CPC Logistics President Butch Wallis appeared on FreightWaves’ WHAT THE TRUCK?!? podcast on July 25, 2022, to discuss the recent Driver Salute event that recognized 18 of its Hall of Fame and All-Star truck drivers from across the United States and Canada.
After giving an overview of CPC Logistics and his role, Wallis spoke with podcast hosts Tim Dooner and Michael Vincent about how the event came about. He explained that in 2020 and 2021, COVID-19 limited the company’s ability to recognize drivers in person like they had in the past, so CPC decided to bring its award-winning drivers together for one big celebration.
“We were able to get them into St. Louis, which is our corporate headquarters,” Wallis said during his interview. “We did a celebration and recognition event on Saturday night and had a VIP tent set up on Sunday where the drivers were able to experience the Enjoy Illinois 300 NASCAR Cup Series race. They were also able to bring a guest with them. A lot brought their spouses, and some brought their sons or daughters. We even had a couple bring their dispatchers.”
Wallis noted that before the race, all the drivers were able to take two laps around the World Wide Technology Raceway oval in their semi-tractor trailers, once as individuals and a second time as a group at a higher speed.
“A couple of them got into it, maybe wanted to pass the truck in front of them,” Wallis joked.
Wallis’ favorite part of the Driver Salute experience was connecting with the individual drivers and honoring them for their hard work and dedication.
“It’s really about the opportunity to recognize the drivers and thank them,” he said at the end of his interview. “Anytime you spend that much time with drivers, you learn a little bit more about them. We’re a very hands-on company. We try to get out to see our drivers when they’re making deliveries to really live in their world versus ours.”
Get the full WHAT THE TRUCK?!? episode on FreightWaves’ website, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube or anywhere you stream podcasts.