Page 16 - April 2022 Track N Times

SPOTLIGHT OF THE MONTH

Spotlight—Thomas Kitchens

What is the biggest challenge you face on the road and how does it affect your life? How do you
deal with it?

Being that devoted father, husband, and grandfather and not being home when needed to be there.
As a family, we take it one day at a time. We are faced with challenges often and tackle them together. Yes, it gets
tough but at the end of the day we have to be there for our family. With the strong commitment we have for each
other it seems to work out.

What is the best advice anyone has given you, and who was it from?
Protect yourself never put yourself in harm’s way, you’re not able to provide and protect your family if you’re not
100%. My dad always was a family man and yes he died at a young age due to an accident so I have always took that
advice from him.

What advice would you give a new employee at Loram?

If you’re not sure or don’t understand, just ask. Never take short cuts and always be involved with any work or
maintenance. Don’t put things off till tomorrow if it can be done today.

How do you pass time when you get a day off?
Catch up on my laundry and get the shopping done for the week. Then get with the crew and other machine crews
and find a great place to go eat and chill out. In the spring and summer, we grill out by the swimming pool and just
enjoy the time off.

What has been your favorite city you have been to while working at Loram and why?
I have been on the East Coast basically my whole time with Loram. From Washington, DC to Providence, RI. I would
say Old Saybrook, CT to New London, CT. Its just a nice scenery.

Do you have any mentors? If so, who are they and why do you consider them a mentor?
Willie White. I have always looked up to Willie, he is the first person I met and worked with after leaving training at
Hamel. He put me under his wing and taught me a lot. He has become more than a Mentor he became a friend.

What is your favorite restaurant on the road and why?
Waffle House, but there is none up here on the Northeast Coast. I have to settle for IHOP. Its fast and always good.
Nothing like having breakfast at any given time.

Volume 3 : Issue 3 Page 14