Page 33 - ATR 4 2014 web

income in six months of 2014 ($6.3
million) than in all of 2013.
On a wall to the right of DAn CushMAn: At A GlAnCe
Cushman’s desk in his corner office
of PAM Transport is a huge map of Hometown: chicago Heights, Ill.
Mexico, which has been instrumental BirtH Date: January 27, 1955
to PAM’s growth these past five years Favorite BasketBall player: michael Jordan
he said. “I certainly retooled the out-
side sales team. My first hire was a guy Favorite italian in nortHwest arkansas: Pesto café in Fayetteville
that I knew from my past who lived Dream Dinner (anyone, living or not): my dad and my mom, for sure, and my son. and you
know, I met david Feherty (of golf channel fame). He’s unfiltered. I was fortunate to
in Monterrey, Mexico, an extraordi- go on an event to Pebble Beach, and I met him there … I saw him again at a retailers
nary individual,” he said. “I worked in conference this spring and, same thing, unfiltered. He’s very open about his troubled
Mexico and I feel you have to have a past. I’d have him there.
strong presence in Mexico.” Best golF course you’ve playeD: When I used to play a lot, I was fortunate to play a lot of
While PAM has further grown its great courses: valhalla [Louisville, Ky.] , where the Pga championship was just held.
TPc sawgrass [Florida]. merion [outside Philadelphia]. I played Jack nicklaus’ course,
dedicated divisions, such as the auto- muirfield village [ohio]. I played alotian [Little rock]. It’s amazing, beautiful.
motive business, it’s made progress in wHere woulD you play tHat you Haven’t?: at this stage, I’m not a good golfer. I don’t
expedited work, which now comprises want to be tortured. In non-tournament conditions, I hear augusta national is very
20 percent of the company’s overall playable.
revenue, Cushman said. “This division Favorite meal: Fish, as often as I can. Being a single guy in town, I eat a salad every day
is very diverse and very service sensi- for lunch. chicken and rice at home nearly every night. I’m the most boring eater. I
don’t cook.
tive,” Cushman said in PAM’s second-
quarter statement. “By the nature of the Best local restaurant For FisH: I usually go to Bonefish grill or crabby’s. I’m not a big
tilapia guy or want sea bass. I like a little fishiness. I love salmon.
business, we keep drivers moving, and wHat FooD DiD you Have in cHicago tHat you wisH was Here?: I never get to chicago, but I
they get the miles they desire. We’ve would want a shaved beef sausage sandwich with giardiniera. I even found some
focused on loading the expedited loads dell alpe giardiniera at Walmart. It is hot, man!
where they land, and as a result, we are wHat Book are you currently reaDing?: “The Boys in the Boat.” I didn’t think it would be
experiencing positive trends in reducing as interesting as it is. also, have you read “unbroken”? It’s amazing. I’ve always got
deadhead.” something by the night stand. I’ve read a ton about the civil War. Last year, I went on
vacation to the Baltic sea and spent some time in Berlin, which got me interested in
“Our Mexico division continues to the world wars. That’s new territory for me. I always look for best-selling nonfiction.
grow, and because these lanes generally is tHere a Book you woulD recommenD For tHose seeking aDvice in leaDersHip skills or Books
represent a long length of haul, drivers tHat Have inFluenceD your style oF leaDersHip?: I read a book by Pat riley that I really
like it. The ability to successfully man- enjoyed and books by John Wooden that I really enjoyed. of course, those are two
age this business so that drivers get to great basketball coaches. You get little snippets from a lot of different books you read.
I remember reading things and thinking about important lessons. John Wooden was
and from the border is imperative in extremely leadership-driven, people-driven, doing things the right way.
order to maintain driver satisfaction.” Have any otHer HoBBies?: Hiking. The last two years I’ve gone on vacations where I hiked.
Cushman said that since late last Two years ago, I went to alaska and walked as much as I could to see as much as I
year, PAM has been more successful could. Last year, on a Baltic sea cruise, I got out and hiked it as much as I could.
in the diversification of its dedicated any music preFerences?: I love music, and I listen to just about everything. Having a
customer base. On the other hand, the 26-year-old and spending a ton of time with him all his life, he’s even forced me
through a rap stage. a small percentage was oK. I’ve been to my fair share of
random fleet side, the one-way business concerts. Who I haven’t seen that I’d like to see is van morrison. I love his music.
model, is half the size it was two years
ago, he said, because of the driver mar-
ket. It’s the one area he cites as a struggle PAM’s core problems and turn the game that you learn more during the difficult
amid a wealth of great news at PAM. around. times because you learn what not to do,”
As a basketball player in college, “I would say 50 percent of senior he said. “You should pop the champagne
Cushman, like most big men, wanted executive management that was here when you can, but take notes along the
the coach to let him take the outside in 2009 is no longer here, but I haven’t way of what’s working.” Five years ago,
shots that typically go to the shoot- replaced them with outsiders, but rather not even a bottle of wine was available at
ing guards, but his role was designed from within,” he said. Mary Maestri’s upon Cushman’s arrival
to clean up the garbage inside with The operations room, taking up a in Tontitown, but now the celebratory
rebounds and defense and converting whole floor in the corporate headquar- champagne can flow.
the high-percentage baskets in close. In ters, buzzes again. It’s obvious to everyone that
a way, he had to power inside to get to “I’ve always been a strong believer Cushman’s strategy is working.

ArkAnsAs truckinG rePort | issue 4 2014 33