Author Archives: holomanml

Discussing Driver Safety With Director of Hub Operations and AutoPilot Safety Hayden Nachtigal

Creating a safe work environment for drivers is a large part of who Sweetie Boy Transportation is today. In 2020 the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that more than 1 in 3 long-haul truck drivers experienced a serious crash during their time working on the road. 127 people were reported to have been injured in a crash while driving for work. Mitigating this risk is discussed with AutoPilots and Car Haulers alike every day. Director of Hub Operations and AutoPilot Safety, Hayden Nachtigal speaks about how Sweetie Boy works to make safety a top priority for all employees.

With over 200 employees, and most of them being on the road, making sure that everyone is being safe on the road is no small task. The professional transportation industry has nailed down this issue with the creation of apps such as Samsara, which Sweetie Boy uses to monitor CDL drivers. The drive service market for such apps is newer, but over time Sweetie Boy has found ways to monitor safe driving. Hayden Nachtigal speaks about how we measure our AutoPilot’s safe driving by saying, “ We use Mentor by eDriving to measure our driver’s overall safety. With the app tracking 5 major categories: Speeding, Distractions, Hard Accelerations, Harsh Braking, and Cornering”. The app uses these metrics to create a score out of 850, much like a FICO credit score. By analyzing the scores throughout the company, Sweetie Boy is able to accurately measure how safe AutoPilots are on the road. The Director of Hub Operations and AutoPilot safety goes on to speak about how these analytics are important to improving the safety metrics of the apps drivers use, “ The Mentor program we use is ever evolving and sometimes requires us to pass along the information to Mentor to improve the program”. 

Safety is constantly at the forefront of Sweetie Boy’s mission. Hayden says, “We are extremely focused on being safe everyday. Once our drivers punch in or put on their safety vest they are professional drivers”. Every day our drivers are held to a higher standard, and the effort drivers, dispatch and hub managers put in shows that. Giving drivers a clear understanding of how their Mentor score works is a part of that, “(We have) Monthly safety meetings going over trends and specific topics we need to improve on as a company with safety. Daily and weekly coachings by the AutoPilots specific manager, going into the detail about each infraction to understand the situation that led to the infraction. This way the driver learns and improves their overall driving”. AutoPilots have also turned to a friendly competition, comparing safety scores to see who can do the best at each hub. 

Overall, safety is the top priority of office staff and drivers at Sweetie Boy. Whether it’s abiding by federal standards or finding ways to go above and beyond those expectations, Sweetie Boy’s team works hard to ensure the safety of all drivers on staff. Unsafe driving is corrected, and the safety standards are always upheld and maintained.

Thank you to Hayden Nachtigal for participating in this post and for speaking on AutoPilot safety within Sweetie Boy Transportation. 

Inspiration For the Future With New Leadership: Meeting Scott Kolb, CAI, CAR

Sweetie Boy Transportation has always been a company with an eye fixed on the future, consistently striving for growth and innovation. From the addition of new hubs, to the ever growing team of AutoPilots, searching for team members that inspire this growth is crucial. In the spirit of welcoming dynamic leaders who share this vision, Sweetie Boy proudly introduced Scott Kolb, CAI, CAR, to its team in late October of 2023. 

When joining the team, Scott brought several years of experience within the auto and auto transport industries. With this wealth of experience, Scott is able to bring a new perspective towards the industry. From logistics to auctions, Scott was well versed in knowing the type of growth that Sweetie Boy desired. When asked about his experience, Scott mentioned that it was more than just professional expertise; it is a lifelong passion embedded in his roots, “I grew up in a passionate  automotive family, I have oil in my veins, and I’ve spent my entire career in the vehicle lifecycle/mobility ecosystem. ” 

Over the past few months, Scott has met with people throughout different departments to learn more about how Sweetie Boy operates. In the months since his arrival, Scott has engaged with various departments, immersing himself in understanding Sweetie Boy’s operational intricacies. Collaborating with Tyler McCormick to secure new industry leads and partnering with Marketing and Events Coordinator, Sidney Shealey, to optimize the social media calendar are just a few examples of Scott’s proactive approach to enhancing Sweetie Boy’s performance. Scott’s influence is like a steady hand on the wheel, always leading Sweetie Boy forward. When asked about his aspirations for Sweetie Boy, Scott said, “My goals are to help serve and develop our team, deliver solutions to our customer partners, and grow and scale our company.”

