A Culture of Service

“Thank you for your service.”

The stewardess on my flight makes this appreciative statement to each of the uniformed soldiers as they work their way down the aisle. A few minutes later she says the same thing to me, which caught me off guard. It takes me a few minutes to realize my faded tattoo is showing beneath my shirt sleeve. That selfless moment from the kind stewardess made such an impact on me that day. I spent the rest of the flight thinking about the word ‘service’ and how it truly is one of the most important virtues.

The true definition of service is putting the needs of others, before the needs of yourself. I believe Mahatma Gandhi said it best,

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”

This is why members of the armed forces are some of the best examples of this value. They prove that they are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for the safety and security of people that they will never know or meet. All are willing and yet some, unfortunately, have made that sacrifice.

The value of service is engrained in the culture of our organization, from its origins 40 years ago, and beginning even further beyond that. The first generation of trucking began with Trinity’s founder, Ed Banning, in the early 1930s. The name of the company he started with was Service Trucking, started by Ed’s Father, Gilbert. Service Trucking had a well-known reputation for its high-touch service to customers, servant leadership, and practicing the golden rule with both team members and anyone associated with the organization. In a sense, our culture of service began there. A flag was planted in the ground with only one way to do business and it has been practiced for three generations.

This tradition of service continues today being further strengthened by Trinity being a part of Burris Logistics. The Burris culture has values that are deeply rooted in integrity and service, which is why the synergy between our two organizations is so strong.

Being able to put the needs of others before the needs of yourself. What a powerful concept that is. One that has been a cornerstone of the success, growth, and prosperity of the United States of America. You don’t have to look hard to find someone who has dedicated their life to service or has even acted selflessly in a moment. These people, especially the ones whose selflessness caused them to make the ultimate sacrifice, are the people we salute on Memorial Day.

To the men and women of our armed forces, and to those who have dedicated their lives to service – thank you for giving back and expecting nothing in return.

Happy Memorial Day.

Author: Billy Banning.