35 Year Veteran Heavy Haul Driver Will Oversee Orientation, Safety, Securement & More
Medallion Transport Holdings recently appointed Kenny Gingerich as their new VP of Safety.
As a long-time heavy haul trucking and logistics professional, he will oversee driver orientation, safety training, safety protocols, and more. He spent much of his career behind the wheel on the road, logging over 3.2 million miles in just over 35 years.
Gingerich joins Medallion after being hand-selected and sought out by the company’s COO, Jesse Merrell, who has been strategic in identifying specialized leaders in various roles since joining the company himself in 2015.
“Gingerich was one of the most successful Owner-Ops I’ve ever known, and we are so excited to have his years of experience as part of our new safety team,” said Merrell.
The experience Gingerich brings to the company’s safety efforts is that from a driver’s perspective. Gingerich can count on one hand the number of DOT warnings and violations he had during his career. He is also proud of the fact that he had zero out of service violations.
“It was time to get out of the truck,” said Gingerich about his transition. “I was ready for this change, and I wanted to have a positive effect on the industry in a different way.”
Gingerich will lead a national safety team to execute a hands-on and in-person driver orientation program and safety strategy; provide expertise on safety regarding federal and state laws; create resources and driver educational programs; and develop strategies to help all of Medallion’s drivers and employees understand and meet the safety needs of their market.
ON THE ROAD EXPERIENCE
Gingerich purchased his first truck in 1986, and started a career pulling flatbeds, step decks and double drops up to 10 axles. He was an accomplished owner-operator and ran 48 states and Canada.
While he spent most of his career driving, Gingerich served as a safety leader for several years during his tenure in the industry where he educated drivers, managers, and employees on safety standards and how to apply that knowledge to improve safety scores and reduce risk.
“Gingerich not only understands what it takes to maintain safe equipment from a DOT perspective, he truly understands what drivers are up against in their day-to-day work life,” said Merrell.
A PROACTIVE APPROACH
When it comes to safety, Gingerich wants every company owner-op to be proactive with safety rather than reactive.
By creating various programs beyond orientation, such as safety meetings, and awards and recognitions for drivers, Gingerich’s goal is that all drivers will feel appreciated and respected.
“We don’t want to preach at you, we want to have a conversation,” he said. “And we will all learn from each other.”
Gingerich will be attending the 50th Annual Mid-America Trucking Show with the team March 24-26 in Louisville, KY and will host safety refreshers in town. This is one of many planned, similar meetings he and the company will host throughout the region and country.
He has also started implementing driver safety awards and is creating incentives not only based on performance, but on safety as well.
DEDICATION TO CUSTOMER SERVICE
Gingerich shares a deep-rooted dedication to customer service with the rest of the Medallion team.
With his combined innovation and customer service focus, Gingerich didn’t waste any time getting out and meeting with drivers and agents and will continue to help them improve safety and driver retention.
“I’m looking forward to getting my team together,” he said. “I may be a leader in safety now, but I still consider every driver a co-worker of mine,” he said.