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A Rock 'N' Roll Gig
Stage Call Corp. Stars in Entertainment Hauling
BY Shannon Scully
Entertainment transportation is a natural role for Tommy Burrington. After spending a number of years as an actor and dancer, Burrington decided to become a big-rig driver in 1978.
More than 20 years later, the Stage Call Corp. company driver still enjoys the busy life that comes with working for an entertainment transportation fleet.
“When I decided I couldn’t compete for parts with the youngsters, this just seemed like the best thing to do,” says Burrington, who has been with Chandler, Ariz.-based Stage Call for about five years.
The company does a good job communicating with drivers, he says. Communication is key for entertainment drivers who are with a tour for its duration, which is usually three to four months.
“Flexibility is the most important aspect of being in this industry,” he says. “You have to be able to go where the show goes."
Most Stage Call drivers run an average of about 80,000 miles a year, says Tom Kooistra, Stage Call’s fleet manager.
"We don’t run as many miles as other companies, because most of our time is spent behind a stage or waiting for a show to be over," Kooistra explains. "But you know where you’re going for the next three months. You have a set schedule."
On a typical tour, the shows are in a town for one night. The driving is done in the middle of the night, from about 2 to 8 a.m. The rigs are unloaded by noon, and the drivers have a break until about 11 p.m., or whenever the show ends.
Stage Call drivers earn between $95 and $125 a day, depending on experience and time with the company. Drivers are paid by the day while they’re under dispatch for a Stage Call truck, whether they’re actually driving or waiting at a venue. The company also offers medical and dental benefits after 90 days of employment, as well as paid sick days and vacation days.
Because of the high-profile nature of the entertainment transportation business, Stage Call trucks have to look good. Burrington drives a 13-speed 2000 Peterbilt with a 475-hp Caterpillar engine. "It’s got all sorts of bells and whistles," he says. The company runs a mix of trucks, all of them condo-style equipment for maximum driver comfort.
While it sounds glamorous to drive in a tour fleet for Pink Floyd or Britney Spears, Kooistra emphasizes that entertainment transportation is hard work – just like most other trucking gigs.
Down time isn’t spent rubbing elbows with the stars. Instead, drivers must make sure they’re ready to go to the next show, by refueling, sleeping and taking care of truck chores. "We don’t play their guitars, and they don’t drive our trucks," says Kooistra.
"The glamour is there, but it’s out of reach most of the time," admits Burrington. "You can't hang out at the show, because you must get your rest."
But there are some marked contrasts with freight hauling. While at the show locations, catered food is a perk, so most drivers don't have meals as an expense, says Kooistra.
Stage Call requires drivers be able to run the lower 48 states and Canada, which narrows the field of potential hires. Also, adds Kooistra, "We're looking for that person who has commitment and can stay out for the entire tour."
Being on time is another important part of a job. In fact, "Early is on time, and on time is late," says Kooistra. The touring companies always hire people to load and unload the trucks, so drivers never have to touch freight. But being 10 minutes late can cost the company thousands of dollars in lost wages paid to those waiting on the trucks.
Because drivers carry the same load for months, most get to know the other drivers and the tour personnel well.
"You don't have a lot of time to unload, and there is usually a limited docking area, so there's lots of working together," says Burrington. "You really get to know each other well."
Though the average tour lasts only a few months, Stage Call drivers maintain regular schedules. Most move from one tour to the next.
Unlike some jobs, the nicest part about driving for the entertainment industry is that the production personnel are always happy to see you, says Kooistra.
"They appreciate what you do. It takes a whole group to put on these big shows," he says. "They'll never tell you to go to the end of the line and wait."
Stage Call Corporation appreciates its drivers as well, he adds. "We absolutely believe our drivers are the company," says Kooistra. "If a company driver wants to become an owner-operator, we want to help him get there."
Stage Call requires drivers to be at least 25 years old and have three years of tractor-trailer experience. For more information, call (800) 499-4898 or visit the company's Web site at www.stagecall.com. *
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