Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/99744
President's Profile By Brad Bentley Safety, Service and Support Crete Carrier Corporation President Tonn Ostergard Has A Simple Philosophy Of Taking Care Of Their Drivers W ith a fleet of 5,600 trucks, 13,000 trailers and multiple divisions, you might expect a company president to be a master at multitasking – but that's not the case with Crete Carrier Corporation's Tonn Ostergard. Instead, he focuses on one of Crete's fundamental principals - remembering the importance of their drivers - and Ostergard says the fleet's actions have to support that. "Drivers are sometimes the faceless part of the team, so there are things that are challenging," Ostergard said. "Therefore, we work harder to maintain those relationships and reinforce our commitment to them with our pay package, good equipment and an emphasis on safety." And talking about safety is not just lip service at Crete Carrier Corporation, which is headquartered in Lincoln, Nebraska and comprised of three companies: Crete Carrier (dry van), Shaffer Trucking (temperature-sensitive) and Hunt Transportation (specialized, flatbed). In fact, safety is the area where Ostergard says the company will never compromise. With as many 22 January 2013 presidents 0113 crete.indd 1 miles as a large company like Crete Carrier Corporation runs, it is hard enough not to have accidents, but this fleet does everything they can to mitigate them. "We have a responsibility to our drivers to get them home to see their families, and we also have a responsibility with whom we share the road," Ostergard said. Simply put, safety is a reflection of Crete's culture. And if early CSA scores are any indication, Crete's commitment to safety is working. "It's hard to change, and I think CSA reveals who you were and who you are." Who Crete Carrier Corporation is BestDriverJOBS www.bestdriverjobs.com 12/5/12 5:28 PM