In every Sweetie Boy hub location, the motto “Get Shit Done” graces the walls, serving as a constant reminder for employees to exert maximum effort in their endeavors. This mantra resonates deeply with the passionate and driven individuals who make up Sweetie Boy’s workforce. Scott acknowledges this spirit, expressing his appreciation for the diverse personalities, the pace of the work, and the passion for serving our customers and partners. 

As Sweetie Boy continues its commitment to excellence, Scott Kolb, CAI, CAR  emerges as a driving force for progress, he is ambitious and dedicated to a future defined by growth. His addition to the Sweetie Boy family signifies a new chapter of innovation and success driven by the determination of its team and the leadership of a seasoned professional dedicated to shaping a thriving future for the company.

Thank you to Scott Kolb, CAI, CAR for his insight for this blog post.

Taking a Look Back at The Past Thirteen Years: Happy Birthday Sweetie Boy

The world is full of possibilities and ambition, but few are able to take the jump and use their ambition and drive to start a company. One of those few is Tyler McCormick, the owner of Sweetie Boy Transportation. Established in 2010, Sweetie Boy has gone through much growth to get to the point where it is today. As a young boy, Tyler promised his father that he was going to own his own trucking company one day, and as we look back to where everything began thirteen years ago, we are able to see that dream come to fruition. Throughout the past thirteen years, not only has Sweetie Boy, but the world has gone through many changes. From moving headquarter locations, to the addition of new hubs, and even braving a worldwide pandemic, Sweetie Boy has taken on each challenge with a brave face. Sweetie Boy’s first delivery was done on a Ford truck and a three car wedge, and since then the company has not stopped growing. 

Currently, Sweetie Boy Transportation has sixty trucks, four 2 Car haulers, five hub locations and over two hundred dedicated employees spread throughout the eastern United States. Earlier this year, Sweetie Boy started settling into its new headquarters location in Richmond, Virginia near the Richmond Raceway. This new headquarters location serves as a home base for the fleet, where drivers can take care of their trucks at the attached shop. CDL drivers meet at the hub for training, and in office operations are also headquartered at this location. This isn’t the first time that Sweetie Boy has developed a new location. Over the past thirteen years, hub locations in Newburgh, NY, Rochester, NY, Cleveland, OH, and Baltimore, MD have been added as a way to expand Sweetie Boy’s delivery abilities. Just as recently as last year, Sweetie Boy added the Newburgh hub to their team. This passion for growth has proven successful, as Sweetie Boy’s team and its abilities continue to grow. Not only has Sweetie Boy grown in its abilities to deliver throughout the eastern United States, but has also expanded to delivering in Canadian territories such as Quebec and Ontario. 

As mentioned in a previous blog post, the Sweetie Boy drive that keeps Sweetie Boy driving is the essence of teamwork. Many members of Sweetie Boy’s team have come together to help foster and grow Tyler’s efforts. Lisa Lenharr was a strong proponent of building the AutoPilot team, Michael Skeens has been a strong leader within the CDL team, but most of all, Tyler’s family has been a strong backbone for the development of the company. His wife, Katie McCormick, has stood by as his hard working partner in crime, handling different areas of administrative and accounting duties while also serving as his number one cheerleader. Tyler’s father believed in his drive, and assisted him in starting his own business. Without a doubt, Tyler has learned that good people will help you go far and bring your dreams to reality. 

Overall, Sweetie Boy Transportation’s growth over the past thirteen years has been inspiring to watch. Starting as a promise from a young boy to his father, to an ever growing transport company, Sweetie Boy has continued to grow thanks to the people and drive behind it. Without the hard work and dedication behind Tyler’s dreams, Sweetie Boy wouldn’t be where it is today.

