Blog

We’re proud to recognize six team members who have recently achieved certification through the North American Transportation Management Institute (NATMI).

Congratulations to our newly certified Driver Trainers:
Darren Dean, Mary Jensen, Brian Hunter, Carl Judge, Bessie Johnson, and Natasha Singleton.

This certification represents another step forward in our commitment to our Best of Class Vision, reinforcing the importance of safety, professionalism, and continuous improvement in our driver development program.

Raising the Standard for Driver Training

With this certification comes a greater level of responsibility and leadership in the field. Our Driver Trainers play a critical role in preparing the next generation of drivers and ensuring that every member of the team operates safely and professionally.

While conducting training, our Driver Trainers are expected to:

• Lead by example at all times, demonstrating safe driving habits and full compliance with company policies and DOT regulations.
• Provide clear, structured instruction both behind the wheel and on the ground.
• Complete all required training documentation accurately and in a timely manner.
• Immediately address and correct unsafe behaviors or policy violations.
• Maintain professionalism, patience, and consistency while mentoring trainees.
• Ensure trainees understand proper equipment operation, loading procedures, backing procedures, job site awareness, and defensive driving practices.
• Communicate progress, concerns, or incidents promptly to supervision.

Supporting the Training Process

Driver training is a team effort. Supervisors and Foremen play an important role in supporting the process by reinforcing company safety standards and providing trainers the time and authority needed to conduct thorough and effective instruction.

Improving Visibility in the Field

To further strengthen the program and improve visibility on job sites and in the yard, new hard hats and shirts have been issued to our Driver Trainers. These items help clearly identify trainers while they are working with trainees in the field.

In addition, trainer trucks have been marked so that our crews and anyone on site can easily recognize when a truck is being used for training purposes. These markings are magnetic and will only be displayed when a trainee is on board.

Building the Next Generation of Drivers

At Banks, our goal is to develop skilled, safety-focused drivers who represent the company with professionalism and hold true to our core values in every situation.

Through programs like this, we continue investing in our people, strengthening our operations, and building a safer future for our team and the communities we serve.