At Piedmont Vending located in Conover, N.C., Vending Operations Manager Jeff Annas counts on his route drivers to get the job done, and in particular, he counts on route driver Mike Hill.
Hill’s enthusiasm and commitment to the job has made him the 2014 first quarter Route Driver of the Year winner.
Since 1987, Hill has been servicing machines throughout the greater Western North Carolina area and is not happy until his customers are satisfied. A 27-year industry veteran with Piedmont Vending, Hill takes pride in knowing the ropes and getting the job done efficiently and effectively.
Commitment to excellence
When asked what makes Hill an outstanding route driver, Annas admits that he has to mention Hill’s commitment to excellence. “He is a true vending professional if ever there was one,” said Annas. “Mike consistently performs superior work.”
Hill keeps over 100 machines clean, filled and working each week and is not happy until his machines are stocked and nearly perfect. “He is his own toughest critic,” said Annas. “He is not happy until his work is perfect.” Regardless of volume or location, every machine that Hill serves is constantly found fresh, filled, clean and in no need of repairs.
Luxury of teamwork
It is a great feeling when managers can count on their employees, and it is no different in the vending industry. Annas admits that he can relax when it comes to Hill’s accounts. “It is a luxury to have a route person like Mike who takes pride in what he does,” said Annas. “The best compliment I can give Mike is to say that he makes my job easy.” Not only does he put ample care into his machines, he also invests care into the company. Hill takes the time to properly train newer route drivers and on top of it all, he even repairs and updates equipment when the job needs to be done.
As far as Annas knows, no one from Piedmont has ever been nominated for the Route Driver of the Year award, but after witnessing Hill’s dedication and hard work ethic, he knew no one deserved it more. “He is great with customers and contacts alike,” said Annas. Not only is Hill interested in supplying his customers with the best possible service, but he also doesn’t mind showing off his knowledge of classic cars. “Classic cars are a big hobby for him. Especially Corvettes,” recalled Annas. But when it comes down to it, Hill credits his commitment to the skills he learned during his 6 years of service in the U.S. Army where he was attached to the 1st Battalion, 509th Airborne Infantry, as well as the 82nd Airborne.
First of the year
As the 2014 First Quarter Route Driver of the Year winner, Hill will be awarded $250 and will be a finalist for the final Route Driver of the Year award that is presented at the NAMA OneShow in April 2015 in Las Vegas, Nev. Sponsored by Mondelez International and Automatic Merchandiser, the Route Driver of the Year nominees are given a numerical score based on number of years as a driver, miles traveled, customer satisfaction and nominator comments.
