Tracy has 20 years of experience in transportation and when asked about her experiences in this historically male dominated industry, Tracy said, “Being a strong woman in this industry has, at times, been a challenge. I am thrilled to see, within the last 10 years, so many more women finding and developing successful careers in Trucking/Transportation. I also believe the industry has begun recognizing the impactful contributions women can make!”

Tracy received her bachelor’s degree from Allegheny College and now resides in Pleasant Hills, PA with her husband Vito and 2 children, Breanna and Cole.

Tracy and the PGT Services team are excited for the growth and opportunities in 2023. PGT Services is excited to watch Tracy continue her success with the company and continue to develop her entire team.

Internet searches of “How do I get around a non-compete” and “Cost of employment attorney for non-competes” are one of the rising topics in the last 10 years. Some non-competes last for one year while others may be valid for three years, but breaking a non-compete can result in fines up to $250,000. In specialized industries, it may make getting another job much more difficult. Three main parts of a non-compete agreement are: Duration, Scope and Geography. A non-compete agreement prohibits the employee from competing with the business directly or indirectly for a specific duration of time after employment has ended. They may attempt to prohibit the employee from things such as:

• Working for a competitor company or competing individual
• Starting a company that offers the same products or services
• Developing competing products or providing competing services
• Recruiting former colleagues to join their new business

Businesses decide to enforce non-compete in order to protect:

• Trade secrets
• Confidential business or professional information
• Company relationships with specific
• Specialized training

Employees who sign a non-compete agreement, who then attempt to find new work, can be stuck with fear of getting fired or sued. It often does not matter whether the employee left by choice. Being forced to sign a non-compete agreement is a reason some employees may choose to abandon the job offer — they do not want to put their future work prospects on the line. Here at PGT Services, we believe if “You take care of your people, they’ll take care of you.” Even though a non-compete is not as popular as it once was, employers still use it to threaten employees when leaving. We do not see the value in threatening legal action if an employee leaves. Competition is competition, leads are leads and training is training. None of it is patented PGT Services, and there is no reason that we need to legally force it to be as such.

This spring brings a new tool in the fight against cancer: flowers. Daffodils are a universal symbol of hope and life, and they are at the center of the American Cancer Society’s Daffodil Days® event. This year’s event will deliver thousands of flowers across the country to raise awareness and funds for the fight against cancer. PGT Services is partnering with the American Cancer Society in this effort.

In addition to providing smiles for those in need, the event raises funds for the American Cancer Society’s life-saving mission of attacking cancer from every angle. The Society works tirelessly to create awareness and impact, to build communities to support those affected by cancer, and to help with access to treatment. They empower people with information to outsmart cancer, launch innovative research, and develop game changing approaches to addressing the cancer burden for all people.

Now through February 21, 2023, you can join PGT Services in support of the American Cancer Society’s Daffodil Days by donating. Your donation will enable the Society to save more lives by helping people stay well, helping people get well, finding cures, and fighting back against cancer.

Acting as resources to support and mentor their team members, PGT Services kicked off our Carrier Solutions Advising program. These advisors are a direct point of contact for new carrier solutions reps, guiding them through training, onboarding, and career development. From brainstorming and troubleshooting to simple encouragement, the program also encourages collaboration among the carrier solutions team.

Senior carrier solutions reps, Jaz, Cody and Abby, are the inaugural program advisors. They’ve reflected on their new roles and the excitement with the new program.

Transportation. Getting commodities from point A to B with safety, service, and execution. This is why we are in business. But what brokerages often lack is the hands-on experience of the drivers they are working with. At PGT Services, we believe every employee should learn the basics of loading and securing the commodities we transport every day.

Enter PGT Trucking’s Blairsville, PA training facility. This immersive opportunity enables our employees to learn side-by-side with drivers how to properly load, secure, and protect commodities like steel coils on the back of a flatbed.

This required training for every employee provides them first-hand experience, a crash course in industry terminology, and an expanded view of what it takes to deliver a product successfully. We sat down with four of our employees who recently completed the Blairsville training to see what they took from this experience.

How did this training push you out of your comfort zone?

“Although I report to my cozy office in Sewickley, PA Monday–Friday, I had the opportunity to learn what proper flatbed securement looks like with first-hand experience,” said Gracie Voigt, Marketing Manager. “Not only was this day full of first-hand training, but also learning about the terminology of the transportation industry, equipment that is discussed every single day, and meeting some amazing PGT drivers.”

What was your biggest takeaway?

“I left with a much greater appreciation for truck drivers,” said Vianca Corpuz, Carrier Solutions Rep. “I did not realize the time, energy, and technique it takes to safely secure these flatbed loads. I understood the big picture, but the details of loading, securing, and delivering a load was so eye opening.”

What was your experience meeting and training with the drivers?

“It was so cool to meet all different types of people, drivers, all trying to accomplish the same goal from all across the US,” said Joe Peduzzi, Carrier Solutions Rep. “It feels awesome to truly be a part of a close-knit family!”

Did this change your perception of the transportation industry?

“Coming from someone completely new to the industry, I was a little nervous for this training, but I had the absolute best day full of learning,” said Amber Baker, Account Manager. “I walked out of that training so confident about my ability to communicate on the phone, understanding verbiage better, but also holding myself to a higher standard while selecting a reliable carrier that will live up to our PGT standards!”

How would you say this experience impacts the PGT Services culture?

“PGT Services is always striving to ensure excellent training inside the office setting, but the company has truly gone above and beyond by providing this hands-on learning experience for ALL employees,” said Gracie. “I am truly so happy to be a part of this amazing team and culture.”

PGT Services, headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, is a nationally recognized transportation brand with over 40 years of history. Flatbed is and always will be their cornerstone of expertise, but over time PGT Services has evolved into a multi-modal transportation services provider. Their growth and expertise in the metals and building products industry have made them a reliable transportation expert to many high-profile customers across various industry verticals.

“As a flatbed specializing transportation partner with 40 years of steel hauling imbedded in our roots, we look forward to the opportunity to serve and grow with the partners of the North American Steel Alliance,” said Justin Burgh, PGT Services Vice President of Sales, Marketing, and Pricing.

Introducing the two faces that represent PGT Services’ Managed Transportation, these experienced professionals have a combined 27 years of working with Flatbed, Dry Van, LTL, Container, Air and Expedited freight management. Together they bring a wealth of connections and knowledge for Managed Services.