… avoiding silos. We believe none of us is as smart as all of us. Our operations leaders set the tone by meeting first thing every Monday. Each day, our field teams review the plan for that day. We embrace collaboration. It’s a necessity when providing multiple services to customers. For example, when a customer wants to get freight to a destination, their Watco contact utilizes experts throughout our company in transportation; transloading; material handling and storage; third-party logistics and beyond to find the most efficient way to deliver their freight.
… they’re confident in Watco’s leadership team and vision. Watco’s leaders are repeatedly acknowledged by industry partners for their achievements, influence, and expertise. In addition, our past success predicts future success. We are growing. The company has experienced steady revenue growth, exceeding $1 billion for the first time in 2019 and earning $1.6 billion in revenues in 2022. A Watco priority is to identify, coach, and mentor the next generation of leadership. Team members move around the company to gain skills and knowledge and often are promoted within the company. We had hundreds of these moves in 2022.
… reinforcing an open-door policy. How many CEO’s give out their email and phone number to employees? Ours does. Plus, he and other top leaders try to drop in to visit as many locations as possible. Our human resources (People Services) managers conduct “stay” interviews (versus exit interviews) to learn what Watco is doing right and where we can improve. The work and character of our team members who are living out Watco’s Foundation Principles are recognized each quarter with our Be the Difference awards acknowledging safe performance, going the extra mile, and exceptional teamwork.
… offering thousands of online, on-demand business and industry training courses through Watco University as well as additional, offline courses. In addition, Watco has a Foundations of Leadership program to develop leaders. Watco has a peer mentoring program to help new team members experience success. Managers support team members with annual reviews and goal-setting. Team members enjoy work-life balance. No matter the shift, team members are seldom away from home.
… from the start, Watco immerses new team members in our culture and values. As a result, team members embody what Watco is known for: the importance we place on customers, team members, and safety. Team members prioritize customers and identify solutions. Watco hires team members for cultural fit even more than skill set. And safety is at the center of all we do. In fact, we’ve made a significant investment in expanding our safety training center to reach more people, and the number of students in safety courses there doubled from 2021 to 2022. Our company succeeds because our team members buy into and live our core values every day.
… numerous! From Day 1, new team members have a welcome kit to help them get acclimated. Full-time, salaried workers have an open vacation policy. The Watco Incentive Exchange (WIX) Program allows hourly team members to earn credits toward either hours of paid time off or additional compensation. Our site managers celebrate team members with cookouts or on-site food trucks. They issue Watco Bucks as rewards that can be exchanged for Watco-branded merchandise. One stress-busting branch manager knows when it’s time to pass a football (inside the office!). Watco sponsors sports teams. Anniversaries, births, and other milestones are recognized through company communications channels. Our unwritten hiring and retention rule is: No jerks allowed.
… being humble and not above the rules. Years ago, while on a site visit, he exited a truck to talk to team members. One stopped him because he didn’t have the required safety apparel. That might not have set well with some CEOs, but ours thanked the team for doing the right thing and bought everyone pizza. Just a couple of his credos: “Be genuine and sincere in everything you do.” Also: “Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, and when you do, forgive yourself.”
… great health benefits. When brokers benchmark our plan, they often cite that it’s a “richer benefit” compared to other companies of our size. Each year, Watco contributes up to $1,000 for team members on a Watco health plan to use for health expenses. Watco’s Spousal Incentive Health Reimbursement Account offers team members who have access to alternate group medical and prescription drug coverage through their spouse 100% coverage with $0 out of pocket. And a new Longevity Program rewards long-term team members by providing them a payment when they reach certain milestones with the company. A separate retention program in some Watco locations rewards team members for referrals.
Watco is a leading transportation service and logistics company Meeting customer needs on a day-today basis has enabled Watco to continually grow throughout our nearly 40-year history. Today, Watco provides transportation, material handling and warehousing, logistics, railcar repair, and design and
development for customers throughout North America and Australia. Because of our depth and breadth of integrated services, our customers enjoy:
All modes of transportation
Service in any market
Transport of any material, commodity, or product
Customized supply chain solutions
315 West 3rd Street, Pittsburg, KS 66762
Transportation/Trucking/Railroad
Dan Smith
1001 - 10000
