CPC Driver Spotlight: Joe Morgan

For Joe Morgan, a driver assigned to Walgreens in Mount Vernon, Illinois, the best part about driving for CPC Logistics is the people he interacts with.

“I enjoy working with everyone, especially our customers,” Joe said. “There are some store managers I have delivered to for 20 years. At this point, we have a bond; we know each other’s families and what’s going on in our lives.”

Before joining CPC in 2001, Joe was an over-the-road (OTR) truck driver for two years, transporting freight to destinations in 48 states and Canada. During his first year OTR trucking, his wife kept him company in the passenger seat.

“I always tell everyone it made our marriage even stronger,” Joe said.

He started his career at CPC as a team driver hauling loads to destinations like Colorado, Tennessee, Georgia and Louisiana. In August 2005, Joe was in New Orleans when Hurricane Katrina devastated the area. He volunteered to bring food, water and supplies to people who were impacted. Since then, he has stepped up to provide disaster relief after multiple incidents, including major floods in his home state.

“You can’t change everything, but you can make a difference,” Joe said.

Now Joe delivers to Walgreens stores throughout the St. Louis area. He enjoys being able to spend more time at home as well as the relationships he has built with co-workers like CPC Operations Manager Wayne Steinkamp.

“CPC is a good company; they take care of you,” Joe said. “Wayne will call me just to check in, talk and make sure everything is going OK.”

To Wayne, Joe is more than an excellent driver. He is an advisor who can draw on decades of experience to provide insight.

“Joe is a reliable, hard worker who knows what the job is and gets the job done,” Wayne said. “He is one of the longest tenured guys in Mount Vernon with a lot of knowledge. I replaced a manager who was here for more than 20 years, and Joe is one of the few who I can ask questions to see how it’s been done or is supposed to be done. Guys like Joe are not only employees, but friendships made. I need 100 Joes.”

Joe’s top safety tips for his fellow drivers are to always get enough sleep and complete pre- and post-trip inspections.

“Driving up and down the road, there is so much out there that you can’t control,” Joe said. “Focus on what you can control. The best you can do is remain alert and prepared.”

By following his own advice, Joe has driven almost 2 million accident-free miles with CPC and was named CPC’s Driver of the Month twice. In 2013, he was honored as a CPC Driver of the Year.

“Every day I try to do my best for CPC and Walgreens,” Joe said. “I make sure to keep a positive attitude and remain professional and courteous no matter what is going on.”

When Joe is not behind the wheel, he spends his free time with his wife and five children. They enjoy fishing, hunting, gardening, and canning and jarring fruits and vegetables that they grow on their farm. Every year, they take a family vacation to Florida, and he and his wife go on a cruise. He always receives a warm welcome when he returns to work.

“People are glad to see you when you’re back, and I’m glad to see them,” Joe said.