Santos Perez Answers the Question… “What’s so Great About Driving a Truck for E. Stewart Mitchell, Inc?”

Ever wonder what kind of person makes a great truck driver? Meet Santos Perez, who’s driven a truck for E. Stewart Mitchell, Inc., for nearly three decades. Even after logging countless miles, he claims there is still nowhere he’d rather be than navigating the open road. After all, he asks, “Who wouldn’t want to get paid to see the countryside?”

Perez is at no loss for words when describing his passion, not only for driving a truck, but also for working at E. Stewart Mitchell, Inc. “The company is just one big, happy family. We look out for each other; and we each have a voice. Our management team welcomes everyone’s ideas, and they offer us great pay and benefits. We’ve shared good times and bad. And many of our drivers love it here so much that after they put in years of service, they stay on and work part-time,” says Perez.

So what does it take to launch a gratifying career as a truck driver at E. Stewart Mitchell, Inc.? First, drivers are required to carry a Class A CDL (commercial driver’s license) with a Tanker Hazmat (hazardous materials) endorsement, because the company transports liquids at highly elevated temperatures. However, if the right applicant seeks a career change but doesn’t yet have formal training, E. Stewart Mitchell, Inc., will help individuals obtain the appropriate training and certification. Our drivers are rated among the best paid in the region, and we offer generous benefits including health care, vacation pay and incentive earnings, a 401K plan with matching funds and a retirement plan.

“We’re rewarded around here for hard work,” says Perez. “We can earn bonus pay for good safety records and fuel economy. When the company is more profitable, the drivers earn more income. So we’re invested in how well the company performs.” The industry rewards strong drivers, too. In 2004, Perez was counted among Maryland’s top 12 truck drivers.

“It was an honor,” he says, “to stand next to the driver who was recognized for driving 1.3 million miles accident-free. Safety is a top priority for the company, and drivers receive continuous training at E. Stewart Mitchell. And, if you have a desire to advance your career, the management supports you in reaching your goals, either within the company or outside,” says Perez.

So what kind of personality temperament is a good match for a career as a truck driver? According to Perez…a patient one. “You can’t be someone who’s in a rush all the time,” he says. “You’ve got to have a calm demeanor, particularly when responding to irritable drivers and bad weather conditions. Sometimes a driver has to park the truck for several hours and wait for the roads to clear up; and we have to adjust to those kinds of changes.”

Perez says drivers working for E. Stewart Mitchell, Inc., typically log 500 miles each day on the road, so they’re home most evenings. Only about 5% of travel-time requires overnight stays. “It’s not a complicated job,” he says. “We drive from Point A to Point B, meet with the customer, unload materials and keep detailed logs. But, you have to be on the ball mentally. The best drivers can foresee potential problems and hazards, and drive defensively.”

What’s one of Perez’s favorite perks of being employed at E. Stewart Mitchell, Inc.? The sparkling, pristine trucks he gets to drive. “That truck is my office. I’ve made it comfortable and I keep it clean. A few years ago, the company came up with a ‘one-truck, one-driver” program. We drive the very same truck each day, and are typically treated to brand-new trucks every 3 years or so. We take pride in those trucks, and we treat them accordingly.”

What message would Perez like to convey about his chosen vocation? “I’d like to encourage more young people to consider a career in truck-driving. Not everyone’s cut out for a desk job, and driving allows you to see the world and earn a good living. And there’s job security too. Hey, as long as people need things like food and oil, someone’s got to deliver them from one place to the next!” he laughs.

For information regarding employment as a driver or administrative staff member, please contact:
Contact: Rusty Ganbin
Phone: (410) 350-7040
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