Inside The Triangle

Katy McFarland, Driver Onboarding Coordinator, joins host Darin Ladlie in this week’s podcast. This episode is jam packed with lots of great info and news! Darin announces Anthony Vasquez as our Grand Champion Driver of the Year! Congratulations to Anthony and to all of our 2020 Division Drivers of the Year: Tom Melton, Todd Ouverson, Chad Hazelton, Tim Olden, and Cyndi & Todd Hopes. Darin als...

Decker Driver Spotlight! Professional Drivers, Cyndi & Todd Hopes, join host Darin Ladlie in this special episode of Inside the Triangle. Cyndi & Todd are our 2020 Team Drivers of the Year and are now in the running for Grand Champion Driver of the Year for 2020! The Hopes were also our winners of the Take Pride in Your Ride drawing for receiving a Level 4 during their appearance inspectio...

Decker Driver Spotlight! Professional Driver, Thomas Remington, joins host Darin Ladlie to talk about – you guessed it – all  the different ways he has learned to cook in his truck! Thomas was recently featured in our local Fort Dodge Messenger newspaper and Overdrive Magazine because of his love for cooking, and he is now a freelance food writer for Overdrive! Thomas and Darin chat about way...

Lysa Bockoven, Compliance & Work Comp Specialist, and Jen McCuddin, Cargo & Compliance Specialist, join host Darin Ladlie to talk about what their roles are in the Safety Department and what they do on a daily basis to take care of all of our Decker Drivers.  Lysa discusses CSA points and what a Driver should do if they get a violation while Jen discusses how Drivers can protect thems...

Director of Recruiting, Abbie Reed, joins host Darin Ladlie to update us about what’s going on in the Recruiting Department! Abbie talks about the Driver Referral Program and all new incentives for the program this year. Abbie also challenges our Professional Drivers to refer 5 Drivers by the end of 2021 for a chance to win the extra bonus at the end of the year! Darin and Abbie then discuss the n...

Hey, this is Tammy O’Tool, I was lucky enough to join our host, Darin Ladlie, on this week’s podcast!  We’re very excited to share some information about our upcoming Driver Awards Ceremony!  Darin kicks off this episode with announcing Decker’s January 2021 Drivers of the Month and the January Scorecard Bonus updates. He then explains how the Scorecard Bonus Program rolls into our Drive...

Decker Driver Spotlight! Professional Driver, Lisa “Selfie Queen” Ohrmundt joins our host, Darin Ladlie to chat about everything trucking! Lisa has been with Decker for a little over a year and has already made a lasting impact, including being selected for Driver of the Month in June 2020 and January 2021! Get to know Lisa as she talks about how she got into the industry, why she loves social med...

Jason Sorlien, Retention Manager & Safety Coordinator at our Missoula, MT terminal, joins host Darin Ladlie over the phone for Part 2 of our Geotab series!  Jason teamed up with several departments here at Decker to create a very detailed resource manual to help our Professional Drivers with the transition to Geotab.  This manual was designed to not only train Drivers on their new ta...

Ashley Pettus, Compliance Specialist, joins host Darin Ladlie to talk all things Geotab! Ashley has been working on the Geotab project since the very beginning so she has lots of valuable information to share, including some exciting news that you don't want to miss! Ashley and Darin run through all the steps a Driver needs to take when first getting their Geotab, and talk about how it makes a Dri...

Recruiter, Jesse Butler, joins host Darin Ladlie over the phone from Montana to talk about our Health & Wellness month here at Decker Truck Line. Throughout the episode, Jesse and Darin discuss three important aspects of health & wellness: sleep/mental health, nutrition, and fitness! Listen as they chat about easy stretches and exercises you can do from inside your truck, provide you with...

In this week’s episode, our host, Darin Ladlie, relays a few messages from different departments here at Decker Truck Line.  Darin talks about WorkHound and all the great feedback and suggestions we’ve already gotten from our Professional Drivers and how we look forward to implementing your ideas and can’t wait to receive more!  Other topics Darin covers in this episode are FREE Wi-Fi in...

In this week’s special episode, Sgt. Robert Wittkowski from the Iowa D.O.T. joins host Darin Ladlie over the phone from Ankeny, IA to answer YOUR Driver questions. Sgt. Wittkowski goes in depth about what is a D.O.T. inspection and all the different levels there are. He and Darin discuss how a Driver can best prepare for an inspection from an officer (spoiler alert—it’s by doing a pre-trip inspect...

