Meet Don Hamm: Working Hard Toward 25 Years of Service with Eagle West Truck & Crane

Don Hamm, 54, is currently an operator of a 40 ton stiff boom crane for Eagle West Truck & Crane in Kamloops, BC. Here he is receiving the 2010 Employee of the Year award from Bob Fairbank, COO at the 2011 Anniversary Dinner.  

In November 2010, Don celebrated thirteen years with Eagle West and plans to continue working with the company until he reaches 25 years of service “I’ll be 66 years and one month old when I celebrate 25 years of service for Eagle West”.

Currently, Don is an operator of a 40 ton stiff boom crane for Eagle West Truck & Crane in Kamloops, BC, and a Safety Officer for the BC Interior division.

In the future, he hopes to move onto operate a hydraulic crane, having recently written the exam Don will find out if he passed in the next few weeks and has his practical exam scheduled in March. Don also has expressed interest in becoming a Full-Time Safety Officer in the latter years of his time spent at Eagle West.  

Why Eagle West?

Don knew of Eagle West because they would deliver shipments from his employer at that time to their customers. Eagle West caught Don’s attention with our excellent customer service, diligent commitment to safety and all around happy & genuine people.

Soon, Don was contacting Eagle West enquiring about available positions but unfortunately, there were none at the time. When Don got the opportunity to sit and talk with a manager at Eagle West, he explained that he was unhappy in his current job due to a failing relationship between him and his boss “I asked him please save me from this guy”.

He knew Eagle West was different after interacting with the EW employees and doing some research on the company. Don was determined to get hired, he would call every week or two, reminding Eagle West that they could call him when they needed him, and one day, we did.     

Don’s commitment to getting a job at Eagle West paid off, he said, “I’ve worked for a lot of companies over the years, this is the best company I’ve ever worked for by far!” Don’s hard work at Eagle West has paid off, leading him to realize his dream of having his own workshop at his home in Kamloops. In his spare time, Don enjoys woodworking, metalworking & fabrication, and is also currently renovating his home with his wife and daughter. Don got married in August of 1977, coincidently, the same day as our CEO Jim Barkman got married. In the summer, Don balances hard work and his hobbies by making time to ride his motorcycle and go horseback riding with his family.

Don Hamm: A Day In the Life  

As a crane operator, Don provides customers with the capacity to move, lift and raise materials in a safe and timely manner while providing exceptional customer service. Don’s job as a crane operator based out of Kamloops makes problem solving a big part of a typical day at work. “We put on a lot of miles, with a large area to cover, all of BC except the Fraser Valley, we’re more involved in the southern half of the province.”

Don will often service jobs which require six hours travelling each way, servicing as few as one customer a day and sometimes as many as four or five. Don describes his work environment as “very diverse, there are lots of places without cell phone coverage, so you’ve got to figure it out on your own. You don’t have the option to call for help, so problem solving is a big part of my everyday job responsibilities”.

Don enjoys doing all he can to meet customer needs safely and efficiently. His position also requires a flexible schedule and commitment to hard work. “I do what’s called a “look-at” for a customer to consult with them directly about their needs. Knowing how to troubleshoot the crane you’re working with: How to rig it, how to set up the crane, driving, and positioning of the truck.”

Don has received an Employee of The Year Award in 2005, 2009, 2010 and has also been awarded a Safety Award for 13 years of work place safety due to zero loss time injuries on the job. His advice to aspiring professionals is to study hard and work hard in team environment and independently, and be available when the right opportunity comes knocking.