As National Tank Truck Carriers’ 2022-23 Professional Tank Truck Driver of the Year, Hoffman Transportation driver Kenneth Tolliver will serve as the tank truck industry’s top ambassador at safety-focused events.
It’s a role for which he’s well suited, says Jerry Curl, G&D Trucking/Hoffman director of operations.
Tolliver has trained Hoffman drivers for more than a year now, and he sits on the two-time North American safety champion’s driver advisory board. He also mentored Bulkmatic drivers before landing at Hoffman in 2015. “He’s always willing to reach out to others, and help them improve,” Curl said. “He brings out the best in people.”
But for Tolliver, sharing NTTC’s mission of safety with the public is just another way to serve his community. “I like to share my knowledge because when I started in this industry, somebody had to teach me,” he said. “So I feel like I can pay forward what the old timers taught me, be a mentor, and give back to tank truckers.”
Bulk Transporter sat with Tolliver in Boston soon after he secured NTTC’s William A. Usher, Sr., championship trophy to learn more about what drew him to dry bulk, and G&D/Hoffman in particular, what today’s drivers want from trucking, and how he has stayed safe across millions of miles on America’s highways.
Questions and answers are edited for length and clarity.
Bulk Transporter: What was your initial reaction to hearing your name called on stage?
Kenneth Tolliver: “Couldn’t you see it on my face? [It was] ‘Whoa!’ As a driver in this industry, you look at the miles, the sacrifice, and the focus on safety, doing what we do each and every day, and it’s truly a blessing just to be in the top eight.
“And then to be Grand Champion? It’s a great honor for my family—and Hoffman Transportation.”
BT: What led you from hauling dry freight to the tank truck industry?
KT: “I used to meet up with this old driver in Colton, California, and he’d tell me ‘You need to be a specialized driver.’ We’d walk outside, and he’d say, ‘Count the dry vans. Too many, right? Now count the car haulers and tankers. Not nearly as many.’ Then around 2005, I started seeing all these tank trucks on the road, and I’d ask the pneumatic guys what they were hauling. And I was inspired by that.”
BT: How does pulling a dry bulk trailer compare to a box van?
KT: “The way I see it, as a tank truck driver, I get to load and offload my material, coming off a railcar, and then take it to the consignee and offload it. So I oversee the delivery from start to finish because I’m more hands on, whereas in dry van, it’s the consignee or shipper with a forklift moving loads back and forth.”
BT: What do you like about working at Hoffman?
KT: “They’re a very family-oriented trucking company, and when I say that, I speak from my heart, because when they say you’re part of the family, you really are part of the Hoffman family. All my co-workers, dispatchers, tank washers, and mechanics—we’re truly blessed to work for Kevin Hoffman. And they don’t just say you’re family, they show it. If you’re in a crisis, they’re there to support you. That’s what makes me stay.”
BT: What is most challenging about transporting dry bulk materials?
KT: “It really isn’t challenging. Once you learn the industry, it’s a way of life. I enjoy what I do. I enjoy hauling different types of dry bulk materials, and I enjoy meeting our customers, and serving them. They rely on me to get their product there every day.”
BT: What are today’s professional drivers looking for in the trucking industry?
KT: “New guys coming into the industry just need to find a good company. And there are steps to getting where I am. I’ve been at it for 22 years. But if you can find a company with a good foundation, that has faith in their employees, drawing new guys in is easy. The generations are changing, but pay has increased tremendously vs. when I started 22 years ago, because there’s such a high demand for drivers in this industry. And if we can just get guys focused on this segment, and come this way, they won’t go back to dry van.”
BT: How have you stayed safe while logging more than 3 million accident-free miles?
KT: “I’m about faith, so the first thing I do every morning is thank the man up above. Just like [Lt. Col.] Dan Rooney said [in his keynote]—you must have faith in everything you do. So it starts with Him first. Then always be aware of your surroundings, and inspect your equipment regularly, in the morning and afternoon, because getting from Point A to Point B safely is what protects all our families while we’re out traveling these roads.”
BT: Did you receive any advice from fellow G&D/Hoffman driver Ron Baird, NTTC’s 2020-21 Driver of the Year, leading up to the win?
KT: “Yes, of course. Ron has truly been a mentor to me. I’m just honored to have him in my circle. I’ve had a lot of great mentors, but Ron is special. This guy’s got 7 million miles, and that’s a big accomplishment. So I’m proud to call him a friend and co-worker, and when I need advice, he’s only a phone call away.”
BT: What message will you deliver during your term as NTTC’s industry ambassador?
KT: “It’s all about safety, awareness—and being the best you can be.”