Lastly, thank you to Tyler McCormick, all of the drivers, and everyone who has made Sweetie Boy Transportation into the company it has become today. The Sweetie Boy drive to Get Shit Done keeps us all driving. 

Growing With Director of AutoPilot Planning: A Tribute To “The Shark”

Internal growth is something that Sweetie Boy Transportation takes pride in. Our AutoPilots start as single car drive service professionals, and can be promoted to working in our office as hub managers, recruiters, or dispatch. One employee has set this standard for internal growth. Known as “Shark”, Lisa Lenharr is a well known face around the Richmond hub. Often accompanied by her furry friend, Hannah, Lisa works as the Director of Planning for the AutoPilot division. When she first started, Lisa started as a dispatcher, and has since helped build the AutoPilot division to what it is today. For the past five years, Lisa has been an important part of the Sweetie Boy team. 

Lisa’s job requires a lot of teamwork. She is able to get drivers home at a time that they need to be, and relies on drivers to be able to make sure cars are delivered on time. She works behind the scenes to ensure that drivers aren’t waiting at locations for too long, and that vehicles are able to make it to their destination in a timely manner. AutoPilot Corey Madison tunes in about her dedication, “…without her efforts the autopilot program would not be where it is. The super late nights and crazy early mornings making sure everyone had a vehicle to their final destination. She creates personal relationships with drivers and management at dealerships to make things run as smoothly as possible”. Lisa mentions that effort is something that she has learned throughout her time at the company, “You get what you give. If you put in 110%, the return is equal or greater than that. I don’t expect anyone except me to understand this, but it goes for anything you do. Whether it be your work, a professional relationship with a fellow employee, a customer, a stranger, a friend…it all comes back to you”. Lorene Hunter, an AutoPilot who has been on our team for three years says that effort shows, “She has always been the number one supporter for the drivers and has always been there to fight for anything that we have received. She took me under her wing and taught me how to dispatch and taught me how the business works. I have the utmost respect for Lisa and I will do anything that she needs me to.  I literally trust Lisa with my career, and never think twice about her decisions of where or why I am going to certain places. I work for her and I am proud to call her my friend”.

Lisa’s accomplishments don’t stop on paper. AutoPilots across the company are thankful for Lisa’s hard work and dedication to being mindful of drivers needs. Lorene reminisces of when she first joined the team, “ A lot of people don’t realize this. But Lisa was the one and only driving force behind drive service. She developed it and has made it what it is today. When she hired me she was the only one running it”. Lisa joined the team before it became what it is today. Her position has also grown significantly since the implementation of the four hubs that have been created during her time here. Jeannie Myers, an AutoPilot for the past two years says, “It didn’t take me long to realize that she not only planned to execute deliveries on time but also made decisions that would also suit the AP’s bottom line as well”. Sweetie Boy’s determination for a work environment dedicated to catering to employee’s needs is something that Lisa stands by. When asked about her plans for the future, Lisa mentioned her passion for helping others, “I want to be a source of knowledge and power for anyone who comes in the doors here at SB. Any one person can come to me with a question, and I’ll be damned if it goes unanswered. Even if I don’t have the answer, it just means we will figure it out together. Offering knowledge to others helps them on their journey to succeed, and you’re just an a**hole if you don’t help someone”. Jeannie also felt her passion when she experienced a family emergency, “I could go on and on but the most impact she made on me was when my mother fell ill the very next month. Lisa was there for me and that meant a lot. Sometimes just a few kind words is all that is needed to help push through an extremely tough situation. Especially when you can feel that the words are coming from a person’s heart”. 

