Success In All Measures

Never lose sight of what you are trying to accomplish. Always think, “where are you going and why are you here? Make sure you understand what you are doing. Once you get the answers to these questions, you will have a better understanding of how you can accomplish those goals.

— Tim Larson

Success In All Measures

The Tim Larson Story

By Cameron Clark

 

Recently, I got the opportunity to sit down with Tim Larson and discuss his PAM success story. This story not only investigates how he came to PAM and became successful, but his pathway and advice to others on how the same can be achieved. Larson is a firm believer in that all can be successful if they have a goal. “You must know what you are working towards and always look forward,” he says.

Tim’s story

Larson has lived most of his life in Eugene, Oregon until 2009 when he moved to San Antonio, TX.
Prior to his driving career he was a loan officer and commercial lender. In 2008 the bank he was working for closed down and he took a job working for the FDIC. Larson’s role at the FDIC was to close banks and liquidate their assets. After doing this for quite some time, he decided that a career change was needed and this is where his first goal started.

As mentioned before, Larson is a man that firmly believes goals are what make a person successful. Ironically enough, while on a trip out of town, he ran into a PAM owner operator at a gas station in Austin, TX. As the two started talking, the owner operator proceeded to tell him that he was making more money than he ever has as a PAM owner operator. Upon learning of the success of this owner, Larson decided getting his CDL was his primary goal.

As a first step, in May of 2015 he enrolled at the C1 training school in Ft Worth, TX. Upon completion he called PAM and was hired as an over the road company driver. Larson will be the first to tell you that starting out has its own set of challenges. He knew that the first year was going to be the hardest as you’re getting to know your new job and procedures of the company. During our conversation he stated multiple times, “I do not want to be one of the statistics. I had to understand and I told myself that driver managers are doing their job too. You must be patient and know that driver managers are here to help you.”

Golden Rules

One of Larson’s golden rules for himself was avoiding being around negative people. “You have to separate yourself from all of the negative people or you become one,” he said. Staying focused on your goals is another major key to success. “Never lose sight of what you are trying to accomplish. Always think, “where are you going and why are you here? Make sure you understand what you are doing. Once you get the answers to these questions, you will have a better understanding of how you can accomplish those goals,”” said Larson.

Another rule Larson lives by is creating a system and living by that system. So what exactly does this mean? Well, some of his systems include spending as little money at truck stops as possible. “They are gold mines,” he says. So instead he keeps his truck stocked with all that he needs. By eating a lot of sandwiches and salads, he is able to eat healthier and smarter. He also sticks to is his willingness to take any load. According to Tim, “Work harder than everyone else and you will stand out. You will learn more and be better prepared for the next trip. Plus, my driver manger will know that they can count on me.”

Larson is adamant about safety and being cautious when operating heavy equipment. “Never get in a hurry when driving or you will make mistakes.
Don’t internalize the sense of urgency when working around big equipment. Now does this mean be slow in everything you do? No, but do it in a professional manner and think about what you are doing. Schedule yourself out so you can get there without having to hurry. Don’t build unnecessary stress. If you are on a load that is too tight, communicate with your driver manager about your concerns and how you need to progress. There is always a solution.”

The Fast Track

When asked how he managed to become an Owner so quickly, Larson replied, “Well like I said, I saved up as much as I could and watched my spending closely. Also, I called a month in advance and got as many details about the program as I could. Get all of your questions answered before you show up. Get out and do the math and figure out what it is going to cost you for the truck, fuel, insurance etc. Since getting my truck I have a greater sense of responsibility. I took pride in what I did as a company driver, but when you own something you have a different sense of pride. Life as an owner operator has its own set of challenges just like being a company driver. Now the payments are on you and you have to really budget your money for any and all truck expenses. Budgeting and planning is a must as an owner operator. Managing your home time and saving money are two key factors in being a successful owner operator. Yes, your lifestyle will change but you have to plan that.”

Larson is a firm believer in never taking a vacation until he has sufficient funds set aside so it will not put him in the hole. In fact, he made it very clear that “for one to be successful as an owner, setting aside as much money as possible will only put you ahead in the future. You never know when the unexpected will happen so set aside now in order to live a more comfortable life later.”

According to Tim Larson, his life has changed since becoming an owner operator. He is making more money and able to run his truck as his own business. Looking back, he has a profound sense of accomplishment from all of his success in just one year.
If all this can happen to a person in one year, imagine what can happen in a few. The possibilities are endless. Just have a goal and set your mind to whatever you want to do and you can accomplish anything.