Queen of the road

10 ways of working that have helped Dedicated Driver Manager Claribel Gomez thrive at Venture Logistics

Claribel Gomez is a dedicated driver manager at Venture Logistics. She leads a team of about 20 drivers on Venture’s Nissan account. An up-and-coming leader, Claribel recently relocated from Lafayette, Indiana, to Indianapolis for her new job. “Claribel knows how to balance what’s best for drivers and the company while keeping a positive attitude,” said her boss, Director of Dedicated Operations Lacey Padgett. “I love watching her grow.” To inspire you and give you a window into her world at Venture Logistics, Claribel shared 10 things that have helped her thrive in her career.

1. Risks lead to growth.

Claribel was a student at Purdue University when she decided to apply for a job at Venture Logistics. “I’ve always held a job while going to school, and I’d been waiting on a promotion,” she said. “I decided to try something different.” Claribel got the job at Venture, and three years later, she’s still with the company. “I never imagined working in this industry, but I like it,” Claribel said. “I see a future here.”

2. Prioritize relationships.

In her new role, creating relationships with drivers is high on Claribel’s list of priorities. It’s challenging because Claribel rarely sees drivers in person. When they’re not driving, they communicate via phone, email and text. “Having strong relationships with drivers makes me a better leader,” Claribel said. By knowing drivers well, Claribel can adapt to their preferences for communication, reduce their stress and offer help. “I want drivers to feel open and to tell me if they have an issue or personal situation that may involve their job,” Claribel said. “If I know what’s going on, I can do more for them.”

3. Don’t take things personally.

Working with people who spend most of their time on the road — and under pressure — can lead to some tense conversations. “Sometimes drivers get angry or upset,” Claribel said. “When I first started this job, I sometimes felt offended. When an angry driver called, I’d pass the phone to a supervisor. Sometimes you have to do that instead of arguing.

Claribel has learned when a driver is rude, there’s often something else going on; it’s not about her. One driver, for example, gets stressed out of Claribel sends him too much information at once. “When things get tense, I pause and take a deep breath,” Claribel said. Drivers usually calm down — and Claribel buys time to find solutions. Now, to keep her anxious driver from feeling overwhelmed, Claribel breaks down his load step by step, and when he calls to check-in, he’s more relaxed.

4. Organize your thoughts.

When managing 20 truck drivers with complicated schedules, you need to stay calm. “This job is run, run, run,” Claribel said. “You get calls, texts and emails at the same time, and you need to multitask and work quickly.” It’s easy to forget things, such as load cancellations.

5. Never make assumptions

For Claribel, a typical day includes planning and updating loads, noting the trailer numbers of drivers who check-in, writing down arrival and departure times and making sure drivers make the proper stops. “If something is running late, you have to stop, communicate and let people know,” she said. “You can never assume anything. If you assume something, you’ve already made a mistake.”

6. Expect the unexpected.

Claribel’s drivers don’t often have accidents, but unusual things can happen on the road. When Claribel managed a Texas route, a driver coming back from a long haul called in and started screaming. “It was my first month on the job, and the driver was freaking out on the phone and completely in shock, saying, ‘THere’s a dead man!'” Claribel said. What happened? A man had committed suicide by throwing himself from a bridge, and he’d landed on the driver’s windshield. It was a tragic moment, but the driver was okay. “He was a champ,” Claribel said. “He took two weeks off but was able to come back. Some drivers just don’t get back on the road after they experience something like that.”

7. Get straight to the point.

As a student, Claribel studied communications and sociology and learned to write stories and term papers. But in her job at Venture, she keeps communications concise. “If I explain too much, it makes things worse,” she said. “I try to get to the point, so I don’t confuse anybody or confuse myself. To be sure people understand me, I keep things short and simple.”

8. Watch your tone … and stand your ground.

Claribel is one of the few women working in an industry dominated by men. She’s also much younger than many of the drivers she manages. How does she deal with awkward moments? By watching her tone and standing her ground. “Sometimes drivers make jokes,” Claribel said. “You have to be careful how you respond. Things can be interpreted the wrong way, so I try to be clear. It’s up to me to take control, to make sure a comment doesn’t lead somewhere disrespectful.”

9. Prioritize safety.

“Safety is the No. 1 thing at Venture,” Claribel said. “Our drivers already know that, but it’s nice to remind them.” Claribel likes to let drivers know about the weather, if it will be windy or if a storm is expected. “Drivers don’t like to run late, and they can stress out, so I remind them they can always talk to me.” Claribel reminds drivers it’s better to be a little late and safe than on time and in a wreck.

10. Focus on the present but keep the future in sight.

Since her move to Indianapolis, Claribel has observed how her new boss, Lacey, does her job. “I don’t know how she does it,” Claribel said. “She manages her time so perfectly.

Claribel is preparing to move into an operations manager role, and said she’s eager to learn from Lacery, Bill Champine, president of Venture Transport, and everybody at Venture’s Indianapolis office. “It’s nice to be in a different office and learn different things from different people,” she said. “Indianapolis is a big city to me. It’s exciting.”

What does the future hold? “Someday, I might want to go to Texas,” Claribel said. “Venture has different terminals in different states.” But for now, Claribel is adjusting to her move to Indy — and from second to first shift. “Right now, the goal is time management,” she said, “and finding a new gym.”

Want to learn more about Claribel and careers at Venture Logistics?

Reach out to Claribel at cgomez@venturelogistics.com and discover careers at www.venturelogistics.com/work-at-venture.