Overall, thanks to Lisa’s hard work and dedication to her team, Sweetie Boy has been able to develop the AutoPilot drive service program to what it is today. While speaking about her time at Sweetie Boy, Lisa mentioned what she has loved about working with the team, “The people. The atmosphere. The family you become a part of. The knowledge you gain. Watching yourself and others grow. The opportunities that are ahead of us. The unique challenges we face each day. No two days are ever the same. The leadership support. My team. Shout out to Hayden for being a true asset to me and helping me sail this ship. I couldn’t do this without you. Getting shit done. Additional side perk – Hannah comes with me everyday.”  From the opening of four new hub locations to the new Richmond headquarters location, Lisa has been through it all. Co-owner Katie McCormick reminisces on how impactful Lisa has been to the team by saying, “When she started there were only a handful of drivers and now there are 150 autopilots. She was a part in building many of the processes that we still use today… She is her very own success story because you never doubt whether success will happen; you just know it will”. In her final comments, Lisa stated, “ I knew when I walked in the door and saw “Get Shit Done” on the wall that this was going to be a unique place to be. I wouldn’t be here without the leadership and support from Tyler and Katie. They saw something in me I didn’t even know existed. I was pushed beyond my comfort zone, made mistakes, learned, cried, yelled, celebrated, gave myself pep talks, received pep talks, and just never gave up when every ounce of me said to raise the white flag. The thing is, you don’t give up on something you love. And it doesn’t give up on you. I love what I do, I love the people. I will forever be the OG SBT Shark”. 🦈

The Sweetie Boy Drive That Keeps Sweetie Boy Driving

At Sweetie Boy Transportation, our team is always growing and evolving to work with our customers’ needs.  Last year, Sweetie Boy added a new hub location in Newburgh, New York, which brought new opportunities throughout its region. Not only were staff hired out of the hub, but Carmax locations like the ones in Edison, New Jersey and Hempstead, New York gained new Sweetie Boy AutoPilots. Back in September, Sweetie Boy brought new non CDL two-car hauler positions to our hub locations, allowing Sweetie Boy to expand their delivery abilities, while also being able to provide the training needed for our drivers to be able to use these delivery vehicles. With so much growth and constantly evolving hiring needs, Sweetie Boy Transportation has a lot to offer. Because of our ever changing needs, our team works together to assess the best plan of action to keep all of the gears moving. 

Most of our employees spend their working hours on the road. From two-car non CDL haulers, to AutoPilots to our CDL A licensed car haulers, Sweetie Boy is one team of individuals dedicated to the same purpose. Even with varying skill sets, our team works together to serve this purpose. Whether a CDL trucker needs assistance with moving vehicles, or a car coordinator needs help organizing the lot, our team is dedicated to working together to be their best. CDL truck drivers rely on each other for advice and guidance, Corey Robinson reflected on his early experiences at Sweetie Boy by saying, “The person that really impacted me here at Sweetie Boy was Jon Crews (AKA Cowboy), that  man showed me the ropes behind car hauling”. Corey had previously been trucking for a furniture company, and was thankful for the opportunity to train under Jon. In our offices, our car coordinators work behind the scenes to maintain the lot, and help AutoPilots and truck drivers pull cars. Brittany Ledet, Car Coordinator in Dundalk speaks about how teamwork has influenced her time at Sweetie Boy, “I love that this whole company  leans on each other. Teamwork truly makes a difference. Communication is key. When something goes wrong and you’re unsure of something, always always ask questions! The team this company has built will guide you every step of the way”. She goes on to say, “Every person in this company has impacted my time here guiding me each step. I wouldn’t be where I am if it wasn’t for Zac, Ciara, Oscar, Alex & Hayden”. Even newer team members can see the efforts of teamwork throughout the company. Car hauler Eric Powell says, “ I haven’t had any bad encounters with anyone here at Sweetie Boy. Everyone from dispatch to other drivers have been really supportive and had a positive attitude and that motivates me to want to be the best driver I can be as part of the Sweetie Boy team, which I’m proud to say that I’m a part of in my short journey here so far”. 

