Saskatchewan Truckers Find Their “Sweet Spot”
SASKATOON, SK. — “When I say ‘sweet’, you say ‘spot,'” said Mike “Pinball” Clemons to a packed room of Saskatchewan Trucking Association (STA) members this past Saturday at the Hilton Garden Inn in Saskatoon.
“Sweeeeet,” called out Clemons. “Spot!” returned the audience.
And indeed, Saskatchewan does seem to be in a sweet spot economically.
Don McMorris, Saskatchewan’s Minister of Highways and Infrastructure, gave the opening speech at the Awards Gala. “We are blessed here in Saskatchewan with what the world needs,” he told the audience, stressing the importance a smooth and efficient provincial transportation system plays in exporting goods to the rest of the world.
“The only way we can move forward is to make sure that our goods move out of the province,” he said. “We want to be an enabler and not a hindrance,” he said of the Saskatchewan Party.
The evening also saw Roger Thompson, driver with D.J Knoll, awarded the Volvo Driver of the Year award. He was commended for helping out other drivers, being safety minded, and “thinking outside the box.”
After asking the audience if anyone had a score in the CFL game (“First things first; who’s got an iPhone? Who’s got a score on the game?”), the humble Thompson said that he really had no idea how they came up with him. “I’m sure lots of other candidates deserve this.”
Dispatcher of the Year, sponsored by Frontier Peterbilt Sales, went to Shannon Mensinger, who said all she does is she think of the driver. “When I first started, I couldn’t believe all that a driver has to do. Who has to write down what they are doing every hour of their life?”
The Shaw Tracking Service to the Industry award went to Gary Redhead of Saskatchewan Redhead and Equipment.
The STA also took time to award past presidents from its 75 years, giving award plaques to past presidents or their families.
All in all, the night was about people and their contribution to not only the trucking industry, but, as Clemons explained, to society.
Clemons, who skipped dinner so he could visit every table, spoke about leadership, family, heroes, and people.
“The Argos lost last night — no big deal. But if I go to the store and see that everything is gone, that’s a big deal.”
“The family is the foundation for our existence as human beings,” Clemons said after telling the audience he left football to spend time with his daughters. “Your industry is the number one support for the family.”
“Life is not about stuff; it’s about people. And you serve people.”
He told the audience to ask “why is my company better because I’m their leader, ask why is my family better because I’m there.”
If you figure that out, you’ll find your “sweet spot.”
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