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20 • OCTOBER 2022 FEATURES THETRUCKER.COM Maine fuel hauler Haleigh Fickett honored as WIT’s September member of the month PLOVER, Wis. — Haleigh Fickett has been named the September 2022 Member of the Month by Women In Trucking (WIT). For more than four years, Fickett has been a transport driver for R.H. Foster Energy in Maine. Following in the footsteps of several family members, Fickett began her professional driving career at a young age. She attended a local technical school and, in an effort to gain a better understanding of the trucking industry, she entered the CDL program. Within a few weeks of joining the class and getting some time behind the wheel of a truck, she says, she fell in love with driving. She knew she had found the place she belonged. Eight years ago, at age 17, Fickett earned her Class A CDL. However, because of her age and lack of experience, she spent the next three years working on local farms and other jobs, constantly applying for jobs as a professional driver. At age 20, she took a position working for the Maine Department of Transportation, which allowed her to gain some experience driving plow trucks and other equipment involved in road maintenance. The following summer, Fickett, who says THE TRUCKER NEWS STAFF she is always up for a new challenge, jumped at the opportunity to begin her career at R.H. Foster Energy, obtain her hazmat and start learning how to haul fuel. Although this decision was a huge step for her, as she never planned to haul hazmat, she now believes it was the best career decision she could have ever made. She says driving for R.H. Foster is one of the most enjoyable jobs she could ask for. “Hauling fuel is a unique branch of the trucking industry, but one I find very exciting,” she said. “It takes a lot of focus and caution to work with hazardous materials, but it comes with incredible benefits, such as being able to deliver to different locations every day and practicing driving skills in various situations that arise with delivering to public spaces. Local jobs like mine are a great option for women, such as myself, who love the trucking industry but enjoy the option to be home every night.” In May, Fickett proved her skills during the Maine Truck Driving Championship, competing against some of the top tanker drivers in the state — and ultimately taking first place in the tanker division. This distinction qualified her for the National Truck Driving Championship, where she was able Courtesy: Women In Trucking Haleigh Fickett, a fuel-tank hauler for R.H. Foster Energy in Maine, is Women In Trucking’s September 2022 Member of the Month. to compete against the top tanker drivers from across the U.S. “If I could give any advice to other women interested in the trucking industry, it would simply be to never underestimate yourself,” she said. “I was nervous when I was getting started in my current position, because it is a very physically demanding job, but I have proven time and time again that if I truly put my mind to it, anything is possible.” 8 Aim your camera Find the best truck-driving jobs as well news, videos and job resources ... all in one place! at the code to find jobs.
THETRUCKER.COM OCTOBER 2022 • 21 THANKS cont. from Page 19 Company officials also noted, “Truck drivers have been a big part of what makes Walmart special since the earliest days of the company, and they’ll continue to help drive Walmart’s success as we lead retail into the future. Thank you to our amazing team of current drivers, and I’m looking forward to welcoming new faces in the weeks and months to come.” At J.B. Hunt, drivers were treated to giveaways and other festivities that included their families. Prizes, including gift cards, jackets, T-shirts, hats and backpacks, were given to drivers, along with free food. “What would the world look like without truck drivers?” a J.B. Hunt news release queried. “Grocery stores would be without food, hospitals would lack supplies, mail and package delivery would stop and lines would form around fuel stations. We don’t have to worry about these scenarios because of the hardworking people that drive the trucks that keep this country moving.” Werner held celebrations at its terminals throughout the U.S. “The appreciation and respect we have for our professional drivers at Werner runs deep. As the heart of our company, we are excited to not only express our gratitude for their hard work during National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, but to recognize the important role professional drivers play in our nation’s economy,” said Derek Leathers, chairman, president and CEO of Werner. Twice weekly throughout the month of September, Chief Carriers provided special lunches for its drivers. Brett Kleier, safety manager at Chief Carriers, smoked a pork shoulder through the night and served a special lunch to drivers at the terminal in Grand Island, Nebraska. During National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, Chief Carriers also handed out goodie bags, gift cards and other swag to their professional drivers at company terminals in Indiana and Nebraska. Global logistics company C.H. Robinson offered $100,000 in giveaways directly to truck LOVPB-0055_052722_5125x375_V1_L1.pdf 1 5/27/22 10:27 AM HOW WE HELP drivers in recognition of the 100,000 miles on average they travel every year. Each business day from Sept. 11-23, C.H. Robinson held 10 giveaway drawings, each for $1,000, for carriers who by booked and picked up C.H. Robinson loads. In addition, for every “thank-you” message posted using the hashtag #ThanksForEverythingLiterally on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Instagram, the C.H. Robinson Foundation donated $5 — up to $25,000 — to the St. Christopher Truckers Relief Fund, which helps truck drivers in need. “We appreciate truck drivers every day of the year, and Truck Driver Appreciation Week especially gives us another