter. Congrats!
Read more on our blog!
STEEL MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION VISITS COLUMBIA TERMINAL
We were honored to host members of the Steel Manufacturers Association for a tour of our Columbia, SC, terminal last week!
SMA members had a chance to meet some of our senior leaders, see our state-of-the-art Columbia facility, and learn about TMC’s dedication to safety, sustainability, and innovation in all of our operations. Plus, they got to see our signature Peterbilt trucks up close.
Thanks to the Steel Manufacturers Association for visiting—we’re proud to play a role in moving steel across the country.
CATCH UP ON THE BLACK AND CHROME SHOW
Have you listened to The Black and Chrome Show lately? We release episodes twice a month tackling a variety of topics, from driver questions to how the Customer Service Department connects our drivers with freight.
Watch the latest episode on our YouTube Channel!
BLACK AND CHROME SALUTES
“Yesterday I was at my receiver, and the temperature was around 8 degrees. This driver took the initiative to come out and assist me from start to finish. He helped pulling my tarps, folded them, also helped with rolling my straps and my chains. Definitely a team player.”
- Shawn Beckford (13423) to Scott Stewart (14765)
“Driver did an awesome job while backing at the customer. He showed patience and took his time getting the job done. He never gave up in the adverse weather. I know he is new, but he has determination. Great job, driver.”
- Leonard Haynes (14648) to Ed Connor (14133)
“He stayed behind at a shipper to help with my securement.”
- Richard Clapham (17349) to Harley Hunter (14978)
“John helped me secure my load at Owens Corning in Dallas. John knew my clock was running low and I needed to get to my stop for the night. He jumped right in and helped and gave me great advice on where to park for the night and how to get better at securing shingles. Thanks, John!”
- Clark Searle (14987) to John Owen IV (12971)
“Would like to give a thanks to my fleet manager Allan Hoisington. We don’t always see eye to eye with loads… but he was able to route me to my aunt’s funeral with no problem, in the middle of the week, all the way in Connecticut from South Carolina, and still get me home for the weekend. Appreciate him and TMC for allowing me to spend time and pay my last respects with my family and getting me back home.”
- Larry Bartelle (17359) to Allan Hoisington, fleet manager
“He showed me a new way to secure these steel slinkies and a way to tarp that literally took off at least 30 minutes and looks a lot nicer. I appreciate it.”
- Cornelius Barnes (13854) to Matthew Achenbach (14793)
“The following techs in Columbia SC deserve a shoutout: Henry, Joe, and Matt, along with Adam and Jen (Service Writers). They go above and beyond when my truck is in for service. The attention to detail is incredible! Even when I have other concerns that need addressing, they never waver from the task. They are truly Destination: Excellence in their work ethic! I appreciate all of them working to make sure the truck is in great working condition so I can do the things it takes to stay safe on the road. Thank you to everyone in the Columbia shop if I left anyone out.”
- Eddie Westmoreland (14038) to the Columbia shop team
“Helped me untarp at Columbia Forest Products in Chatham, VA, late at night and freezing outside. Super nice guy. Thanks!”
- Frank Valensisi (14080) to William McDade (14415)
“Took the time out of his Friday to help me secure my load. He was also reminding other drivers from other carriers to go the speed limit and stop flying.”
- Rodney Thomas (17332) to Jamie Childress (17662)
“Friday evening and I was running out of time to make it home. Joe stayed back and helped me strap and tarp. If it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t have gotten to see my pregnant wife over the weekend for Easter, despite it being his birthday the day before, knowing he had his own family waiting for him at home this meant a lot to me. To top it off, we both ended up being parked up at our drop Sunday night, and Monday morning he was at it again. We helped each other folding tarps. He’s an exemplary man and the prime example of what a TMC driver and just a good flatbedder should strive to be. Thank you, Joe!”
- Daniel Zapata (17446) to Joe Paschal (13447)
“Just when I’ve given up on humanity, a guy like this comes along and shows me there are still good people out there. This guy, in the freezing cold, helped me pull tarps and roll tarps. More TMC drivers should be like this man.”
- Kenneth Moyer (13821) to Louis Jackson (27056)
