Tom and Debbie Berkel
Husband and Wife Love Being Professional Tourists with Mercer
Husband and wife owner operator team, Tom and Debbie Berkel, says “there is nothing Mercer will not do to make life easier for a driver.”
The couple, who live in southern Illinois, are still excited about their job after 25 years with Mercer. “We’re still at Mercer because they’ve always been good to us,” Tom says.
“They have great people; we get a lot of freight and great money. And with non-forced dispatch, we can take what we want, when we want,” he adds.
Debbie agrees with her husband 100 percent. “We’ve really gotten to know a lot of the people at Mercer. Our coordinator, Shane Venoy, has become like family to us; we go to lunch all the time when we are in town,” she says. Tom adds, “Under general direction, our coordinators serve as coaches and salespeople. They ensure profitability of contractors, perform tasks required to assist contractors in moving freight safely and on time with professional, courteous and efficient service while remaining compliant with DOT and licensing regulations.”
“At Mercer, this is more than just a job. They really take their family atmosphere seriously. They’re open-door policy is all inclusive, no matter who you are, whether you are a manager, driver or a janitor. You get the same amount of respect,” Debbie adds.
The couple agrees that “to stay at a company for 25 years without even considering leaving really says a lot about that company,” as Debbie put it. “These days, you rarely find anyone who stays at a company longer than five years, and that’s even more the case in this industry. We’ve found that changing companies just isn’t worth the cost it takes to make a switch just because you’re upset about something that can usually be resolved.”
The Berkel’s recently got a new reason to stay excited about their job. They just purchased a new, much larger, sleeper complete with a shower and all the essential kitchen appliances.
“Personally, we prefer to stay out on the road for a couple months at a time since we can do it together, and it allows us to be professional tourists! The sleeper makes it even easier to be away so long. We basically have all we need; a house on wheels!” adds Debbie.
They have recently been spending the home time they do get remodeling their house. Tom also enjoys fishing and Debbie makes afghans.
Mercer freight includes aluminum and metal products, building materials, plastics, machinery, military items, cable and much more. The company offers owner operators a family-oriented atmosphere and convenient generous home time plus supplemental programs such as TripPak EXPRESS and optional worker's compensation coverage.
By operating a network of terminal/agent locations throughout the United States and Canada, Mercer ensures ample opportunities for its contractors.
The couple, who live in southern Illinois, are still excited about their job after 25 years with Mercer. “We’re still at Mercer because they’ve always been good to us,” Tom says.
“They have great people; we get a lot of freight and great money. And with non-forced dispatch, we can take what we want, when we want,” he adds.
Debbie agrees with her husband 100 percent. “We’ve really gotten to know a lot of the people at Mercer. Our coordinator, Shane Venoy, has become like family to us; we go to lunch all the time when we are in town,” she says. Tom adds, “Under general direction, our coordinators serve as coaches and salespeople. They ensure profitability of contractors, perform tasks required to assist contractors in moving freight safely and on time with professional, courteous and efficient service while remaining compliant with DOT and licensing regulations.”
“At Mercer, this is more than just a job. They really take their family atmosphere seriously. They’re open-door policy is all inclusive, no matter who you are, whether you are a manager, driver or a janitor. You get the same amount of respect,” Debbie adds.
The couple agrees that “to stay at a company for 25 years without even considering leaving really says a lot about that company,” as Debbie put it. “These days, you rarely find anyone who stays at a company longer than five years, and that’s even more the case in this industry. We’ve found that changing companies just isn’t worth the cost it takes to make a switch just because you’re upset about something that can usually be resolved.”
The Berkel’s recently got a new reason to stay excited about their job. They just purchased a new, much larger, sleeper complete with a shower and all the essential kitchen appliances.
“Personally, we prefer to stay out on the road for a couple months at a time since we can do it together, and it allows us to be professional tourists! The sleeper makes it even easier to be away so long. We basically have all we need; a house on wheels!” adds Debbie.
They have recently been spending the home time they do get remodeling their house. Tom also enjoys fishing and Debbie makes afghans.
Mercer freight includes aluminum and metal products, building materials, plastics, machinery, military items, cable and much more. The company offers owner operators a family-oriented atmosphere and convenient generous home time plus supplemental programs such as TripPak EXPRESS and optional worker's compensation coverage.
By operating a network of terminal/agent locations throughout the United States and Canada, Mercer ensures ample opportunities for its contractors.