Van Operator Appreciation Week
by Laura Langer
It’s Van Operator Appreciation Week at Barrett and we’re celebrating the hard work our van operators put in all year round. We do this every May, and each of our locations comes up with a lot of fun, games, and recognition – everything from Van Operator Bingo to doughnuts in the drivers’ room to a gift for each van operator.
Two things strike me. It’s a great way to remind our van operators how much we appreciate them. But, it’s also a perfect time for the “rest of us” to reflect on that contribution. Without our van operators, obviously, we couldn’t load or deliver anything. They move people’s memories – pictures, antiques, wedding gowns, and maybe even some of those bronze baby shoes that were so popular when I was growing up — as well as the more mundane necessities of life like pots and pans, linens, beds, and the television. They make sure that everything gets to the right spot, and they do it in every kind of weather and geography.
They also move people’s inventions, and what they’ve manufactured, and the trade show displays that bring those manufactured items and inventions to the attention of buyers. They transport medical equipment to hospitals and clinics, and move offices from one building to another. They transport our national heritage – our nation’s artwork collections, and cultural icons like original the original copy of the Declaration of Independence that is traveling the country right now.
Sometimes the life of a van operator might seem mundane – but what they mean to the people they serve is far from it. Arriving on time, keeping everything safe, and maintaining high professional standards is more than a full-time job – it’s a career.
My hat’s off to all of them.