TMC's Rookie of the Quarter: Patrick Palmer

on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 in Awards & Recognition

Starting a successful career as a flatbed driver is no small feat—it takes dedication, hard work, and smart choices. That’s why we’re proud to introduce our Rookie of the Quarter award, which recognizes a new TMC driver who is starting out right.

And the very first winner of the award, Patrick Palmer, has certainly done just that.

Patrick has been driving for TMC for about eight months. From his first day, he was eager to work hard and wanted to make the most of his time with TMC. “Patrick has done an amazing job right from the start,” says Sam Bricker, Patrick’s fleet manager. “From the initial new release call, I could tell he was excited and eager to work, yet calm, cool, and collected.”

Learning from TQM

Patrick looked for opportunities to improve as a driver, such as taking TMC’s Driver TQM training. TQM—which stands for Total Quality Management—tailors TMC’s continuous improvement framework to drivers, applying the principles of quality management to help drivers make the most of their driving hours and maximize their paycheck. It focuses on empowering drivers to make smart, proactive choices on the road so they can stay safe and overcome the daily challenges they face.

“TQM is about knowledge and personal development,” says Mark Sickmiller, Driver Development Manager, who oversees the Driver TQM program. “It teaches that success is not luck—it’s the result of taking control by making better choices. Drivers often think the course is just going to teach them about our certification program and percentage pay—and it does cover that. But we also teach about so much more.”

Patrick agrees, saying that TQM has made a huge difference in his approach to driving.

TQM helped Patrick realize the importance of parking up on Sunday evening, which allows him to be ready to go on Monday mornings. “Parking up before 9:00 on Sunday does have a huge impact on the rest of your week,” he says. “You're not behind your clock, and you're not getting empty and getting loaded later in the day. If you get empty Monday morning really early, you can keep that momentum rolling the rest of the week.”

He says TQM also helped him take a smarter, more strategic approach to managing his time throughout the week. He learned to “take advantage of every minute you have and try not to waste any minute you have. You have 70 hours, and they go quick.”

Patrick feels that TQM taught him how to make the most of his time on the road. “If you do what TQM tells you,” Patrick says, “then there shouldn't be an issue as far as being successful. And that's what TMC really seems to want for their drivers.”

After completing the TQM training, Patrick chose to become a trainer to help new drivers master the skills they need to be safe and successful. He says he tries to impart to them the driving techniques he has learned, as well as his proactive approach to time management. “I’m teaching my trainees what I've learned, not just making sure they know how to drive and make sure they know how to secure, but make sure that they understand how important it is to manage your clock if you want to be successful. It's what I've had to do to achieve that success,” he says.

His goal for the next year is to keep training and earn his trainer hard hat, which is awarded after 25 weeks as a trainer.

Building a Partnership with His Fleet Manager

Patrick says that his fleet manager, Sam Bricker, has also been an integral part of his success at TMC. “Sam is a great guy,” Patrick says. “I trust him, and he's never let me down, so I really don't question anything he does. If he sends me somewhere, he knows what he's doing and he's got a plan, so I don't ever question it. I've never turned down a load from him.”

Sam agrees that he and Patrick have forged a great partnership that works for both of them. “He has listened to every bit of coaching I have given him and acted on it. Patrick is easygoing and just puts his head down and goes to work, no matter the situation or challenge,” Sam says. “He is going to do very well at TMC, and I look forward to seeing all we can accomplish.”

Patrick echoes the value of his partnerships with Sam. “I couldn't do it without Sam,” he says. “If I didn't have that relationship with Sam, I wouldn't be as successful as I've been.”

About the Rookie of the Quarter Award

The Rookie of the Quarter recognizes a driver who has completed TMC’s TQM course within the previous quarter, taken the Train the Trainer course to prepare to be a driver trainer, and met several other criteria related to performance and safety. These drivers represent the future of our company and our commitment to Destination: Excellence.

Congratulations to Patrick Palmer for being named TMC’s first Rookie of the Quarter! He has certainly made a great start as a TMC flatbed driver, and we can’t wait to see what he will accomplish in the future.