Teamwork is only possible with a good attitude and a positive mindset. Although the trucking and transportation industry can be confusing sometimes, maintaining a positive attitude is essential to maintaining a strong work ethic within a team. Eric Powell mentions the dispatch team as a source of positivity, “ Ciara in dispatch has been a real pleasure to work with so far, she is always a joy to talk to”. Corey Madison, an AutoPilot out of Richmond also recognizes the dispatch and planning team by saying, “I would have to say Lisa has made the biggest impact on me with my time at Sweetie Boy. Her efforts to keep the wheels rolling inspires me to give 110% to be the best representative”. Working in dispatch and planning requires constant communication between different dealerships, Carmax, and the drivers alike, all while maintaining a bright outlook. Corey goes on to speak about our dispatch team by saying, “Marc in my opinion would be the best representative of Sweetie Boy. His upbeat attitude, has great small talk and is always willing to help out”. Brittany goes above and beyond for our drivers by pulling cars and says, “Being able to help the haulers to make their day just a little bit easier… All of it is just so rewarding”. 

What makes a team with such a variety of skill sets so dedicated to teamwork? To put it simply, Sweetie Boy owner and CEO, Tyler McCormick himself instills that belief. By caring about his team and devoting himself to his team, car haulers, AutoPilots, and office staff, our team is  dedicated to Sweetie Boy’s mission. Believing in teamwork starts from the top, and having leadership that is willing to help their team makes all the difference. Staff throughout the company believe this, Corey Robinson stated, “Tyler and Katie definitely care about their employees and families”. Sharel Crews, a recruiter at the Richmond office is a strong proponent of Sweetie Boy’s team work culture and feels the same way about the big bosses in office, “I make mistakes and will make more, but if I was not working here I wouldn’t be working anywhere. I love this company  and its owners!!!! It’s about where it’s going, and we get to see who we’re working for and not just working for a name. We’re all working for the same goal. If sweetie boy succeeds, we as employees succeed so rock on Sweetie Boy I’m behind you all the way!” It is thanks to our leadership that teamwork is highly valued and is a focus in day to day operations.

Thank you to Corey Robinson, Eric Powell, Brittany Ledet, Sharel Crews, and Corey Madison for their input for this month’s blog post. Another thank you to Sweetie Boy’s amazing team that continues to make things happen, and are devoted to getting sh*t done.

Driver Appreciation Week

Every year when National Truck Driver Appreciation week rolls around, the team at  Sweetie Boy Transportation takes a step back to think of all of the drivers that make our company move. Our team not only consists of CDL- A licensed truck drivers, but we also employ single-vehicle delivery drivers, AutoPilots and non-CDL two car haulers. With such a great team with a variety of skills, taking the time to celebrate their accomplishments is a high priority. 

Sweetie Boy Transportation has five hubs across the eastern United States, located in Cleveland, Ohio; Rochester, New York; Newburgh, New York; Dundalk, Maryland; and Richmond, Virginia. Because of this, Sweetie Boy has a large staff ranging from Connecticut to North Carolina. Sweetie Boy Hub managers Zach Williams, Shawn Twargotski, Jennifer Finnegan, Malachy Hughes, and Mere Little  discussed more about being a hub manager during National Truck Driver Appreciation Week. Excitement was high all around, but the main focus were the AutoPilot gift bags. Mere Little from Richmond mentioned, “I am most excited about giving out the t-shirts! Our drivers ask for t-shirts to support our brand all year long, and it’s exciting that they’re able to get them”. Shawn Twargotski also mentioned the gift bags saying, “I’m most excited to see how the APs feel about it and seeing their reactions to the gifts SB set up for them, not every company appreciates their employees like SB does so it is nice to see”. This year’s AutoPilot gift bags contained special driver appreciation t-shirts, a Sweetie Boy sticker, a WWTD ( What Would Tyler Do) bracelet, a thank you card, and other small gifts. 

