Jeremy Reymer, CEO and founder of DriverReach, is joined on this episode of Taking The Hire Road by a progressive and innovative industry leader, Gregg Troian, president of PGT Trucking out of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania.
PGT is well known for its innovative approach to all things flatbed — from investing in next-gen tech solutions to embracing electric vehicles. The company applies this same attitude to driver hiring and training.
Just last month, PGT unveiled its new and improved driver training facility in Blairsville, Pennsylvania. The company has conducted orientations and new driver training at its existing Blairsville location for years, and this new building gives the company an opportunity to delve even deeper into the skills, knowledge and hands-on experience new hires need to succeed in the world of flatbed trucking.
While PGT welcomes new drivers from all stages of life, many of the company’s new hires are young people in their 20s and early 30s, according to Troian. PGT’s continuous investment in state-of-the-art training resources exemplifies the company’s commitment to raising the next generation of flatbed drivers up right.
“The future of flatbed is not just about trucks and technology, it is these young people,” Troian said.
The company’s spirit of innovation extends to increasing its geographical footprint.
PGT has operated out of Laredo, Texas, for more than 20 years, providing reliable service to its customers in and out of Mexico. In the process, the company has built strong relationships with high-quality Mexican carriers. Now it is expanding its footprint in the area with a new terminal scheduled to be up and running by the second quarter of 2024.
For PGT, building a strong cross-border presence also means hiring local drivers who understand the nuances of working in a border city. That means actively seeking out and accommodating employees who do not speak English as a first language.
Troian himself grew up speaking Italian at home and English outside the home. This experience has increased his passion for purposefully recruiting a diverse set of qualified drivers.
“It is important to us to understand we have a lot of ethnic groups at PGT who, when they are with their family, friends and church, they are speaking their native language,” Troian said. “We want to embrace that in order to make people feel more comfortable, more part of our family at PGT.”
Click here to learn more about PGT Trucking.
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