Nov/Dec 2018
a different colored truck. Not too long ago, I was talking to a buddy of mine who’s a truck driver for a different company. He asked me, “Wow, you’ve been there a long time. What makes it so different there?” and I only had one response for him: “It’s the difference in the way they treat you.” Working with Big G has been a great experience. When I first came on, it was a smaller company, and they treated you just like family. Now they’re a lot bigger, but they still do everything they can to treat you like family as much as possible, and it really makes a difference. In the next few months, I’ll be receiving the 2 Million Safe Miles Award from Big G. The best way I can explain how I feel about it is comparing it to my marriage. I came to Big G in January 2001, and in April, only two and a half months later, I married my amazing wife, Angela. Both are two long-lasting relationships, and while we’ve had our ups and downs, it’s been easy because they’re such great relationships. I’ve put on a lot of miles and taken time away from home, and if I had been in a different situation, those 2 million miles would’ve been some of the hardest I faced. Working for a company where you feel accepted and your work is appreciated makes all the difference. It’s worth it to stick with the people you have good relationships with. I don’t tell anyone to jump jobs, but I think it’s important for you and for the company you’re with to be happy. If you’re not happy with where you’re working, you’re wasting time. You gotta find that perfect fit, so when you have to go through the good and bad times, it’s worth staying with it until the end. A lot of the accomplishments I’ve achieved would have been a lot harder if I had been on my own. Big G has been a huge support and encouraged me to grow within the company, but I’ve also had a great deal of support from my family and friends. Having Angela in my life has made a huge difference — with her, everything is easier. She’s been that support and has always been there for me when I just needed to talk, vent, or whatever it may be. I’ve been there for her when I can, but without her, it would have been a lot harder to accomplish the things I have done. –Stephen Richardson
STEPHEN RICHARDSON
SHARES HIS EXPERIENCE WITHIN BIG G EXPRESS
Big G Express values its drivers and the hard work they put in every single day. Stephen Richardson, a valued team member and dedicated trucker, is fast approaching his 2 Million Safe Miles Award. Throughout his years spent with our company, Richardson has been rewarded with many honors and has grown tremendously within the company. We asked him to share his experience, awards, and knowledge that he has gleaned throughout his many years in the industry.
I’ve been with Big G for about 18 years, and I’ve been able to accomplish so much with them. Big G started awarding Driver of the Month in 2012, and I was the second driver to receive the recognition and the first Driver of the Year in 2013. Big G nominated me for the Tennessee Road Team and Tennessee Driver of the Year, both of which I was awarded in 2014. From there, I was nominated and selected to be an American Road Team captain — I’m finishing up my two-year term. This past spring, I was awarded Truckload Carriers Association Driver of the Year, which came with a $25,000 prize. Things were coming at me kind of fast, and I remember thinking, “Wow, this is pretty big.” It’s been very humbling to receive the awards and honors I have over my career. I’ve been asked before how accomplishing so much impacts me, and all I can think of is that through everything I’ve done, it’s just me doing my job. I’m not thinking about doing this for any other reason than getting the job done right and treating people well. To have Big G recognize and notice how much I put into my work is enough for me — it’s what makes it so easy and engaging to work for them.
When I first started in the trucking industry, I used to comment that it doesn’t matter who you’re driving for — truckin’ is truckin’. You’re just in
1
(855) 698-7130
www.biggexpress.comMade with FlippingBook Learn more on our blog