Driver appreciation doesn’t stop when the week is over, as our staff works year-round to help Sweetie Boy maintain their mission of delivering vehicles. Our drivers made amazing strides last year (2022) with our CDL haulers delivering 73,000 cars and driving over 3 million miles, and our AutoPilot team delivering 87,000 cars over 8.2 million miles. Jennifer Finnegan in Newburgh spoke about her passion for driver appreciation, “Every week I buy my own treats for the treat box just for my drivers just in case they get hungry out there and it’s my way of showing them I care”. Shawn goes the extra mile, and goes into detail about how he helps his haulers by saying, “ We pull cars in the mornings, if we have the time to check fuel we let them know if they need gas or not, and stage cars at night so they can leave early”. At Sweetie Boy, our office staff does their best to understand the struggles our drivers may go through, Mere Little explains, ”I try to thank them whenever I see them. It’s hard to be out there on the road all day by yourself. It’s important to reiterate they are part of a team, part of something bigger. I listen to their struggles with traffic, wait times, and crazy people out on the road to better understand what they go through on a daily basis. This reinstates my great appreciation for everything they do”. Zach Williams in Dundalk gets personal with his drivers by saying, “When i know they have a lot of stuff going on personally I try to cheer them up and give them a hug if they need it and buy them donuts and coffee in the morning or lunch in the afternoon…You never know what someone going through and sometimes they just need someone pull up a chair and listen”.  While our CDL drivers have already exceeded last years’ miles driven, it’s hard not to always want to celebrate such a hard working team.

What does it take to be a great hub manager? Malachy in Webster mentioned feeling a competitive spirit, “We have multiple hubs and although I want them all to thrive I want to be the best one”. Shawn states that being a hub manager involves continuous learning, “Knowing when a truck driver or AP comes to my hub they know they’re going to be taken care of. I’m not one to sit around; I pull cars, park cars, move cars around on the lot to keep organized, while also learning new things everyday to make myself better, whether it be getting to know an AP or something within logistics”. Zac knows that it takes an effort to be the best you can be by saying, “I just try to do better than the day before. I give my company, office staff and drivers 150% of me every day. I’m hoping I can show someone else coming up that if I can turn my life around then so can you and I’m living proof of that”. 

During this week it’s important to recognize how much our truck drivers do. There are over 3.9 million truck drivers in the United States, delivering goods from foods, to furniture to vehicles. Jennifer acknowledges this by stating, “Appreciating drivers is important because without them we wouldn’t have half the stuff we have”. Sweetie Boy’s truck drivers and AutoPilots are always at work helping Sweetie Boy fulfill their duties, and the office team could not be more grateful for the drivers that deliver vehicles every day. This appreciation resonates deeply with Zac,  “I really just want to thank the CDL hauler and Autopilot for everything they do good bad or ugly we are in this as a team and i just hope they all know how much they mean to me, and without them there is no Sweetie boy Transportation nor a 9930-BWI hub.  So thank you drivers for EVERYTHING!”

A great big thank you to our hub managers that took the time to speak with me about driver appreciation, and an even bigger thank you for all of the car haulers that are able to make what we do possible. This gratitude runs deep. Bea Safe.

Exploring Safety at Sweetie Boy With Jonathan Wilson – Director of Safety

Photo of Jonathan Wilson- Safety Director

At Sweetie Boy Transportation, safety is our top priority. Our AutoPilot drivers and CDL haulers are held to a high standard to promote workplace and driver safety. At the beginning of June, Sweetie Boy welcomed Jonathan Wilson to our team as the Director of Safety. Jonathan has extensive experience working within safety, as he had spent seven years working at UPS, with his last year as a Corporate Trainer in Safety.

In discussing his strategy, Jonathan cites the importance of relationship building as the first step, “My approach to safety starts with understanding our people, the nature of our business, historical trends, and how to effectively promote positive change.  We’ve created policies that are clear, concise, and measurable.  We closely monitor all aspects of safety, utilize the tools and data we have, and strive to be fair, firm, and consistent”. When asked about advice for everyday drivers, Jonathan highlighted the SmithKeys, a technique first introduced to increase safety for commercial drivers to improve visibility and reduce the chances for an accident. “I love the Smith Tools for safe driving.  One of the most important tools is trying to allow space on all 4 sides of your vehicle.  While this is not always possible, we ALWAYS want to allow space in the front of our vehicle”.

