As JoyRide Logistics marks a decade of pioneering and setting standards in the trucking industry, we’ve embarked on a journey through our past, present, and future, celebrating the milestones and people who’ve been pivotal to our success.
In the spirit of our 10th anniversary, we had the privilege of sitting down with Joyce Brezina, our esteemed Director of Safety, whose unwavering dedication to excellence has not only safeguarded our operations but has also instilled a culture of safety that permeates every aspect of our business.
Joyce, with years of expertise and a deep passion for ensuring the wellbeing of every individual on and off the road, has been instrumental in shaping the safety protocols that set JoyRide apart in the logistics field. Her insights, reflections, and vision offer an invaluable glimpse into the core values that drive JoyRide Logistics forward.
In this interview, Joyce shares her journey with JoyRide, the challenges and triumphs of embedding a comprehensive safety culture, and her perspective on what lies ahead for us.
As we celebrate a decade of growth and achievement, Joyce’s story is a testament to the dedication and resilience that fuel our continuous drive for excellence. Dive into a conversation with one of JoyRide’s most influential figures, uncovering the milestones that have defined our path and the principles that will guide our journey into the future.
Before finding your path with us at JoyRide Logistics, what inspired you to join the trucking community and work for a trucking company?
My path into Transportation was a lifelong adventure. I was born into trucking. My father was a long-haul team driver with the old ICX Trucking from Los Angeles, CA to Chicago, IL, and he drove that road three times a week.
When I was 8, my father bought his first three trucks and opened his own business in the Imperial Valley, CA. I was the tomboy to my father, but my brother was born in the next few months. My dad made the business Davis & SON Trucking, instead of Davis & Daughter. I was devastated! I never got over it. But at 9 years old, I drove my first truck around his yard, and as of today, I still have my CDL.
I worked for my father all during Jr. High & High School in the office and helped dispatch or run the office when he was out of town. Trucks got into my bloodstream and never found their way out. My path pursued down the road to my career with these trucks!
Can you share with us your journey at JoyRide Logistics and how you started?
My journey to JoyRide was quite amusing. I had been with Swift Transportation for 20 years and then Roads West for several years when they were sold to Knight Transportation.
I had the pleasure of working with Tom Robinson and Don Appleton, who are with JoyRide today. When the business was sold, I moved on to another trucking company. A few years later, I received a text asking, “What are you doing, is this Joyce?” I recognized the number as Tom Robinson’s, our ‘grandfather of JoyRide.’ I called back to confirm if he had sent the text, he said yes, and then he began explaining that he was here and that Adis needed to start a full-fledged Safety Department, asking if I was interested in talking about it.
I took a few days to ponder over the decision! After a brief breakfast meeting at JoyRide “West” Restaurant, it seemed both Adis and I knew it would work. And here I am today. Thank you, Tom Robinson, once again.
Over the years, what changes have you observed within the company?
Changes, golly, we change every second. The growth Adis has challenged us with, the future potential, putting together teams and departments, working with people “over the Pond,” yet it feels like they are sitting right beside me.
Being able to teach a group of incredibly talented people in Ops, Dispatch, Safety, the ropes of Transportation, and the value it can bring to so many. The people overseas are the most gifted, eager to learn, and ready to conquer any challenge I have ever worked with. I always say their minds are like sponges. Challenges?
If Adis wants it, we make it work, and if you don’t want to work, he will do it himself. He is a mastermind at solving puzzles, to say the least, and doubling our growth in a year has been amazing and such a great accomplishment. I told him one day, “ONWARD WE GO, WE WILL NEVER LOOK BACK.”
As Director of Safety, what have been some of the most impactful safety initiatives you’ve implemented, and how have they shaped our company culture?
Starting a Safety program and initiating policies, procedures, and protocols has not been easy. For several of the drivers, they had the reins in their hands, and having someone come on board to change the structure was very challenging for them. I needed to invest time in talking to each one, explaining why things changed, our growth, our customer base, and how to adapt while still being content in their jobs. We established procedures on communications; I am always at the end of my cell phone, ready to talk.
