PAM Transport President & CEO Dan Cushman’s Thoughts On COVID-19
Dan Cushman, President & CEO of PAM Transport in Tontitown, Arkansas, recently shared his thoughts on the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic and how it's impacting our nation. Watch the video as Trucker Wayne shares Dan Cushman's thoughts and read Dan's letter below...
COVID-19 Coronavirus is a Landmark Moment
"I had something on my mind last night I wanted to share. You have all heard the question being asked “do you remember where you were when you heard the news…”
And then the question went something like this… “when Kennedy was shot?” That shows my age but the answer is, “yes, I was sitting in my grade school class and my teacher came in crying with a radio and we all listened.” They call that a Landmark Moment. Something you remember just like it was happening today. “Do you remember where you were when you heard the World Trade Center was hit by a plane?” You get what I mean.
We are currently living in a Landmark Moment don’t you think? Years and years from now we will reminisce where we were, what we were doing during the Coronavirus crisis. You will have personal and professional reflections. Were you cool and collected? To those around you, was your presence reassuring or did you make matters worse?
Professionally, I feel like I need to rack my brain for solutions. I need to be honest and forthcoming.... you expect nothing less from me and you deserve nothing less from me. I don’t want to give false hope. But I do believe we are doing something very important. Our industry is being discussed as being as important as first responders. I, we, have fellow employees dependent upon us. I, we, have countless responsibilities where the supply chain is dependent upon us. I, we, have a family who needs me.
From the bottom of my heart I feel it incumbent upon me to respond to these responsibilities personally and professionally. When you look back and discuss this 10 – 20 years from now how will it look when you think about how you responded? Did you make others around you feel better? Did you add to the solutions or further the problems? Be the person that stayed focused and didn’t panic. The person who remained positive and reassuring versus negative and depressed. We can and will make a difference if we put our minds to it.
20 years from now.. “Do you remember the Coronavirus crisis and what are your reflections?” “yes… I remember it like it was yesterday. I had a family to take care of and I was employed by a trucking company and I was involved in one of the few businesses that the government deemed essential to North America. And I took care of all those I was responsible for…!! “ How’s that for a memory? Please, make a positive difference. I love you all… Dan"