When it comes to our drivers, Sweetie Boy has both CDL and non CDL policies. AutoPilots are single vehicle delivery drivers that take cars from one location to the next, and our CDL car haulers are able to load and transfer up to 10 vehicles on their trailer. Some may look at those differences and have two very different policies, but Jonathan disagrees, “The approach to AP and CDL are the same in principle but differ in certain aspects.  There are different rules and regulations with CDL Safety that are not always applicable to the AutoPilot side of the business”. During his time with Sweetie Boy so far, Jonathan flipped the script on how safety was managed, “We have revamped our entire Safety Policy from scratch for AutoPilots and CDL Drivers.  We are committed to excellence when it comes to safety and that starts with communication to all drivers, data driven decisions, and following the correct processes”. With that came fundamental changes with how each hub works, “Providing our hub managers the tools and ability to effectively coach and develop their employees has paid major dividends”. 

Growth and improvement are the cornerstone of Jonathan’s hard work. He has been able to see the fruits of his labor with just three months at Sweetie Boy, “We’ve seen safety infractions per driver almost cut in half the past 3 months for AutoPilots. We’ve reached all-time milestones and improved in every measurable facet of safety in that regard. In addition, CDL safety scores are the highest we’ve seen year-to-date this month, since rolling out our new policy in July”. As we continue to strive for better, Jonathan notes, “We will never be perfect, but will always strive for excellence as a professional transportation company, with professional drivers”. Recently, AutoPilots saw their safest day in Sweetie Boy history. On Monday, July 31st, drivers across the east coast logged zero distractions. An amazing accomplishment and many more to follow.

Safety and its standards are always changing, and with that Sweetie Boy will also continue to improve and raise the bar for safety expectations. Finally Jonathan thanked the Sweetie Boy team, “I would like to thank every single driver, car coordinator, dispatcher, data analyst, planner, HR and leadership partners, for helping us accomplish the safety achievements we’ve reached in the last 3 months.  It takes all of us, and the amount of hard work and effort each person has put into making safety a priority is amazing to see.  I’m grateful to be a part of this team and Sweetie Boy Transportation!”

Thank you to Jonathan Wilson for taking the time to discuss safety and all of the initiatives he has taken to improve Sweetie Boy Transportation.

Get To Know Our Staff: Interview With AutoPilot and Recruiter Sharel Crews

In December of 2021, Sharel Crews joined Sweetie Boy’s team of AutoPilots, and throughout her time has become a part of the Richmond office team as a recruiter. Marketing Coordinator, Sidney Shealey, got the chance to touch base with Sharel and talk about her experience working at Sweetie Boy so far.

“What is your current position and what was your position before this?”

 “Well my current position is kind of both, I am kind of in recruiting and AP (AutoPilot), so I continue to do both of those and I was an AP before working in the office” 

 

“Okay, so you do both recruiting and you do driving? When do you drive?” 

“Actually, I drive to and from work. So I go ahead and pick up a unit in Virginia Beach and drive it here and then they have a unit back so it is a pretty good gig!” 

“Alright, so what do you like best about your current position?” 

“Well, I like that I have the best of both worlds. I love talking with people, I think that is what I am good at. I have never met a stranger. So I think the position here is perfect for me, and then with that said I can also tell you exactly about the job because I do it! That is probably part of another question but still it is such a perfect combo”

 

“I actually really like to hear that you get the best of both worlds. How has being an AP helped you in doing what you do now?” 

“Well obviously I know EVERYTHING about it. I know what can go wrong. And if it has been done, I have done it! So I am a little more relaxed when somebody says, ‘Oh, I left my plate’. But ya, I have done it. If it has been done I have done it. So I can actually tell them everything not to do as well as what to do so it is a perfect combination! I mean being out on the road, you can tell them things like, ‘Look, you are going to be stuck in DC traffic,’ or, ‘You are going to get stuck at CarMax’ I have been there, I know exactly what they are going to be facing”

 

“What advice would you give to somebody who wants to become an Auto Pilot?” 

