driver development overseeing the recruiting and training of drivers with no experience. He then became director of safety for Hunt Transportation, the company’s flatbed division. Troughout those years, he was mentored
by four industry veterans: Crete founder Duane Acklie; Crete CEO and President Tonn Ostergard; Shaffer Trucking President Tim Aschoff; and Ray Dunn, retired president of Hunt Transportation. Te four executives’ emphasis on commonsense decision-making made a big impact on the young executive. “Between Duane Acklie, Tonn Ostergard, Tim Aschoff and Ray Dunn, I credit all my thought process about the trucking industry to those four individuals,” Falgione said. Leaving Crete Carrier for Greater Omaha
was a difficult decision. Falgione at first declined the opportunity. In fact, it took six months after the initial contact for him to take the job. But he was intrigued by the opportunity to grow a company on his own. Finally he gave his notice to Dunn, who told him he needed to inform Acklie in person. Acklie expressed support, which meant a lot to him.
“It was pretty moving to have your longtime
employer look you in the eye and tell you you’ll do wonderful; that’s a great company,” Falgione said. “And to get that blessing from Duane meant a lot. And I knew at that point that I was making the right decision.” Te admiration is mutual. Acklie said
Falgione is “a natural born executive” defined by “hard work, common sense, and an ability to go out and get it done.” He credited Falgione for his company’s low Department of Transportation safety scores. “I wrote ... his new boss,” Acklie said. “Told
him what a good pick he’d made. ... We hated in the worst way to lose him. But we also knew he was going from vice president of safety to being president and run the whole operation, and we all felt good about that.” While it was difficult to leave Crete,
Falgione is enjoying his work with a small carrier, which he said gives him the opportunity to build personal relationships with his customers. Te company also owns a food grade warehousing company, Greater Omaha Leasing, as well as a fleet of dump trucks and pups.
“You look at the rich history that Crete
or Werner or Heartland or any of these great companies have,” he said, “and they started as a small company, and they got to where they are today, and the opportunity to build a company and to instill the same family values, provide a quality living with, you know, a fair day’s wage for a fair day’s work, and to build that Midwest ethic and provide the drivers what they need was just, that was the reason. It was purely self- motivated. I don’t want to tell Mr. Davis this, but I’d probably have taken the job for free. It’s just a great, great deal.” He’s exaggerating, of course. A man has
to earn a living. Still, the best thing about Falgione’s job is that he gets to do what he loves. “My wife and I were talking the other
night. ... A lot of professionals play golf,” he said. “A lot of professionals have hobbies. – woodworking, whatever the case may be. I told her, ‘I get to go to work every day and play with trucks.’ What little boy growing up doesn’t want to go to work and play with trucks? Tat’s the coolest job in the world. You get to play with trucks. ... Tat’s my hobby.” NT
A TRUE WYNNE WIN.
From your team at Union Bank — best wishes for the road ahead!
Congratulations on your recent recognition for the Outstanding Safety Performance Award from the National Tank Truck Carriers. This and your many other awards signify your unwavering dedication to maintaining an excellent safety record, preventive maintenance, training, and attention to detail.
Omaha . 177th & West Center
Outstanding Safety Performance Award from the National Tank Truck Carriers
Member FDIC
ubt.com 402.827.1999 NEBRASKA TRUCKER — ISSUE 3, 2015 —
www.nebtrucking.com 15
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