Our safety policies include time off, speeding alerts, accident reporting, and how to protect both themselves and JoyRide. We addressed time management and work performance, but made it clear that missing steps would have consequences. I can be a friend or a foe when necessary; I can wear two hats. As in any transportation company, the Safety Director is not typically a well-liked person among the drivers! But we are here to keep them safe.
Working on setting up a Recruiting Department has been great; deciding to bring compliance files in-house was another milestone, and getting Tenstreet on board marked another step in our direction. We have department goals set, and Safety/Recruiting will forge ahead on each bucket list item we have. I am fortunate to have amazing people in my corner to work with.
JoyRide Logistics is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. How do you feel about being a part of this milestone?
What a milestone, 10 years for us. Hearing Ed, Adis, Anya, and Tom reflect on how it all started, with Fuad right in the mix, is amazing. It’s such an interesting mix of people, places, and times, and it works. His staff has and is working it out, each day. Adis will not stand back and watch; that is the milestone of our 10 years. He will seek, find, and get it. He is a workaholic; his life is JoyRide, and he allows his staff to join in the fun of making it great alongside him.
I love the challenge of being the Head of Safety, and it has been in my blood for more years than I elect to divulge!!! I love the work, the hours, the interactions, good or indifferent, with the drivers. I love to hear about their family, their kids, grandkids, and how they started in trucking; I always ask. I want to be here when we reach our next plateau in our business model and makeup. I want a safe company for our customers, the motoring public, as well as every employee.
Can you share a favorite memory or moment from your time at JoyRide Logistics that encapsulates the company’s spirit?
My fondest memory to date is the camaraderie of the people. They welcome you as if you have been here since the beginning. They call and ask for our opinion on something, sometimes not safety-related, and that shows we are a group, we are a team, we are a family… It is very warming to the heart and soul. I have JoyRide’s back, and I know they have mine!
In what ways do you think JoyRide Logistics sets itself apart from other companies in the trucking and logistics industry?
JoyRide is unique. How many transportation companies do you know that have people you work with 10,000 miles away on opposite time schedules, allowing you to teach, them to learn, and help them along their way?
Reflecting on the 10th anniversary, what are you most proud of regarding the company’s achievements?
I am most proud of the people and our growth to say the least, and what lies ahead for JoyRide.
If you could describe JoyRide Logistics in three words, what would they be and why?
Diversified Motivated Challenging
Why: Look at our humble beginnings and where we are today in this time in our Countries. We overcame a Pandemic, we survived, many did not, many have not recovered, Adis has found ways to ensure we will move into the next phase of our existence by pure motivation.
What excites you the most about the future of JoyRide Logistics as it steps into the next decade?
Our potential, the sky is the limit, and we will reach our goals I have no doubts, all we can say is hang on, ENJOY THE JOYRIDE!
Lastly, what message or piece of advice would you like to share with new employees joining JoyRide Logistics?
Be patient, enjoy what you do. If you’re here just to get a paycheck, move on. If you enjoy the transportation industry and the challenges it unfolds and can motivate even the shyest of people, then put your heart into the industry. Learn every single piece of this puzzle and how to apply it because one day, regardless of whether you’re here at JoyRide or elsewhere, you WILL use it. You will stop, think, and say to yourself, “I remember hearing that, working on that, being taught that particular item.”
Drivers are the future; they make us. Without drivers, JoyRide is nothing. Be their friend. If they cannot do or accomplish something, take your time to help, assist, and learn. They can teach us ALL a great lesson if we give them the opportunity. Remember, they are human; they have a tough, grueling job, and we need to make sure they know we support them. If you are new to transportation, be patient with yourself in learning. ASK QUESTIONS every time you are unsure; no question should be ignored. If so, reach out to someone else in your company. Remember, challenges are a part of our lives every day, every hour, every minute. Enjoy what you do, what you want to accomplish, and be open-minded.
Joyce’s reflections not only honor the past but also light the way forward, embodying the ethos that will continue to drive JoyRide Logistics into the future.
Here’s to continuing the journey, guided by the values that have brought us this far and the vision that will lead us into tomorrow.
