Antwain Gray has a voice that makes you want to lean in and listen – energetic, passionate and direct. Get him talking about his career at J&R Schugel and he’ll tell it like it is: Don’t wait to come here.
“Drivers out there know what I mean when I talk about being treated right – that’s what J&R does. They treat people right, they reach out to you to make sure everything is okay, they do the little and big things to let you know you’re valued,” says Antwain.
As a Marine for 15 years, Antwain had plenty of driving experience during his service, using that to transition to his professional civilian career as a Class A truck driver. Now, he serves the country as an essential worker driving over the road for Schugel.
“I’m in the refrigerated division and go wherever the freight needs me,” he says. “As a driver-trainer and recruiter, I make sure CDL students know all about the perks and benefits here. But I also let them know no job is perfect. You still have to work hard. If you do that at J&R, you’ll see the payoff. I get about 10,000 miles per month driving reefer but take any freight they give me.”
Antwain is currently driving a brand-new International truck, which he says keeps him comfortable on those longer runs. In the first quarter of 2021, J&R Schugel is bringing on additional new trucks for incoming qualified drivers.
One of the biggest advantages Antwain shares is about the company’s employee stock ownership plan (ESOP). An ESOP is a qualified retirement plan that provides eligible employees with an ownership interest in the company. J&R Schugel makes all the contributions to the ESOP account on the employee’s behalf, meaning employees do not contribute any funds towards the plan.
“You don’t want to wait to get into something like this for retirement – even if retirement seems a long way off,” says Antwain. “Five years into the program, and I see that balance building – and I didn’t have to put that money in myself.”
As a driver-trainer, Antwain says he is committed to making sure trainees are road ready. “We train as long as a new driver needs to be ready to operate and park safely,” he says.
Antwain, who makes his home in Kinston, N.C., has three daughters ages 24, 19, and 16 and a son, 15. “I’d do anything for my girls and my son,” he says. “That makes me glad that safety is so important to J&R so I can stay safe for my family.”
If you’re interested in a driving career with a more personal touch, or to learn more about J&R Schugel’s ESOP program, connect with us today!
