Q&A with Denise Watkins, Former TA Services Manager of Carrier Services

Last year we talked with Carrier Services Manager, Denise Watkins, about what makes a good carrier relationship tick. Denise, who has been with TA Services for almost 18 years, has recently been promoted to Manager of Claims and Risk Management. In honor of National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, we sat down again with Denise 1 year later to hear about some great TA Services carrier stories from 2022! 

Q: Why do Carriers choose TA Services? 
A: Our freight, our carrier services, and our commitment to our carrier partners are all reasons why carriers continue to partner with TA Services. We offer carriers the best rate possible with desirable lanes and we communicate with them openly and effectively, resulting in the best possible service for them and our customers. Quite simply, we treat our carriers as true partners. It’s what makes TA Services so successful.

Q: What are some of the ways TA goes the extra mile, every mile for their carriers throughout the year?
A: We help match them with their preferred loads/lanes and we offer quick, flexible payment options through TriumphPay, giving the carrier all the decision-making power. We maintain constant communication with our carrier base, ensuring they have every detail needed to effectively and timely haul loads with us.

We also check in with them and keep them well informed of any changes or updates in our organization and encourage regular feedback, allowing us to focus on any areas where we can improve our partnership.

We value carriers all days of the year and see them as true partners in our industry – and we treat them as such! TA is not successful unless our carriers are successful. They help us Move America and Beyond!

Q: How are you going to celebrate Carriers this week?
A: We are so excited to shower our TA Services drivers, carrier partners, and other truck drivers with appreciation this week! TA Services has several special things planned for National Truck Driver Appreciation Week (NTDAW).

Our mill sites and warehouses across the nation will join each other this week in celebration of our nation’s true heroes by providing snack stations and catered meals throughout the week (get to TA’s Midlothian site and Jackie Askelson will personally make sure you are fed!).

We’ve mailed out some special TA branded gifts to our top carrier partners to thank them for their support and hard work. We’re also handing out some extra special gift boxes for our own TA team of drivers.

Each of our locations throughout North America (Mexico and Canada included) have all worked with our marketing team to come up with a creative way to say “THANK YOU” to our nation’s drivers. Be sure to check back for that special homage later this week!

Q: Do you have any special shout outs?
A: I hear about MM&R on a regular basis from one of our founders, Jackie Askelson. Randy Dukes – who runs MM&R – was just a kid when he started running freight with his dad, Max. We trust them and l know I can count on them any day, any time. Today MM&R is one of our longest running carriers in the history of TA Services. They have been in business since August 1987 – we love working with them!