Fleet Manager, Matt McConaughey, joins host Darin Ladlie over the phone from Missoula to discuss the current winter season and how to stay safe through the difficult conditions by chaining your tires and treating your fuel with anti-gel. Matt and Darin tell us about how the different climate patterns from all across the country can affect our freight. They also take time to chat about the recent F...

Driver Decker Spotlight! In this episode of Inside the Triangle, Professional Driver, Tim Olden, joins our host, Darin Ladlie, to talk about everything trucking! Tim has been in the trucking industry for over 30 years and chats about his excitement for trucking – he even owns 2 trucks! Darin and Tim talk about transitioning to a Lease Purchase and Owner/Operator Driver and how to be successful by...

Communications Coordinator, Kati Frahm, joins host Darin Ladlie to talk about the holiday spirit here at Decker Truck Line! Some pretty special traditions have been formed over the years and this year is no exception. Even through this crazy pandemic, the spirit of giving is still a very important part of this holiday season here at DTL.  Listen in as they share the many things that Decker an...

Fleet Manager Spotlight! Fleet Manager Gary Northrup joins host Darin Ladlie to talk about what it was like growing up in the trucking industry.  Darin and Gary both started driving with their fathers so they have a lot to say about what the equipment was like and what they think the future holds for the industry.  They also reminisce over their favorite stops from back in the day and dr...

Decker Driver Spotlight! Professional Driver Steve Alliger joins host Darin Ladlie to share some exciting news! In 2018, Steve was selected as Decker’s Midwest Reefer/Van Division Driver of the Year as well as our Grand Champion Driver of the Year.  Then in 2019 he was nominated for and selected as the Iowa Motor Truck Association’s Driver of the Year.  And now, because of his profession...

Meet Elaine Schlick, Driver Trainer and Orientation Instructor, on this week’s episode of Inside the Triangle.  Elaine joins host, Darin Ladlie, to explore Driver Orientation at Decker Truck Line.  They walk through, day by day, the first week that Drivers join the Decker Team and how they help to prepare them to get out on the road.  And, once seated in a truck, the connection does...

Rick George (Vice President of Safety) and Tyson Vance (Director of Maintenance Support) join host Darin Ladlie to discuss ways to stay safe while driving through winter weather. Darin, Rick, and Tyson provide well-rounded advice and guidance from the perspectives of Safety, Maintenance, and Drivers. Darin also makes a special announcement about an upcoming guest we will have on the podcast. Stick...

Health & Benefits Manager, Andrea Kloberdanz, joins host Darin Ladlie to talk about Open Enrollment and all things Decker Benefits! Andrea goes over all the different insurance options that Drivers and Office/Shop employees have available to them and how to sign up. You can make changes on at online at http://employeenavigator.com/benefits/Account/Login , or over the phone by calling SISCO at...

Driver Recruiter, Jesse Butler, joins host Darin Ladlie over the phone to talk about the Driver Referral Bonus Program and the Minimum Pay Program.  Jesse and Darin explain how referring other Professional Drivers to join the Decker Team can be a very lucrative way to make extra money. The more Drivers you refer, the better the incentives get!  They also talk about the new Driver Minimum...

Decker Driver Spotlight! Professional Driver Crystal Haun joins host Darin Ladlie to chat about why she took the leap to join the trucking industry, and who inspired her to start her career as a Professional Driver after having a desk job her whole life. Crystal talks about how SmartDrive, Transflo, and her Driver Manager Drew Cardy have all helped her along the way to help her reach her goals, an...

Vice President of Operations, Michael Erritt, joins host Darin Ladlie to wish Fleet Managers a happy "Fleet Manager Appreciation Week." Michael shares why Decker came up with a special week to celebrate our Fleet Managers and talks about everything that our FMs do on a weekly and daily basis  to make sure their Drivers are taken care of on the road.  Then, Darin talks to three Drivers: C...

Fleet Manager Spotlight! Fleet Manager Zac Bax joins host Darin Ladie in this week’s Fleet Manager Spotlight episode. Zac and Darin chat about what it was like growing up in Texas, Zac’s favorite sports to play, and of course lots of hunting and fishing talk! WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! If you have topic suggestions or questions you want answered on the podcast, you can email them to podcast@deckerm...

Decker Driver Spotlight! Professional Driver Jerry Arthur joins host Darin Ladlie to chat about what it was like in 2006 when Jerry first started at Decker compared to now! Jerry and Darin also talk about transitioning to a Lease Purchase Driver and how to overcome any obstacle that may come your way. WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU! If you have topic suggestions or questions you want answered on the pod...