“Well, I absolutely love the job. You have to love driving. You have to be patient. Just those sorts of things. If you don’t love driving it is definitely not going to be the job for you. Just relax, drive, and take your time” 

“Oh absolutely, I think about it every time I get in the car for a long drive for something. Last summer I drove from Richmond (Virginia) to New Jersey and I was thinking to myself, ‘Could I be an AP?’ And by hour two of my drive I was like, ‘Ugh! Driving is so boring!’”  

“Right. Exactly. And they can play music or you can use a radio or stuff like that… but make sure that they know that you can’t use your phone or things like that. It is so relaxing to me though! Just take your time, relax when you get in the car! Don’t worry about your apps, don’t worry about anything else, just drive! Be safe and drive! So that would be the advice I would give them”  

 

“Now this one is not directly related to work, but what motivates you?”

“Just getting up in the morning. You know, getting up in the morning. Being able to get up in the morning. My husband, my grandchildren, they motivate me to do better. My job motivates me! Honestly, I want to do a good job at whatever I do. So that motivates me to do better and better. Coming into this job I never dreamed I could do what I do right now. So that motivates me to try and do even more!”

 

“I love that! I love knowing what makes people get up in the morning. So what is your favorite part about working with Sweetie Boy?” 

“I think it’s the best job that I have ever had. Seriously, I love it. I love this job. I love Tyler and Katie, I cannot wait to see what they can do with this job. You know, when you look for… let’s use a church. If you look for a church, it’s not a building, you are looking for a leader, and I would follow them just about anywhere. I love that part. I love that I know who owns the company. You know, you go to one of these other big places, ‘Well, who does this? Who pulls the strings? Where are these people?’ They are right here, and they are personable, you know?” 

“Oh absolutely, that was one thing that I love about coming to work here. When I had my first interview, one of the first people who greeted me was Tyler, and I got to know who started this company, what he wanted to do, and where he wanted to go. It is so inspiring knowing what they want to get done and that they are able to get it done. And what are you most excited about in Sweetie Boy’s future?”

 

“That is what I am excited about, the future! Just what you were talking about, seeing where they can go, seeing where they are going to go, because I think Tyler has such a good head on his shoulders, and I don’t want to use ‘young’ because for anybody, that age, but to look at his age, and see where he wants to go, it is very inspiring to me. Yeah, I can’t wait to see how far he can go. If I am a part of this or not, I just want to see how far they go” 

“Oh absolutely. I remember when they first opened up the Newburgh Hub location last year and I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, brand new location, we are growing so much!’ Just hearing about what plans they have always gets me really excited”

“Me too! Me too! When we come off the interstate down here you know you see the hub and it’s got all these arches now and I am like, ‘Oh wait! That’s ours!’”

 

“So, what do you think about our new location? The new Richmond headquarters?” 

“That is a good question because it is not about the location for me, it is about the people that are inside. It is not about the building; it is about where we can take the building. It doesn’t really matter what street it is on, for me. It is about who is there and who is progressing in there, who is making it go forward. I think it is going to be great!” 

“Your husband Johnathan is a CDL driver, correct?”

 

“Mhmm!” 

“And how long has he been driving with Sweetie Boy?”
 

“One or two months before me, so a little over a year. Well… it will be two years in November for him, and then two years in December for me”

 

“Do you have any final thoughts, comments, anything that you wanted to share about your time in Sweetie Boy that you would want to include?”

“I think for my last year, I couldn’t imagine working for any other company. You know.. Going through that (cancer diagnosis) they’ve been so supportive with anything that I’ve needed. Off for surgery and then chemo and things like that, they’ve been really supportive… Let me work when I can. So I don’t think any other company would have been as gracious, I am grateful…I was diagnosed back in April of last year. This past May I had my one-year scan and it was clear!”

Thank you to Sharel Crews for taking the time to speak more about her experience working at Sweetie Boy. Staff like Sharel and her husband are people that make Sweetie Boy thrive.