opportunity to take a step back, reflect and truly recognize the people who help make our world go ’round,” said Mac Pinkerton, president of North American surface transportation for C.H. Robinson. “As one of the largest logistics companies in the world, we get to see first-hand how truck drivers continue to step up to deliver all of life’s essentials that we often take for granted,” Pinkerton continued. “We are so grateful for their dedication and thrilled we get the opportunity to say, ‘thanks for everything’ in a big way.” Pat Nolan, vice president of North American surface transportation for C.H. Robinson, said truck drivers “are inextricably linked not only to our business but also to our everyday needs and there is no better time than Truck Driver Appreciation Week to say thank you for all they do. “At C.H. Robinson, we look forward to continuing to support carriers in every way that we can,” he continued. “From introducing new ways for carriers to gain access to more freight than any other platform can offer, to innovative technology which makes it easier and more efficient for them to book loads and get paid quickly, we are hyper-focused on finding ways to consistently improve the carrier experience and support the important work they do.” Here’s hoping the nation — and the world — will continue to recognize the vital role truck drivers play, not just during September, but every day of the year. 8 RAIL cont. from Page 7 to ease their strict attendance policies to address union concerns about working conditions. Railroad workers will now be able to take unpaid days off for doctor’s appointments without being penalized, and they won’t be penalized if they are hospitalized. Previously, workers would lose points under the attendance systems at BNSF and Union Pacific railways, and they could be disciplined if they lost all their points. The talks also included Norfolk Southern, CSX, Kansas City Southern and the U.S. operations of Canadian National. The president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, Dennis Pierce, predicted that workers will ultimately support the deal if they look logically at all the gains, including the fact that the unions again fought off proposals to cut locomotive crews down from two people to one. But if workers vote angry, the outcome is harder to predict. “I think it is going to dramatically change the way these jobs look,” Pierce said. Victor Chen, a sociologist at Virginia Commonwealth University who studies labor, said concerns about working conditions have increasingly become a priority for unions and their workers. “At a certain point, good wages just aren’t enough to make up for the toll these sorts of working conditions impose on workers,” Chen said. “The companies need to treat workers like human beings, rather than just inputs in a business process.” The railroad unions pointed to workload and attendance rules after the major railroads cut nearly one-third of their workforce — some 45,000 jobs — over the past six years. The rail industry has aggressively cut costs everywhere and shifted its operations to rely more on fewer, longer trains that use fewer locomotives and fewer employees. The unions said the remaining workers, particularly engineers and conductors, were on call 24-7 because of jobs cuts and could hardly take any time off under strict attendance rules. Unions had an advantage at the bargaining table because of the tight labor market and Marketplace FOR AAP Photo/Andrew Harnik President Joe Biden speaks about a tentative railway labor agreement in the Rose Garden of the White House, Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022, in Washington. From left, Deputy Secretary of Labor Julie Su, Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh, Biden, Celeste Drake, Made in America Director at the Office of Management and Budget, and National Economic Council director Brian Deese. ongoing service problems on the railroads, Chen said. Shippers have complained loudly this year about delays and poor service as railroads struggled to hire quickly enough to handle a surge in demand as the economy emerged from the pandemic. The shipping problems gave rail workers extra leverage. Newly hired CSX CEO Joe Hinrichs said he hopes the new deal helps the railroad hire and retain more employees to address the service problems. “Now we can move our conversation into how do we work together to grow the business and better serve our customers,” he said. Before the deal was reached, business groups including the Business Roundtable and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce predicted that a rail strike would be an “economic disaster.” The Association of American Railroads trade group estimated that a strike would cost the economy more than $2 billion a day and force many businesses to scale back or cease production and consider layoffs. With the economy still recovering from the pandemic’s supply chain disruptions, the president’s goal was to keep all parties talking so a deal could be reached. It was clear the effort had paid off when Biden announced the deal, calling it “an important win for our economy and the American people.” The Trucker News Staff contributed to this report. 8 ADVERTISING INFO EMAIL MEGL@THETRUCKERMEDIA.COM EQUIPMENT EQUIPMENT EQUIPMENT C M Y CM MY CY CMY K Provide financial assistance to Class A, OTR drivers for essential household expenses when an illness or injury has recently taken them off the road Provide health & wellness programs like Rigs Without Cigs to prevent common diseases and to encourage healthy habits WITH DRIVERS HELPED MILLION PAID DIRECTLY TO THEIR BILL HOLDERS FOR HOME, UTILITIES, VEHICLE AND INSURANCE Cab Racks & Side Kits Aluminum & Steel Storage Boxes Cargo Control System & Accessories SUPPORT THE INDUSTRY. SUPPORT DRIVERS. DONATE TODAY. TRUCKERSFUND.ORG CONNECT WITH US @TRUCKERFUND KANSAS CITY: 800-966-4543 — ST. LOUIS: 800-451-7660
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