Meet Pam Keaton: Supporting Cypress Drivers Behind the Scenes
When a Cypress driver has a safety question, a benefits issue, a 401(k) question, or simply runs into a problem they are not sure how to solve, there is a good chance Pam Keaton can help.
In Episode 38 of the Cypress Truck Lines Podcast, Marcus sits down with Pam, a Safety Assistant and HR Specialist who has spent nearly two decades with Cypress across two stints. Drivers have mentioned Pam on the podcast before without being prompted, so this episode finally turns the spotlight on one of the people working behind the scenes to help Cypress drivers succeed.
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Meet Pam Keaton: Helping Cypress Drivers for Nearly 20 Years
Pam’s job touches a little bit of everything. On any given day, a driver might call about a safety incident, benefits paperwork, a 401(k), a qualifying life event, or an unexpected situation that does not fit neatly into a job description.
There are plenty of memorable stories in this episode, including the Cypress driver who woke up to discover someone else’s bumper attached to his trailer and the new driver who called Pam because he was convinced he could not get his truck through a gate. Pam talked him through it, reminded him to slow down and trust his training, and the driver eventually called back just to tell her he made it through.
In this episode, you’ll hear about:
- How Pam Keaton became part of the Cypress safety and HR team
- Why drivers have repeatedly mentioned Pam on the podcast without being asked
- The kinds of safety and HR questions Cypress drivers bring to her
- How Pam helps drivers understand benefits and 401(k) enrollment
- Why qualifying life events and other benefit changes should be addressed quickly
- How the safety team can help drivers work through unusual situations on the road
- Why every driver may have a different definition of success at Cypress
- How Pam helped a nervous new driver work through a difficult situation
- Why her biggest advice to drivers is simple: call sooner, not later
Pam explains that helping drivers is not just about solving whatever problem is in front of her. With roughly 500 drivers, there can be hundreds of different definitions of success. For one driver it might mean earning more. For another it could mean getting home every weekend, moving into a newer truck, preparing for retirement, or simply enjoying the job they do every day.
Call Sooner, Not Later
If there is one takeaway Pam wants every Cypress driver to remember, it is to reach out before a small problem becomes a bigger one.
Whether the issue involves safety, HR, benefits, a qualifying life event, or something that simply does not feel right, the earlier the Cypress team knows about it, the more options they may have to help. Waiting can make some situations harder to resolve.
That mindset also says a lot about how Pam views the safety department. Safety is not simply there to enforce rules. The goal is to help drivers be successful.
The conversation also touches on benefits and retirement planning, including the questions Pam regularly receives about 401(k) enrollment. She is scheduled to return to the podcast for a separate conversation focused specifically on open enrollment and the benefit decisions Cypress employees need to understand.
More Stories From Cypress Truck Lines
The Cypress Truck Lines Podcast introduces listeners to the professional drivers, trainers, recruiters, safety professionals, operations teams, and employees working behind the scenes at Cypress.
Explore more Cypress Truck Lines Podcast episodes for conversations about flatbed trucking, CDL careers, driver safety, training, company culture, and life on the road.
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