Contact Information:
Name:
Mr. Sam Tittle

E-mail address:
stittle@truckingforamerica.com

Education Information
Undergraduate Major:
English

Degree Received:
BA

Graduation Year:
1974

Job Information
Employer Name:
Cox Transportation Services, Inc.

Employer Web Site:
www.TruckingForAmerica.com

Present Job Title:
VP of Human Resources & Risk Management

Brief description of my job responsibilities, e.g. a typical week in my job:
The HR responsibilities of my position include dealing weekly with the recruiting/hiring of truck drivers, driver retention, and driver discipline. To a lesser degree I am involved in operational issues and hiring for the operations department. The risk management part of my job involves safety, accident reporting/investigation, regulatory compliance (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, OSHA), and workers compensation. I have weekly contact with other safety professionals, insurance adjusters, attorneys, and vendors.

Suggestions I would give to undergraduate students with regard to courses, internships, and other means of preparation for my career field:
Being an English major may seem a far distance from a management position in a blue collar industry. However, the academic discipline requires attention to detail, and an ability to understand and interpret massive amounts of information. If you have an interest in a particular industry, pursue it. There should be opportunities at small trucking companies in shipping/receiving, dock/warehousing, and dispatching. Larger companies, who might offer intership opportunities, will probably prefer a transportation major. If you are going to take a leadership role in any business, you have to be willing to learn many positions. Be willing to work the jobs you might not want long term.

My career path in getting to this position:
Upon graduation, I found employment in the railroad industry starting as a clerk and progressively moved up in operations management. After accepting a severance package during a corporate downsizing, I returned to school and attained a paralegal certificate. Briefly, I worked as a paralegal and then gained employment with Cox Transportation Services, Inc., starting in truck brokerage, then operations, then safety, and now in my current position.

Other advice for students interested in gaining entry into and pursuing a career in this field:
Liberal Arts majors can look at themselves as being qualified to do "nothing specific" or being qualified to do "just about anything." TAKE THE POSITIVE VIEW! Approach whatever industry or position that interest you with enthusiasm.


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