Dec. 20, 2022

This paid piece is sponsored by Knife River South Dakota.

Think of who you might think drives a ready-mix truck.

And then meet Mary Engel.

“This has been the best, easiest job I’ve ever had,” said Engel, who became a driver for Knife River in Sioux Falls earlier this year.

“It’s the only place I’ve worked where I really feel like safety comes first and they really care about the employees.”

Engel has driven commercial for years, from city buses to recycling trucks. She earned her commercial driver’s license about seven years ago after working in manufacturing earlier in her career.

“It was just something different I wanted to do,” she said. “And I heard Knife River is a good place to work with good wages and benefits and a very interesting place to work. Plus, everybody is so nice here.”

Engel is part of a 50-person team of drivers that is critical to supporting the area construction industry. She and her co-workers haul concrete from the Sioux Falls plant to job sites throughout the city and beyond.

“It’s a very unique bunch of people,” said operations manager Rick DeVries, who supervises the group. “They’re all good, safety-minded people. They’ve bought into our culture, and they make it easy to work with them, and they hustle all day long.”

The role has kept Rod Ramm in the driver’s seat for nearly 20 years.

“You get out of a job what you put into it,” he said. “They are good wages and benefits, you’re home every night, and you get to support some big projects around town.”

He has supported everything from the new Amazon fulfillment center to large-scale downtown projects and the Sanford Sports Complex.

“Before they can build anything else, you’ve got to be there first,” he said.

Industry veteran Fred Ibach has found a fit with the Sioux Falls team too. He spent much of his career with Knife River in North Dakota, including assisting with the company’s biggest pour ever. He moved to Sioux Falls in 2019 and has held a variety of roles within the operation.

“Every pour is different,” he said. “It’s a different contractor, a different slab, a different footing, and you’re providing a service for somebody that’s making better their life or the community’s lives.”

Since joining the Sioux Falls team, he is as busy as he has ever been.

“Sioux Falls is a fast-growing city, and concrete is a major part of that,” Ibach said. “The job sounds pretty simple, but there are many aspects to hauling concrete. If you want to learn, we’ll train you. We can always use people. And I would tell you, Knife River is the best company I’ve ever worked for. They’ve given me opportunities, they’ve committed to training and given everything from bonuses to pats on the back and people caring you go home safe every day. Hands down, they’re the best.”

The work also drew driver Rami Yousef back to the team. He began at Knife River three years ago and lived briefly in Colorado before returning to Sioux Falls.

“I instantly thought of them when I came back because I left on such good terms,” he said. “They take care of you, I get along with all the team members, and I trust them. I feel safe. That’s what it comes down to. We all work together, and I know I can go home safely at the end of the day. That’s honestly one of the main reasons I came back, and I love it.”

The team is critical to support the construction industry, Knife River president Clark Meyer said.

“These drivers are so key to making it all work,” he said. “They’re the connecting point between our plant and our customer, and we’re so proud of the team we have in Sioux Falls. They’re hard-working, dedicated people who put safety and one another first and deliver outstanding service to our customers.”

The drivers appreciate working in new and different settings every day, Yousef added.

“I love making contractors happy at the end of the day. They can tell when you put in the effort to assist them,” Yousef said. “If you’re a hard worker, this is definitely a good fit. We definitely have a diverse group, and we take care of each other. To this day, if I need help, someone will jump out of the truck and help.”

Colleagues are extremely supportive, Engel agreed.

“They support women here, and my co-workers help if I have trouble with my truck or on a job site,” she said. “If you’re a woman, go apply. I would recommend this job to anyone.”

That kind of culture starts with leadership.

“Any of our drivers can approach our president, Clark Meyer, and they know that. He’s very approachable and involved, and that’s a testament to who he is,” DeVries said. “They can approach my boss, Terry; they can talk to him about anything. And I truly think that’s what makes it so enjoyable. We are part of a large corporation, but from the top down in Sioux Falls, we are one big family, and everybody cares about everybody.”

Knife River is always looking for new members to join the team. Click here to learn more about current openings.