Page 33 - ATR 1 2015 web

trucking: the next generation

Companies explore formal and informal ways to groom the
industry leaders of tomorrow

Members of the 40 Under 40 Council
listen to a speaker at a meeting

By Jennifer Barnett reed
Contributing Writer “haNdiNg all that oVer to the Next
geNeratioN caN’t Be somethiNg we take
In a simpler time, grooming the lightlY. gettiNg to these taleNted people iN
next generation of transportation
industry leaders was often just a matter the middle part of their career is a good waY
of parents teaching their children the to eNsure the iNdustrY is goiNg to Be iN good
ropes of the family business. haNds 10 to 15 Years from Now.”
That process still suffices for some,
but many companies today take a more —Jeff hammoNds,
deliberate, even formalized approach to
developing the talents and abilities of walmart’s Vice presideNt of priVate fleet
their younger executives. It’s an invest-
ment in the future they’re counting
on paying off as members of the Baby Getting to these talented people in the programs put the younger employees in
Boom generation hit retirement age. middle part of their career is a good way direct contact with more senior leaders,
“We’re blessed to have all these to ensure the industry is going to be in and teach everything from the compa-
transportation companies we do based good hands 10 to 15 years from now.” ny’s values and culture to more general
in this state,” said Jeff Hammonds, Walmart, like Tyson Foods and skills in the areas of leadership, analyti-
Walmart’s vice president of private fleet. other large corporations, offers formal cal thinking and business acumen.
“Handing all that over to the next gener- leadership training for employees who
ation can’t be something we take lightly. show promise as future executives. The 

arkansas trucking rePort | issue 1 2015 33