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It’s the international distress signal – the morse code match of SOS. In the 1900s, it meant a ship was in trouble.
For Schneider drivers, who are considered the “captains of their ships,” SOS is a different kind of resource for help. Schneider Overnight Support (SOS) helps drivers with urgent safety, equipment or shipment issues.
Joe Lockett III is a team leader for Van Truckload Operations on support shift, based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Here’s how Joe’s experience as a former driver helps him in his current role, and how he strives to help drivers every day.
Transitioning from Schneider driver to team leader
Joe started as an over-the-road Schneider driver in 2004. He liked the independence of the job but had an itch to try something new. Joe tried his hand as a corrections officer in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, but he found that career came with more risks and didn’t offer the same freedom as driving on the open road.
He returned to Schneider as an intermodal driver in 2011. In the years that followed, Joe worked his way through other roles, such as a:
- Training engineer.
- Operations support representative.
- Intermodal SOS specialist.
- Driver team leader.
“All of my transitions have been natural, commonsense leaps into roles that fit,” Joe said. “It helps me create a better understanding in this role. When a driver calls in upset, I can relate. I was once that driver calling in, wanting to get home. It just helps me process things with them more easily.”
Leading an SOS team
Joe leads a team of about eight SOS associates who assist drivers in emergencies or with shipment problems. SOS can receive up to 1,100 calls each night, so operations specialists like those on Joe’s team have a lot to focus on.
“Drivers might have an accident, or safety concerns, or they might need information for shipments, loads, drops and trailers,” Joe said. “Those are the types of things we’re trying to work.”
Setting other associates up for success
For Joe, being an SOS leader brings exciting challenges every day. He embraces the chance to help other associates strengthen their skills.
“I love to help people improve and bring them along with me,” he said. “That’s the mindset I’ve always had. We’re all accountable for something. Schneider didn’t bring me to Green Bay for me to just sit behind a desk. I try to lead by example. It’s a learning experience for me to lead others.”
Using his experience to help Schneider drivers
That’s not the only philosophy Joe has adopted; he feels he can still be a valuable resource for drivers when they need it most.
“I never forget where I came from,” Joe said. “I know what it’s like to be a driver. I know what it takes, and I try to help drivers work through issues the best I can. I’ve come a long way since the day when I couldn’t back up the truck and thought I was going to fail. If I can keep my feet on the ground and remember that, I can help others in the same way.”
