Here at Tallgrass, when our agents crush it, we celebrate in style. After raising the bar with Club 250 last year, our freight agents did more than meet expectations — they shattered them. The result? An unforgettable celebration at Mexico’s stunning Hard Rock Hotel Riviera Maya!
“When you’re building the best freight brokerage in the country, you need to reward exceptional performance exceptionally,” says President Sean Richardson. “Our Club 250 agents didn’t just hit their targets, they obliterated them, often exceeding $1 million in top-line revenue. Riviera Maya was our way of saying ‘challenge accepted’ to their incredible achievements.”
Our top performers don’t settle for average results, so why would we settle for an average reward? Because at Tallgrass, we believe those who generate over $250,000 in gross profits deserve nothing less than paradise.
More Than A Vacation
What makes Club 250 special? It goes beyond just the tropical views and swim-up bars (though those definitely don’t hurt!). We define success as both achieving business goals and having a life worth living. That’s why our agents enjoy competitive compensation packages that reward their hustle (yes, that means great splits and no salary caps), letting them build the lifestyle they’ve worked so hard to achieve.
Club 250 is where we acknowledge and celebrate those wins, giving our top performers a chance to step away from the day-to-day grind, recharge beneath the palm trees and connect with colleagues who understand exactly what it takes to reach these heights.
“This trip really illustrates what an incentive trip ought to be,” explains Ellie Martin, the Human Resources Manager at Tallgrass. “It’s all-inclusive experience, which means our agents don’t need to worry about anything. We want people to come home from these trips and think, ‘Wow, I can’t believe Tallgrass did that for us! How lucky are we?’”
Our agents are the backbone of everything we do. Their dedication inspires us to keep upping our gratitude game year after year. So trading Kansas City’s unpredictable winter weather for Mexico’s ocean breezes? That’s just smart business! The all-inclusive Hard Rock experience gave our top performers and their significant others the perfect mix of luxury, relaxation and that signature Tallgrass camaraderie.
Club 250 also serves as a meaningful “thank you” to the spouses and significant others who support our agents throughout the year. Being an independent freight agent has its fair share of challenges, and no one understands those more than an agent’s family. “Those people see how the agents work tirelessly day in and day out, weekends, even getting up at 2:00 AM to make sure a load gets delivered,” says Ellie. “So this trip is not only something that motivates the agents, but it celebrates their significant others too. It’s our way of helping them strike that work-life balance that makes Tallgrass so special.”
Beyond the beautiful accommodations and tropical setting, Club 250 is fundamentally about relationships: both personal and professional. “Company culture is built inside the office, but it really is something where if you’re okay with hanging out with people outside of the office, then you’ve got it made,” says Ellie.
“The relationships that people crave are what make these trips special,” explains Sean Richardson. “Seeing agents connect with each other, learn from one another and build friendships that extend beyond business — that’s the true value of Club 250.”
Memorable Moments in Mexico
The Saturday poolside gathering became one of the trip’s biggest highlights. Agents and their plus-ones took over a large cabana, enjoyed a few drinks, swapped stories and enjoyed the view.
Another highlight was the awards banquet, when Sean delivered a passionate speech about his appreciation for both agents and back-office employees, which was met with lots of hooping, hollering and celebrating! The evening featured standing ovations for Partner of the Year The Connection Shop, Employee of the Year Kristen Guile, Rookie of the Year Dan Lees and Agent of the Year Trent Fugate.
“You could really see how much the business means for them, for their future and even for their kids,” Ellie notes about Trent and his wife Natalia accepting their award together. “You could really see them creating that legacy that most people who have a business want: to leave something to somebody.”
Another special memory came when the back-office employees were treated to a private catamaran excursion. Despite a torrential downpour, spirits remained high. “Everybody powered through with good attitudes,” laughs Ellie. “This was something that we wanted to treat them with! This is a trip for the agents, but many back office leaders keep things running smoothly. This was an opportunity for us to tell them how much we appreciate them as well.”
The Fishbowl Effect
Perhaps the most valuable aspect of Club 250 is what Ellie describes as the “fishbowl effect.” When top performers share a space, powerful mentorship and idea exchanges are bound to happen.
“You put a bunch of people excelling in the same industry in one space, and you’re bound to find out new ideas, discuss different processes and learn how people grew from being a new agent to becoming a top performer,” Ellie explains.
The poolside gathering on Saturday illustrated this impact. Agents relaxed together, formed new friendships and naturally began sharing insights about their businesses. “You saw agents talking, and you’d overhear these conversations about being ready to hire somebody or grow a team,” says Ellie. “The newer agents know who the big guns are: the ones who go to Club 250 every year and have five or six team members. And they’re not shy about asking questions.”
What makes this knowledge sharing so special is the open, non-competitive environment. No one feels threatened. Freight is a competitive industry for certain! But at Tallgrass, we know that ambition and partnership can exist hand in hand. We approach our work with an entrepreneurial mindset, and at the same time, no one ever flies solo. It’s truly unlike anything else.
Club 250 is a testament to the culture we’ve built at Tallgrass. “Our culture is built around one simple idea: when our agents succeed, we all succeed,” says Sean. “We view our agents not just as contractors, but as entrepreneurs building their own legacy with our support. Club 250 reflects this partnership—it’s our way of celebrating significant milestones together and demonstrating our commitment to the success stories our agents are writing every day.”
Ready to join a company that values and rewards ambition? Learn more about joining our team and setting your sights on Club 250 by contacting us today.