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'' I don't want to be mediocre. Whatever I do, I want to be the best. '' Today, telemetry and the vend- ing management system (VMS) work together to tell Montgomery which machines need to be flled. Pre-kitting has also helped stream- line the process when he gets to the warehouse at 4:00 in the morn- ing. "We have a crew at night that pulls all of the orders and loads our trucks. Now we grab the exact product that we need and go in the building one time," said Mont- gomery. "With technology I can do double the work in the same or less amount of time." Montgomery believes that all of the technological advancements have helped the longevity of route drivers. He doesn't see a lot of turnover anymore. But he does see a difference with the hiring of the younger generation. "Millenni- als want what I have immediately, instead of sticking around for a few years and working their way up," he said. Nicknamed "the old man," Montgomery says he likes to regale the younger crew with stories of the 1990s, when technology was minimal. "When I used to go into locations and carve things on stone tablets," he joked. Montgomery knows that being a successful driver means more than coming in for the job. "You have to show up on time, do a good job, be friendly with customers and always look for ways to be more effcient," he said. Until the job is done Montgomery tries many things in order to fnd the most effcient way to service a location. Rather than splitting two cases of soda, he will take both cases into a location. He also keeps his truck clean as he goes through the day and works with the pre-kit crew in planning the best location for product in his vehicle. "That way when I get into my truck everyday I know exactly what I have and where it is," he said. Montgomery's passion for excellence led him to leave route driving for a management role early on. After six years, however, he came back; he missed the indepen- dence and satisfaction of being a route driver. He also missed his customers. "I liked my route and I enjoyed being responsible for my machines," he said. "The best part of my job though is interacting with my customers." When Montgomery began at Imperial, owner Paul Tims would say, "We never want the customer to suffer any longer than they have to," which is why customers are Montgomery's number one priority. In fact, he has never missed a day of work and has serviced locations with a hurt back, sprained ankle and broken hand. "My responsibili- ties are mine to handle," he said. Looking ahead When asked about the hardest part of his job, Montgomery says there is no hard part. "Technology has solved so many problems and hardships that used to come with route driving. When I think back to what it used to be versus how it is now, there really is no hard part," he said. "For me, I never come in dread- ing this job," he said. "I know I'm going to come in and see the same people everyday, but I know them by name, I know their kids and what they are doing in school." Montgomery has in every way excelled beyond mediocrity. His attitude and actions have led him to become the 2014 Route Driver of the Year winner, a distinction that would not have been made possible without his nomination by Imperial General Manager George Berry. "I am thankful to Imperial for everything they have done for me," Montgomery said. "Despite my hardheadedness early on, they saw something in me and kept me on staff." He also thanks his family for their continued support. Montgomery does not know where vending is headed, but he is excited to be attending his frst NAMA OneShow in Las Vegas to see the newest innovations and technology for the future. The 2014 Route Driver of the Year award will be presented to Rodney Montgomery at the NAMA OneShow in Las Vegas, NV, on Wednesday, April 22 at 4 p.m. Sponsored by Mondelez International and Automatic Merchandiser, the contest nomi- nees are given a score based on years as a driver, miles traveled, customer satisfaction and nomi- nator comments. Presented by April 2015 VendingMarketWatch.com Automatic Merchandiser 53