TMC Drivers Named Finalists in Trucking Industry Award Programs
on Monday, August 12, 2019
in
Awards & Recognition
TMC is proud to have two professional truck drivers named as top ten finalists in two separate award programs celebrating new drivers in the trucking industry.
Marine veteran, Chris Bacon, has been designated as a finalist for the Transition Trucking: Driving For Excellence award program. This program serves as a platform to inspire the hiring of more veterans, National Guard members, and reservists into trucking. Deserving veteran drivers who have made a successful transition from military service to the trucking industry are recognized. One lucky winner will walk away with a brand new, fully loaded Kenworth T680.
Chris, a St. Louis native, spent the beginning of his adult life serving our country in the United State Marine Corps. Stationed at Camp Lejeune in Jacksonville, North Carolina, Chris saw two tours of combat, one in each Afghanistan and Iraq, lasting seven months a piece. With an MOS of 0351, Infantry Assault, Chris was member of the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines. These roles had Chris handling highly advanced weaponry and undergoing intensive training before leading the way into battle.
Chris utilized his G.I. Bill to obtain his CDL from MTC Truck Driver Training and signed on with TMC in late June of 2018. Fresh out of CDL school, Chris had heard that flatbed was the best paying and also the most difficult subsect of the industry. He soon began his career at TMC’s industry-leading training program. Driven to succeed and always up for a challenge, Chris began to find flatbed driving with TMC more rewarding than he thought possible. He felt right at home with TMC, recognizing the alignment in military-style values, as well as the camaraderie of several other marines within the company.
Chris will be traveling to the Great American Trucking Show (GATS) in Dallas later this month to find out if he has been chosen as a top three finalist.
Tyria Snow, another professional flatbedder for the Black and Chrome, is making her way to GATS, as well! Snow has been selected as a top ten finalist in the Trucking’s Top Rookie program. This award program recognizes outstanding “rookie” truck drivers that have been in the industry for less than a year.
Born and raised in Shreveport, Louisiana, 28-year-old Tyria attended Tulane University where she became a shining star and a four-year letterwinner for the university’s women’s basketball team. Tyria graduated from Tulane in 2013 with a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree and entered the workforce focusing her efforts on the two things she was most passionate about: basketball and giving back to her community.
Tyria spent two years as the Assistant Coach of the McNeese State University women’s basketball team, also serving as the team’s community service and social media director. She then turned her attention to shaping the young minds in her community as a high school U.S. History teacher and a student counselor.
In October 2018, Tyria decided it was time for a change of pace and enrolled at Diesel Driving Academy where she obtained her CDL. She didn’t know much about the trucking industry, but she saw it as a challenge she was determined to take on. Straight out of the gate, Tyria knew she wanted to go into flatbed trucking. She was drawn to the physical aspect of the job and the athleticism tarping, securing and strapping requires.
Upon joining the Black and Chrome fleet, Tyria quickly made a name for herself in the male dominated industry. Coupled with a patient and encouraging trainer, Tyria quickly mastered the art of flatbed. She turned the key to her own Peterbilt 579 for the first time in December 2018. Honing in on her athletic and competitive nature, Tyria found that she was a better truck driver than she thought imaginable.
Tyria will be among the top ten honored on Friday, August 23rd at GATS, where they will announce the winner of the top prize of $10,000.
Join us as we congratulate and wish these two fantastic TMC ambassadors the best as they head to GATS!