How long have you worked for PGT Services? What role did you start out in and where are you now: 
“I have been with the company for a little over 3 months.  I have been in the transportation industry for 6 years and came over as a senior strategic logistics manager.” 

What is your current job description: 
“My current role is to grow our heavy haul and oversize business while supporting the business unit in pricing, project logistics and overall growth of the company.” 
Jeff’s title is Director of Heavy Haul Operations and Flatbed Pricing and one of the most important parts of the job is managing relationships with our heavy haul carriers, ensuring smooth routes, and detailed communication every
day. In addition, Jeff also handles our pricing strategies dealing directly with over-dimensional and heavy haul freight. 
What is the most challenging part of your job: 
“I absolutely love a challenge! Sometimes there are new customer opportunities where we must be creative to produce unique solutions for each transportation need. Although this is one of the most challenging parts of my job, I love tackling these unique ventures!” 
Your favorite part of your job: 
“My favorite part is working with everyone within PGT Services on a daily basis along with the challenges brought to me with new customer opportunities where creative solutions are needed.”  Jeff has worked in the transportation industry for 6 years, and it has been a wonderful experience. “I am most excited about the growth of our project logistics and heavy haul team over the next few years!” 

Jeff is an important member of our internal team at PGT Services. Our employees are committed professionals who consistently provide excellent service to our customers. PGT Services supports ongoing growth and internal development by quickly identifying operational needs and creating new positions to make our business operations more efficient. 

When Jeff is not directing our Heavy Haul Operations and pricing department, you can find him producing music and DJ’ing in his free time. Jeff loves the transportation industry and is extremely active on LinkedIn—updating his network with the crazy loads we move each day. Hit him with a follow! Or find him in Houston at Breakbulk this week! 
Interested in exploring a career at PGT Services?

We spoke with Hellen De León to explore her pivotal position within PGT Services. We discussed her role in depth, how our Track and Trace team is significant to success, and her perspective on working in the transportation industry.

How long have you worked for PGT Services? What role did you start out in and where are you now? 

“I have been working with PGT Services for 2 years and 6 months now. I started as a track and trace agent and after a year I was promoted to team lead of the track and trace team.”

In Hellen’s current role she makes sure all the loads have accurate and on-time updates. Additionally, she troubleshoots and informs account managers anytime carriers are not communicating in a timely manner, to resolve issues before they occur. In addition to her personal day-to-day tasks, Hellen trains new hires and
distributes the workload between all members of the team.

Each day, Hellen and her team work diligently to ensure they are gathering the most accurate updates from carriers. Hellen gave us a great snapshot description of exactly what her days look like:
“We all start by checking our emails to make sure we are updated on loads and prepared to not miss anything. Then, we call all the carriers that should be picking up loads that day to ensure everything is good and nothing is running behind. After that, we check in with our carriers that are set to deliver to confirm the drivers are going to be on time. Occasionally, an issue may occur, and if we do discover a problem, our goal is to find out as early as possible so the carrier solutions reps and account managers can find the best solution.” With this proactive approach to problem solving and ensuring success, the team delivers exceptional service each
day!
What is the most challenging part of your job?
Sometimes, we run into a driver who will not provide us with useful updates, which makes our job challenging since a large part is communicating with carriers. When this occurs, we encourage our team to make every effort to gather as much information as possible, while treating each driver with kindness and respect.
What is your favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of my job is my TEAM! I work alongside my coworkers every day, and we have all become great friends. In addition, I love being a part in helping eliminate the language barrier with the Spanish-speaking drivers/dispatchers in the transportation industry!

Hellen De León
Thank you, Hellen, for playing such a crucial role within our organization! Our PGT Services employees are devoted professionals, consistently providing outstanding service to our customers. We prioritize growth and are always looking to expand our team with great talent!

Interested in exploring a career at PGT Services?

We had a conversation with Jack McConvery, our Carrier Procurement Lead, to explore the significance of this pivotal position within PGT Services. We discussed his anticipation for the future and gained insights into his perspective on working in the transportation industry. employee by offering the necessary resources for career advancement.

How long have you worked for PGT Services? What role did you start out in and where are you now:
“I have worked for PGT Services for the past 2 years. I first started as a carrier solutions representative right after graduating and now I oversee and lead carrier procurement.”

What is your current job description:
“In my current role, I am looking to find and build relationships with new carriers in lanes we may not have moved freight in before while also trying to use our existing carrier base as efficiently as possible.” Jack’s title is Carrier Procurement Lead and one of the most important parts of the job is ensuring the carriers we choose have been reliably evaluated, and thoroughly assessed before selecting them to handle our customers’ freight. This is one aspect of our customer service model that is unique and sets PGT Services apart.

What is the most challenging part of your job:
“The most challenging part of my job is I am always working on something different. While this is difficult, it also keeps my job interesting and all my days different.”

Your favorite part of your job:
“My favorite part of the job is the people I get to work with. I enjoy working alongside my coworkers as well as communicating with drivers and dispatchers across the country every day.” Jack has worked in the transportation industry for 2 years and it has been a great experience. “I am very excited for
what PGT Services has in store for the future.” Jack is a crucial part of our internal organization at PGT Services. Our employees are dedicated professionals who
consistently deliver exceptional service to our customers. PGT Services foster continuous growth and internal development, promptly identifying operational needs and creating new positions to enhance the efficiency of our
business operations.

Interested in exploring a career at PGT Services?

How long have you worked for PGT Services? What role did you start out in and where are you now?

“I have worked with PGT Services since October of 2020, so nearly two and a half years,” Evan said. “I started out as a CSR, absorbing information, forming relationships with carriers and learning the nuances of the transportation industry. Now I am currently the Manager of Training, Safety and Compliance.”

 

What is your current job description?

“My main task here is to onboard and train all new hires as well as work on additional training and continuous improvement for the current team members. Along with that, I help to ensure that we are taking all necessary steps to operate at a very high standard of safety within this industry while following all processes put in place to help the day-to-day operate as efficiently as possible.”

What you are most looking forward to in 2023 for PGT Services?

“In 2023, I am most excited for the continued growth of this company in every aspect from new hires to the expansion of our customer base.”

What is your favorite part of your job?

“My favorite part of the job is working with people that have become my friends and working in an atmosphere where we all work together to win together.”

What is the most challenging part of your job?

“The most challenging part of my job is trying to be in several places at once to help everyone keep up with the fast-paced nature of the business and the industry.”

How would you describe working in the transportation industry?

“Transportation is a hustle every day, but it is an industry where you physically see the results of your hard work. You see the trucks going down the road, the stores getting their products, the construction sites getting their materials and you see how you are helping move the world forward.”

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.